“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:

‘Nothing Hurts Better’ by Lorelei Marcell isn’t about what you think it is. On the first listen, you might think this is about relationship drama. However, the more subtle surrounding soundscape tells a very different story. It paints a stunning picture of separation anxiety, which Marcell experienced following her move to Los Angeles. “Wasn’t the first one to fall...something always goes wrong; you know how I am on my own.” Being away from her family and friends was a huge change, undoubtedly tough. She fell in love with the city, but she often tried to downplay her insecurities intertwined with this massive life change. Even so, she was incredibly determined to figure it all out. Marcell’s resilience comes into sharp focus here! There are so many facets to this masterpiece of a song. First, Marcell’s sultry vocals feel so enlivening! She has this raw determination to succeed, and she’s unafraid to push through and embrace her anxiety. Second, I absolutely love the subtle build-ups in the background. Feel-good synths later become supercharged by rhythmic guitar and trap beats. Then, the stripped-back bridge is beautifully emotive and provides clarity on Marcell’s deep-seated emotions. Finally, the lyrics SLAP! “Nothing feels the same way anymore...never gonna stop this back-and-forth; nothing hurts better, loving you like that.” She doesn’t shy away from her discomfort. Rather, she reframes it as motivation to keep going despite the difficulties. Marcell gets so real with you and it's truly something special! If ‘Nothing Hurts Better’ has taught me anything, it’s that Lorelei Marcell is a powerful independent artist who’s not afraid to be her most authentic self. Stepping into a new chapter, her R&B-influenced indie pop sound is backed by a hefty dose of realness. She lets her emotions ground her; inspiring her and others to excellence. Since releasing her breakout hit ‘Losing Myself’ in 2019, Marcell has grown exponentially as an artist and as a person. I have a good feeling that she’s only going to go above and beyond from here! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW LORELEI:

There's a stressful insinuation that we have to have our lives together by our twenties, but it's a time where everything is unpredictable, and we're learning how to just go with it. So, in a song that makes you want to run out into the summer rain and scream-sing along, "Twenty Something (All or Nothing)" by Bre Kennedy tells the world that life in our twenties is a beautiful mess, but it's something she's thankful for. This single is about celebrating the good and the bad, the stressful and emotional parts of being in your twenties. I think it can be summed up well in the repeated lyric, "scared I'm running out of time" because of how fleeting the world makes it out to be. The song starts with the joys of young adulthood, doing reckless things yet never feeling fulfilled by them. We're built up with so much emotion and never told what to do with it, but as Bre Kennedy says, "It's all or nothing"-- all we can do is go full throttle and hope for the best. The song dives deep with instruments, strengthening the idea behind the lyrics with the building intensity of the drums and then dramatically dropping into silence at the last words to give the track a feeling of acceptance. The accompanying music video gives us insight into Kennedy's experiences with this-- showing locations from where she crashed her car to where she learned who she is. Coming back from a nearly sold-out tour with Joy Oladokun and a debut Bonnaroo performance, singer/songwriter Bre Kennedy releases her charming single "Twenty Something (All or Nothing)". The Nashville-based singer released the original acoustic version of the song back in January of 2020 and renewed the single to signify her start of releasing new music post-pandemic. Starting in the fall, Bre Kennedy will be releasing new music and accompanying Rag'N'Bone Man on tour beginning in Minneapolis. Jane Katryn FOLLOW BRE KENNEDY:

Sad summer vibes are here with Nick Kandler's new anthem, "Kill You Slowly." It's about the feeling of knowing you messed up in a relationship. The idea that maybe you're the reason you cannot be with this person that you desire. The different motives that can cause this rift, including self destructive behaviors, lies, and even your own personal demons. Kandler carefully crafts and describes this feeling vividly. The track is full of guitars in the instrumentation, and the sounds of synths and drums are layered carefully underneath. Kandler's voice smoothly croons over the production, with unique flow and melody. The drums come in heavy as the chorus comes in, and you feel it in your chest how hard hitting this track is. The lyrics discuss the topic of how Kandler feels he let this person down, "You said don't lie to you // I'm a one way road and how little do you know, and I // I wish I could've been good to you." Kandler also lets us know into what might've been the motive for this, "My demons come // You let him in // Over throw your inhibitions." In the end, the two fall apart and Kandler is trying to soften the blow of the pain he's caused, "Paint you a picture of me // So I don't leave you lonely // Like a bullet in your heart I can't stop // So close it off // Or it'll kill you slowly." Nick Kandler is a singer, songwriter, vocalist, producer, and sound designer based in Los Angeles, California. "Kill You Slowly" is his third single, and the second released in 2022. It comes shortly after "Stay" released back in February. Nick has been featured on songs with fellow artists Sembari and Blix. Kandler describes the feeling of his music as "euphoric." 2022 is shaping up to be a massive year for the artist. Written By Kyle Stiver FOLLOW NICK KANDLER:

Salvatore Manalo’s newest hit “Let You Go” is a soothing intimate hit. His voice soars and shines while accompanied by a simple guitar and a groovy rhythm section. This song’s style channels mid 90’s slower hits and is bringing me back to my childhood listening to Enrique Iglesias and the Backstreet Boys. His layered vocals and instrumental tracks are smoothly integrated, and the overall feel of this song is just smooth like caramel. The lyrics really hit home too. Don’t be fooled by the upbeat feel, this song will tug at your heartstrings like it did me. He says on his Facebook: “ Writing this was more difficult than I thought it’d be, but I’m not all that great with words and I had so much more to say to Kian before he left. We just wanted him to know he was loved by so many, so I wrote him a song .” Once you really listen to the lyrics, you’ll understand. This song is beautiful and heartbreaking as well. “Let You Go” is simple yet powerful. It’s clear the intent this song has was to dig into the lyrics. At first, the upbeat style may make you think it’s a love song but “Our baby dressed in blue” tells a different story. “ We placed your crib across the room to catch the morning sun.” His lyrics and songwriter capture the heartache he’s going through perfectly. I can’t imagine how hard it could have been to write this but hopefully this hit will help him heal. The backing instrumentals and layered vocals add to the texture perfectly and really draw the listener in. The most powerful part, however, is the ending. After all the grooves, catchy choruses and bridges, the last line and lick end just abruptly. This gave chills immediately on my first listen and I think it’s done beautifully. From Portland Oregon, Salvatore Manalo is a jack of all trades. A singer, songwriter, producer, and instrumentalist. While relatively new, he is drawing a pretty good following. “Let you go” has over 24k listens and his soulfully powerful cover of I Put A Spell On You has over 180K listens on Spotify. He is an artist to keep your ear out for. He owns his own label “And the Vibe is Records” and is actively taking clients as well! His songwriting and production quality are top notch! Written By Bryan Massey FOLLOW SALVATORE MANALO:

Your new song "Sunset" is a great blend of Pop and Rock! What was the inspiration behind it? Amanda: I quite literally wrote "Sunset" while watching the sunset in LA. The hook popped into my head right away, so I was kind of brainstorming and as I figured out who I was writing the song about... this same person texted me 5 minutes later after we hadn't talked in months. That was my sign that I was onto something! The production is a lot more pop than I usually do, but I wanted to really capture that real-life moment in the LA pop vibe and the 80s synth influences. Who are a few of your biggest influences? Amanda: My influences range all over pop, country, and rock music. A few key ones include: Taylor Swift, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Aerosmith, Kelsea Ballerini, Demi Lovato, Kalie Shorr, Sasha Sloan, Mayday Parade, All Time Low, Martina McBride, and LeAnn Rimes. What inspired you to pursue music professionally? Amanda: I've always had a passion for writing songs, but no one ever told me that I could make music a full-time career without being famous. I learned this at 18 when my aunt mentioned that someone we knew was getting paid money to play cover songs at bars. That became my immediate mission: to establish financial stability playing music even if it wasn't my own at first. The real journey has been transitioning into making that same amount of money through my original music. I'm about half and half now. What was it like launching your career in New England? Amanda: I used to regret not moving to Nashville sooner, but in hindsight, I really appreciate that I had the chance to hone my skills, gain industry experience and build my resume with award recognition and opening for bigger headliners at home, before throwing myself into a music pool as large as Nashville's. I was never a "hometown hero"; I can't even get my hometown to publish a news article on me or book me for the summer concert series. But I received tremendous support from other cities in New Hampshire, Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, and even New York City. It was that support that helped me build the confidence to take things even further. It also taught me the valuable lesson that artists have bigger fish to fry than their hometowns, and that it's far more valuable to be the small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond. What's your experience been like in Nashville over the past 2 years? How has it differed from when you first got started? Amanda: I moved to Nashville in August 2020, mid-pandemic. I was lucky to find some opportunities right away to start cutting my teeth here. I will say, while I am genuinely inspired by country music, I felt like I had to hide the Pop/Rock parts of me at first and focus on just being country. In my first photo shoot here, I got all dolled up in boots and the cowgirl vibe and it just wasn't me at all. What makes me, me, is that I bring influence from all three of those genres. As time went on and I played more shows and met more people, I found the communities that also value Pop/Rock music and I have regained that confidence to showcase all of my influences equally and authentically. What has been your favorite live performance? Amanda: I have a few. One is that I just recently played a sold-out show at the iconic Listening Room Cafe in Nashville and heard this crowd sing my original music with me. I cried. I had a side-stage opening slot for Train at the Xfinity Center in Massachusetts a few years back where the crowd truly made me feel like a rockstar. My other all-time favorite performance was when I was playing a bar gig in New Hampshire, and Steven Tyler from Aerosmith walked into the bar. I performed an Aerosmith song for him, and it ended up gaining major traction regionally. I credit that moment for giving me the confidence to truly believe that I'll make it in Nashville, whether that includes large-scale success or not. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW AMANDA: