Head-bopping and toe-tapping, but make it French! 'Who Knew?' slips back and forth between French and English lyricism, which, when paired with the electropop production leaves you in a dreamlike, stripped-back bar where the concrete and rebar foundations are exposed, illuminated by colorful LED strips that pulse to the beat. The fictional bar that the song has created in my head seems like it would have expensive drinks, but I think I'd still have to get one just to stay and listen. The guitar chords that introduce 'Who Knew?' pay homage to 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None The Richer, completed by the first words you hear: "embrasse-moi" (French for "kiss me"). The similarities pretty much end there though. The track is anchored in an infectious trance beat that employs layered synths and crisp, consistent, kick-stomp drum loops to craft the bouncy and ethereal sonic space. All this leaves just the right amount of room for the centerpiece vocals; airy, layered falsettos introduce the song setting up the juxtaposition of the verses' punchy, staccato delivery. An entrancing web of warbling bass and pitched-up synths lead you to the song's dreamy culmination. Moontower is an LA-based electropop trio that met at the University of Southern California, where their shared love for music would have them cross paths. Jacob Berger (guitar/vocals), Tom Carpenter (bass), and Devan Walsh (guitar/keyboard) initially set out to be a live act, placing heavy emphasis on the visual aspects of their live performances. We can be grateful that they abandoned the pipedream of being the first band to headline Coachella without officially releasing a song because now we can access their tunes at a moment's notice. Written By George McSherry FOLLOW MOONTOWER:

Love can drive us to do crazy things. You act in ways that you normally wouldn’t all for the attention of another person. In “Break My Heart Again,” Kristen Plati sings about longing to get heart broken by someone that she loves. I have to admit that this line of thinking was kind of confusing to me at first. I then decided that Plati is actually trying to say that she will have that person in her life at any capacity even if it means getting hurt. This is still a bad practice. However, it is interesting that she uses the song to call herself out. After all, a line in the chorus is,” you’ll never find love if you do it like that.” I really liked the first verse because Plati does a great job illustrating the effect that technology has had on relationships. I like the line about her text being left on read. Land lines aren’t as instant as cell phones. With that, there could be a good chance that someone does not receive a call or voicemail. If you do not receive a response, you couldn’t know for sure if you were being ignored. In the age of read receipts, you know good and well if you’re being ignored. Knowing that you’re blatantly being ignored can be very disheartening. This is how Plati is feeling, but she is holding on to hope that things will change. As for the song itself, I enjoyed the overall instrumentation. The music sounds very bright in spite of the sadness of the lyrics. Kristen Plati was born and raised in Perth, Australia. She is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. If you want to hear more of her, I recommend “Wanna Be.” This song is interesting when you compare it to “Break My Heart Again” because the songs have two completely different views on failed relationships. “Break My Heart Again” is about wanting the relationship to work, whereas “Wanna Be” is stressing the happiness of being independent. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW KRISTEN PLATI:

Some fairy tales talk of a crystal ball that give you a glimpse of future. In reality, we don’t have this luxury and have to take each situation as it comes: for better or for worse. In her song, “Cringe,” Estella Dawn talks about when the memories of the bad situations come back and haunt us. More specifically, she talks about being unlucky in love. Dawn became so infatuated that she did not see the warning signs. When she thinks about the happiness she once felt, it makes her physically sick. Fortunately, Dawn uses her music to expel all the negative energy and move on with her life. I liked the guitar strum in the beginning of the song. It repeats in the second verse as well. It reminded me a lot of the guitar on Shawn Mendes’s song, “Treat You Better.” The similarity is kind of ironic because Mendes also sings about being unlucky in love. Another aspect of the song that I enjoyed was the inflection in Dawn’s voice. I am talking specifically about how Dawn says, “cringe,” on the chorus. As she sings that word, it sounds as if she is actually cringing which really does justice to the song’s title. Lastly, I think it is worth pointing out that the bridge acts as a transition piece to the song. In the bridge, Dawn sings, “I grew bigger, I burn brighter,” before circling back to the chorus. She is acknowledging how much better of a person she is for coming out of the bad situation. At the same time, she is also coming to terms with the fact that the memories of it may always be there. Estella Dawn was born and raised in New Zealand but currently lives in the U.S. Along with being a vocalist, Dawn is also a songwriter and producer. Even though the year 2020 was crazy for a lot of us, it was great to Estella Dawn because she burst onto the musical scene. If you want to hear more of her, I recommend “Pretty.” Compared to “Cringe,” this song is about a more positive side of love. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW ESTELLA DAWN:

What I seemingly thought would be a breakup song, quickly turned into one of the most gut-wrenchingly beautiful ballads I’ve ever heard. “Something I Hate” is a song written about overcoming lifelong insecurities. ROSIE is brutally honest in her lyrics as she sings about her struggle with accepting the things she hates about herself. Not only is this single a gorgeous reminder about how we have issues with ourselves, but it also shares a tragically beautiful message about others loving you regardless. It’s so obvious how ROSIE portrays her confusion on not understanding how anyone could love the same things that she hates about herself. This idea by itself is such a powerful thought. The fact that it’s so easy for us to tear ourselves down, damage our bodies, and go through pain because we hate ourselves… and yet someone out there is thinking the exact opposite. They’re thinking that they love that one very specific part of us. I think this is an incredibly well executed concept and it brings so many emotions to the surface that some of us may not have expected. Along with the alluring meaning in the lyrics, the musical aspects of “Something I Hate” are to be praised equally. The track is made up of mainly acoustic guitar with some light percussive drum-like cracks in the mix. The simplicity of these lines makes the focus on ROSIE and her vocals. The sweet, light and pure sound that ROSIE sings with is no doubt one to admire and compliment. She sings not only with perfect rhythm, air support, tone and pitch, but also sings with passion. You can’t mistake her singing for anything else other than what it is– passionate. Her words are dripping with ambivalence. There is power in her lyrics, as well as power within her voice. Wanting to create a safe place online through her music, ROSIE found fame after her stripped breakup song, “Never the 1” reached over 15 million views on TikTok. The New York native has a knack for turning pain and loss into motivation and comfort. Along with the titles of mental health advocate, classical violinist, and guitarist, ROSIE now can add the titles of major label recording artist. This 21-year-old singer/songwriter is here to bring a transparent view into her life and emotions. No filter, makeup, or fake news. ROSIE has only just began on her journey to stardom, and you won’t want to miss a thing. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ROSIE:

In "I Wanna," Indonesian artist Alsa depicts a love story to the sweetest of measures. Alsa describes the feeling of being totally infatuated with someone who only wants the best for you. It is a feeling of pure happiness at its highest form that makes the song feel completely infectious to those listening. The sound evokes images of pastel colors and cute scenery. Alsa uses this to her advantage in the visual for the song below. The track feels light and bubbly with the sounds of synth pianos and acoustic guitar. The entrance into the chorus features the sound of chimes making it feel magical. The entrance into the second verse brings in new production elements including an almost trap-like drum pad and shakers. Alsa's vocals are bright and airy, they feel sweet with the sound of the production. The lyrics evoke this feeling of pure bliss, "Feel the sparks all the way // Never feelin' this way // Really brought the sun in my gloomy rainy day." To eventually the feeling that this person could truly be the one, "Feelin' like dreams come true // It's obvious we're meant to be together // I wanna feel you hands hold me tight // Wanna know how you would that me right // Wanna share my day my life my whole night // Spend all my time 'til suns shining bright." Alsa describes the song herself as, "The story of a woman who is falling in love. She feels she's found the right person and imagines how happy it would be to spend the days together." Alsa is an up-and-coming Indonesian artist. "I Wanna" is her second song of 2022, following "Kisah Terima Kasih" featuring fellow artist Jebung. "I Wanna" is her second single that is in all English following the viral hit "NA NA NA," which has racked up over 5 million streams on Spotify alone. With over 300k followers on Instagram and over 10 million followers on TikTok, Alsa has quickly skyrocketed into the hearts of many. Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW ALSA:

“All The Rest” is a bold and outstanding pop song about how it’s ok to be different from all the rest. It’s vibrant, dynamic, and innovative in both its production and the message of the narrative. Everyone has something unique about them, and it’s important to learn to be proud of yourself and your abilities. You don’t need to fall back into the comfort of the crowd; you just need to be yourself. The song is clearly inspired by electro-pop, and Wehbe’s proud and unflinching voice soars over the track, accompanying the inspirational lyrics to inspire you to turn off your phone and act. Despite the setbacks and challenges of life, Melanie states that she truly believes that “when a door closes a new one opens in a beautiful and strange way, even though it can be super tough to see it at the moment.” Listen to your own intuition, your own feelings, and your own actions because at the end of the day, only you will know what’s best for you. Melanie Wehbe is a Swedish artist who’s been awarded multiple gold and platinum records as a singer and songwriter. As a child, in a family full of music, she understood the impact and importance of having music in life, writing songs at the young age of 14. This year, she’ll release her debut EP, which will explore self-acceptance and finding your own inner strength so you can bloom as a person. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW MELANIE:

The ultimate feel-good song of the summer is here! Catt McCreary brings us “Bad Bitch Energy” to encourage and pump us up to have a hot girl summer. This tune is simply nothing else but fun and addictive. “Bad Bitch Energy” gives off nothing but good vibes as it discusses partying with your friends and owning who you are. I love how I could catch on to the lyrics and by the end of the song I was singing “I don’t care what people think/ it’s a mentality/ that bad bitch energy” right along with Catt. I felt so hyped up and like I was ready to go do whatever I wanted to and be hot while doing it. This pop/R&B mix beautifully combines styles and musical elements to create in a new direction of pop. The different influences are striking as they seamlessly combine. Interwoven within this single are elements from pop, soul and hip hop. It has everything you need to get the perfect hit: catchy hooks, broad range in vocals, and fantastic tracking beats. I loved how these bass lines were written and how well the heavy use of synths came into play. Nothing was too overwhelming like you might tend to feel in some modern pop nowadays. Instead, it was chill and effortless. I love this feel that hyped me up while also staying relaxed and easy to groove too. The vibes are simply unparalleled. This Atlanta-born rising star has been exposed to a variety of musical genres throughout her life. Catt McCreary is not stranger to the spotlight having been familiar with numerous instruments as well as preforming live with Jon Batiste, band leader of Stephen Colbert. From her experiences in such, Catt brings us her own unique mix of style that continues to captivate and charm us. Following her first single release back in 2014, Catt has grown wildly popular around Atlanta as well as branching out into other cities too. If you like artists such as Tate McRae and Iggy Azalea, you’ll love Catt McCreary! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW CATT MCCREARY:

There's a moment when we realize that we deserve better. We go through things that let us learn from our mistakes and having the strength to not fall back on old comforts when trying to grow is vital. But when we move on from past relationships or overcome struggles, there's always the chance that the other people involved haven't. "Obvious" by Alex Angelo describes himself as being assured of his position in life so he doesn't need to fall back on an old relationship that did him wrong. This infectious pop track details Angelo realizing that his ex wants him back, but he refuses to let himself fall back into that toxic relationship even if they seem like they've changed. He deems it obvious that his ex is trying all of these tactics to get back together with him, asking in the lyrics why they're dressing themselves up and putting on makeup to impress him. The lyrics, "in the end, I know you're gonna paint me as the enemy" tell listeners that while he knows not getting back into that relationship is the best option, his ex isn't going to see it that way. The building guitar with the first chorus grants intensity to the song, combined with the steady drumbeat lets the track have a nice flow throughout. Alex Angelo is multi-talented-- being a singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ. Growing up in Ohio and born in Florida, Angelo was driven to music from a young age and decided to pursue singing in his teens. Throughout the beginning of his career, Alex Angelo has gone on many tours with big names such as Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony, and Jake Miller. Aspiring to grow bigger, in 2019, Angelo showed a lot of progress, working on his skills as a songwriter/producer and getting the chance to show off his new and improved skills in collaborations with people like Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and more in 2020. Now releasing new music every three weeks, Alex Angelo continues to work on himself through his songs. Written by Jane Katryn FOLLOW ALEX ANGELO:

Whenever you felt like you had the perfect thing to say but didn't, "Excuses," by Seiichi should definitely be added to those late night, "I'm feeling confused and I don't know what to do," playlists at 3:00AM. Seiichi created a peaceful yet impactful catchy melody with a steady and pulsating beat that gradually increases as the artist gets to the chorus of the song. This song, "Excuses," emotionally challenges all of us, not to think of a time where we felt conflicted in a relationship but when we do, we should just lay down and vibe with Seiichi. This is a song that emphasizes love and desire specifically towards coming up with 'excuses.' What is so fascinating is that over the course of the entire song, it never contains or makes a reference to the word, "excuses. To me this is ironic since it seems like Seiichi is making 'excuses' from saying the word. However, the peaceful strumming and calming yet impactful melodic phrases allow the listeners to imply that one of the 'lovers' in the storyline of the song, never has sometime nice to say to the other and makes excuses on why they 'need a little time,' to the point where the other lover which I assume is Seiichi is fed up with the statements, promises and the false commitments and blatantly and humorously sings, "Did I even ask?" Seiichi is a Japanese-American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer from the city of Seattle. What makes Seiichi so charming and captivating, is not only from his looks but his eloquent voice, especially when giving us some perfect falsetto moments within his songs. He is set to perform at many of Seattle's top venues and is slated to perform at the city's premier music festival, Capital Hill Block Party, in Summer 2022. Be sure to follow and support Seiichi's socials down below! ⬇ Written By Troy Sica FOLLOW SEIICHI:

Right place, wrong time; that addictive love story leaving you with plenty of unanswered questions. What other trope is there that’s equal parts heartbreaking and amusing? For Jay Moussa-Mann, this dichotomy is enshrined in her new single, ‘One Summer’s Day’. It’s a playful story about a girl learning to drive one summer in Turkey and meeting a guy that offers to lend her his fancy car. She draws from a nostalgic summer she spent in Turkey, where she evokes the excitement of the Mediterranean lifestyle. It’s full of daydreams, adventure and an unrequited love that’ll keep you hooked to the very end! Immediately, I get Taylor Swift Lover vibes from Moussa-Mann's angelic voice. Shimmering synths and guitar strums are like warm blankets for your heart and create an irresistible ‘90s karaoke night. Moussa-Mann embellished her beautifully vivid lyrics with pure happiness. “I am deep for a Saturday night, and you’re my one summer’s day; motorbike, damp shirt, arms around your waist...is this because I’m so brave?” That “just friends?” to lovers pipeline is super compelling, especially for those who aren’t in a relationship (don't worry, I called myself out too lol). My favorite part is the post-chorus where she says, “You left me the car, you left me the car, you left me .” By including selective repetition, Moussa-Mann conveys mixed emotions effortlessly in this song. And the story itself has twists and turns at the perfect moments! It’s just incredible! Jay Moussa-Mann is undoubtedly inspired by lyrical masterminds like Taylor Swift and Maisie Peters. The singer-songwriter has been featured on BBC 6 Music, Skope Magazine and Love Life; Love Music to name a few. Funny enough, she initially didn’t want to pursue music professionally. Before that, she was an avid filmmaker. In 2018, she switched industries after her original music got played on BBC Introducing. She uses her filmmaking background to create short, yet vibrant scenes as powerful lyrics for her songs. She’s even able to visualize her songs as movies and music videos! I can’t wait to hear more from Moussa-Mann! She would be AMAZING in a collab with T. Swift! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW JAY:

Off of her new album "brain freeze", LEEPA brings us a hypnotic track about feeling like our future is out of our hands. As we've seen in the past two years, life is filled with unpredictable circumstances, and taking control of it is easier said than done. When we fight our way through life, sometimes it feels like we haven't progressed. With this new freedom and remnants of a pandemic in our rearview mirror, we're given more freedom than before, and we're all lost about what to do with it. "future" by LEEPA shows the confusion we have with our progress and how life works differently than we were told. "future" is an anthem for today's generation-- an age that's lost and confused. With hard-hitting lyrics like, "They say, "Do this and do that/And you should feel much better", but I won't" LEEPA criticizes the words of people that lived before her, saying times have changed and the path that might have been there isn't anymore. In the chorus, she continues this by saying, "Where is my future?" and lets us know that we aren't alone in feeling alone. LEEPA pairs her outstanding vocals with an upbeat melody, drums, guitar, and varied reverb to translate the vibe throughout the song. German singer LEEPA comes out with her debut EP "brain freeze", showing off her skills in writing and producing. Taking from the entire spread of emotions, this EP shows LEEPA's versatility and tells listeners that she wants to spread a message of feminism, relatability, and the importance of being authentic. As a female empowerment role model, she strives to use her platform for good by spreading her thoughts in her music to over 188k Spotify listeners. In addition to "future", LEEPA has enamoring tracks like "i'm sorry, are you?", "how to live" and "18"--a selection displaying her dynamic range and musical skill, making her deserve her title as an "Artist to Watch". Jane Katryn FOLLOW LEEPA:

"if i built my home from paper" is so soft and warm, it sounds as if it came straight out of a Disney movie. Not only does the melody and Lexie's voice sound comforting, but the lyrics themselves are also equally as soothing. This song is about that one person in your life that brings you the utmost comfort. The person who you can run to when life starts to drown you. The person that makes it feel as if that storm turned into a drizzle. The person who makes it feel as if every issue in the world has suddenly melted away. Lexie perfectly executed expressing this feeling through this piece, since this song gives the same level of comfort that your special person would. Since Lexie executed this song so well, listeners are able to feel this piece on a personal level. Lexie has that kind of voice that was made for singing heartfelt pieces, a voice so sweet that she's able to express this topic perfectly. This song is comprised of softer-sounding instruments, such as the piano and string instruments, in order to craft the consoling sound. Her lyrics match the same level of comfort that the other aspects of this song achieve. The line "it's a trouble living in this world but it's home when you are there" in particular stood out to me as a great example for the song overall. This line, and the others like it, are so touching. This song was so well-produced and reveals just how talented Lexie is with her singing/songwriting. Lexie Carroll is a London-based, 17-year-old singer-songwriter exploring the fragility of modern life. Painting vivid pictures for her audience, Lexie’s pensive vocals flourish above her acoustic guitar as she immerses you in her vulnerability. A gifted songwriter, Lexie has been placed in the Top 10 for the Song Academy Young Songwriter Competition in 2019 and 2020, and last year was shortlisted in the Top 3. In September 2021, she was awarded second place. Lexie released 'Nearly Home' at the age of 14 and achieved 86K+ streams on Spotify and received support from Lost In The Wood s playlist. This year she released the EP when the sun came up. Four singles from the EP made New Music Friday on Spotify and she also got support on Our Generation, Fresh Finds Uk, and many editorial playlists. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW LEXIE CARROLL: