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Being yourself can be hard. The media says ‘be like this’, people in our lives say ‘be like that’. There’s always someone trying to tell you the way to live. Max Rae is here to empower you with her new song ‘March’. She is over listening to others and living an unauthentic life. Instead, she uses her own self confidence to start living the life she wants. People will gossip and say what they want, but Rae doesn’t care. She’s ready to live her life on her own terms and is encouraging everyone to do the same. Find your own marching beat with this new pop anthem. Click here to listen to 'March' ‘March’ starts off quiet with Rae speaking about how the expectations of others can be a burden. She quickly establishes her independence with the lyrics, ‘I refuse to live my life in fear/ so you can say what you want, what you want about me’. Each verse ends with this reminder to unapologetically be yourself. That being said, Rae also understands the struggle in being confident. There’s a back and forth throughout the song as Rae is met with the criticisms of others, causing her moments of self-doubt, but reminds herself to stay strong. The music reflects these ups and down, starting off with a low and heavy beat that continually builds to become strong and fun in the choruses. These ups and downs reflect the path many face when living their lives unabashed. The song ends on a high with Rae repeating the word ‘march’, leaving listeners with a lasting reminder to keep your head up and be true to yourself. Max Rae wants to perform for the world. With a background in dance, Rae is dedicated to making the best shows possible for her fans. Inspired by artists like Whitney Houston, she hopes to leave a lasting impact on audiences. ‘March’, is available to stream now on Spotify. Keep an eye out for the music video, premiering April 22nd! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW MAX:

Everyone has been in a position where they wished life had a manual. A step-by-step instruction to figuring out life’s complex hurdles would be great. In her new song, ‘How To Be Happy’, RUNN longs for some type of instruction. She’s emotionally lost, not sure why she can’t find happiness anymore. She tries again and again, searching for something, anything , to help her feel. As the last notes ring out, RUNN is left with her questions, still on the search for a way to be happy once again. RUNN layers emotionally driven lyrics over an infectious pop beat in ‘How To Be Happy’, Listeners are immediately captivated by her honest and vulnerable tone. She’s baring her intimate emotions to the audience, expressing the uncertainty she feels with life. With such heavy emotion written into the lyrics, this song could be a story of hopelessness. Instead, an easy-going pop beat helps create a feeling of hope and builds movement into the song. During the verses the beat is calm. It’s as though RUNN is walking, searching for a way to find happiness. Then at the chorus, the beat intensifies, creating the image of RUNN running to find answers. This movement reflects RUNN’s frustration and exhaustion with trying to find her happiness. The search is hard, but she continues to persevere. By the end of the song, RUNN hasn’t found her answers. Her last lyric, ‘Can somebody help me’, gives the listener hope that even after the song concludes, RUNN is not going to stop her search. Coming from the world of EDM, RUNN is creating her own voice as a solo artist. RUNN has established herself in the electronic music scene, working with influential artists such as Seven Lions. Now, as a singer-songwriter, RUNN is bringing a new sense of intimacy to her work. Her music feels personal, almost like she’s giving you a glimpse into her mind. RUNN’s previous works, along with ‘How To Be Happy’, are available to stream now on Spotify. Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW RUNN:

"Cause you're a killjoy; you're a cowboy; run for the hills or anywhere else" is the wise words of the chorus on Callaghan Belle's new single "Killjoy." As the title states, a killjoy is someone who is a major buzzkill and causes tons of problems to others. Callaghan describes a relationship with this killjoy of a man whose intentions are not only bad but nightmare-inducing. She is just trying to be miss independent and get rid of the negative waves of energy that projects off this guy. The cryptic mood of the song fits the killjoy theme perfectly since there are no sunshine and rainbows with having to deal with a mope. Callaghan has beautiful vocals with great range that brings some bright elements to the song which is not shown much in the instrumentation itself. The background vocals that Callaghan blends in to the main track is damn good and the pitched-down soundscapes used really complements the mellow delivery of the overall song. The electric piano has a somber reflection to it as well as the 1-2-3-4-etc rhythm that is going on with the kickdrum. Both of these elements are the cherry on top! Callaghan practices simplicity in a emotional and ear-catching way. Callaghan Belle is a singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles who has been active in the music scene for the last couple years dropping singles like "can't hang" and "Run Into You" in 2020 as well as the mini LP titled "Sovereign" in 2019. Callaghan also has a deep passion for acting and has made herself a name in the acting world as well with movies like "Twisted Sisters" in 2016 and "Extinction" in 2018 in which she had a hand in both the acting and soundtrack work. Don't be a killjoy! Go give her a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW CALLAGHAN:

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. MAXINE did exactly this when her summer fling didn’t work out. Looking past the disappointment, she turned it into ‘Only Us’, a summer pop anthem that sends you to love central! It’s an appreciation of those who you could spend every single day with, and time simply stops when you’re around them. “You keep me sane, you make me laugh, and I don't understand how I got you.” This reminds me of when I met one of my best friends in the entire world. There are no awkward silences, and they’re one of the greatest cheerleaders I have. That invigorating sensation is just what MAXINE delivers on! I love the melody because it’s refreshingly optimistic and really shows how much MAXINE cares about the people in her life. “You see everything that I don’t see, love the least favorite parts of me; you make me smile when my world fades to blue.” Those are the best types of people! With her lyrics, MAXINE creates her own summer fling for you to live it up and freely express all the love you’ve got. Her vibrant vocals are dance-worthy, and they’re empowered by an uplifting, synth-filled ambiance. MAXINE, you’re fabulous! Not only for putting us in a jubilant mood, but also for making us feel right at home in your corner of the world! Multi-talented Dutch artist MAXINE aspires to be like Zara Larsson: a trailblazer in pop music. In fact, during her time at Musikmakarna, Sweden’s grand music school for songwriters, she met Larsson, as well as famed producer and songwriter Max Martin. She used experiences like these to fuel her music career, and now she’s blossoming! What really makes MAXINE stand out is her ability to create songs that are not only relatable, but also filled to the brim with passion. ‘Only Us’ is a great example of that. She is 100% worth the follow! For more music, I recommend her debut EP ‘Minor felt Major’, which is a notable chapter in her story! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW MAXINE:

“Buried Alive” beautifully conveys the feeling of not wanting to let go of something– whether that be a physical object, memory or emotion. Sophia Alexa describes how when people attach to things, it’s more than being just them being materialistic. In truth, it’s about wanting to have some sort of permanence in their lives. She sings, “Holding my past until I fall” showing that sometimes we would rather be hurt by holding onto our past than just letting go of it. Ultimately, we are just trying to fill some void or emotion with objects or memories, but we have to learn to let go of it and live our life. Sophia sings with very impressive vocals, showing off her skill by singing in a higher range of notes all the while keeping an airy, light, and delicate tone. Combined with the support of piano, “Buried Alive” becomes a masterful indie-pop ballad. The best part of this song is the expertly created bridge. The bass and piano cut out leaving exposed vocals to create a pause in the musical flow. It gives a chance for listeners to really hear and understand the new lyrics that are being sung. “What if time just passes by and/ What if life’s not what I want it”, the lyrics in the bridge go into the real fear that people have– that life won’t go the way they want, so it’s better to hold onto the past where they know it’s safe. These lyrics introduce the deeper meaning of “Buried Alive”, showing that it’s our fear we are hoarding in these material objects, and we have to let go of both. Sophia Alexa grew up writing poetry, playing guitar and songwriting. Her inspiration came from a lot of classic singers like Stevie Nicks and Neil Young, and they helped influence her style to be a mix of folk, pop, and soulful elements. Sophia recently released an EP, titled Groundwork, where “Buried Alive” is a featured song. Her EP represents herself as an artist and the journey she has made to get to where she is now. Her vulnerable, honest and meaningful lyrics makes her music relatable for everyone to listen to. This rising indie-pop star is not one to forget, make sure to keep an eye out for more great hits by Sophia Alexa! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW SOPHIA ALEXA:

James Walker questions his perceptions of a partner in his new single ‘Expectations’. He talks about the unrealistic expectations we put on others and how they’re going to miraculously fix all our problems. He identifies the feeling of dependency towards this person and asks himself, “Am I in love with you, or my expectations?” It's tough to make this distinction, especially since society pressures us to conform to others rather than complement them. But Walker’s got a beautiful way of deciphering his heart, and that’s one of the most captivating pieces of this song. “I want you to love me like I need you if we’re ever gonna last.” Walker constructs his story through rose-colored glasses; romanticizing his expectations with a reverberant electro-pop sound. When Walker’s silky and resonant vocals come in, it’s a sensational battle of emotions versus the mind. Illusory vocal harmonies and electronic instruments appear distant, as if telling you to look beyond the surface to determine how you really feel about them. That’s an attractive melody! This is a great song for when you’re in your feels and want to give your mind some clarity! As a singer/songwriter, James Walker gets inspiration from experiences that shaped him. From consistently being on the move to having two open heart-surgeries by age 21, he’s got an incredibly unique background. From his debut album ‘English Bones’, his evocative lyrics and mesmerizing stories have been highly praised by a global audience. He’s written about everything from introspection to codependency. Walker’s distinctive musical footprint is truly inspiring, and ‘Expectations’ is just a snippet of that. Be on the lookout for more singles from his upcoming 3rd album! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW JAMES:

Too many of us have discovered the effects of COVID-19 over the past few years. Many opportunities, events, and memories have been taken from us and now as we struggle to achieve a new normal, we find ourselves feeling lost in the world. “FAMOUS” embodies these feelings we can all relate to as Robyn Harris talks about the post COVID-19 world. She expertly describes how most of us feel like our hopes and dreams for future are dying. This has left us questioning our self-worth and wondering what the point of all of this is. The best thing about “FAMOUS” is the message in the lyrics that Robyn sings. “I’m just a regular person with regular thoughts”. A common idea that I’m sure has circulated about everyone’s mind over these quarantine years is the idea that really, we’re just regular people with nothing that special about us. But, we shouldn’t let our achievements determine our self-worth. Robyn sings these lyrics showing that it’s okay to feel a little lost right now as you try to grow into yourself and figure out who you are. This message is really about just being you and living life how you want, regardless of how successful you are. You don’t have to be famous to be happy and special. Robyn Harris is an Indie-pop artist from Nashville, TN. Her music combines synths and acoustic elements to create her own unique sound that is recognizable anywhere. The up-and-coming artist was recently named one of Turned Up Music’s “46 Nashville Artists to watch in 2020”. Along with this, Robyn has been featured in prestigious showcases like Musician’s Corner and Women on Fire. Robyn is making her mark on the music industry, and you won’t want to miss out on a second of her success! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ROBYN HARRIS:

Edwina Maben’s song “go tell yesterday” is the perfect mix between pop and Disney. Featuring a beautiful voice, a driving beat, and an awesome guitar, Maben creates a sense of hope and power in the world; something we could all use a little more of. The line “that if yesterday hurt me, tomorrow is gonna heal me” provides an idea of strength and courage in the face of tragedy as it fiddles with the concept that time can heal the wounds of the past. I think this message is absolutely beautiful and provides a foundation for people who are suffering throughout the world’s crises. What a great song! While I could talk all day about the stunning voice that is Edwina Maben, I think it’s important to describe what else makes this song magical. A classic mix of guitar, keyboard, bass, and strings, this song has a strong foundation that just screams motivation. I love the use of a classic drum set (which is often absent in modern pop music) as it provides a very human-esq feeling compared to some 808s. The overdubs and harmonies on the vocal creates the idea that a group is singing instead of one person, giving the melody more weight and meaning. The professionalism of the mix is also top-notch! From Denver, Colorado, singer/songwriter Edwina Maben is an emerging talent in the music industry. After being selected as a top 5 finalist in Guitar Center’s 2017 national songwriting contest, Edwina went on to attend the University of Colorado with a degree in recording arts and computer science. She’s performed for notable spaces such as: The Troubadour (LA), Colorado & Company (9NEWS), and TEDxMileHigh and has made a large impact in the community with Youth on Record's FEMpowered program and Music Minds Matter. You can check out her music on Spotify, Pandora, and Youtube or go visit her social media links to find the latest information on new songs, news, and more! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW EDWINA:

"Neither one of us want this summer to end" is a true reflection of a warm and inviting relationship that bonds well and does not break. On Kaiyah Mercedes' brand new debut single titled "After Summer Ends", Kaiyah sings about a two-faced relationship that felt like being on an endless plane in paradise but crashed when summer vacation was over. The songwriting done by Kaiyah is majestic and it puts you in a place of deep meditation and introspection that is human to all of us when it comes to ultimate love & trust in someone. Kaiyah also is talking about difficult changes in one's life that can become a permanent negative in someone's mind. As the summer sun sets, the love in the air gets colder over time. This song is a hell of a journey! Just like getting into a summer fling! The production is super crisp and clean with the beautiful electric guitar riffs as well as the acoustic guitar that contradicts smoothly to the electricity of the rockstar guitar being used. Kaiyah's monotone yet enchanting vocals over the melancholy instrumentation fits perfectly. The sound effects of the seagulls and warped background vocals adds on to the chorus as well as the end of the song when it closes out with the seagulls flocking away from the shore. How awesome is that! Kaiyah Mercedes is a rising singer-songwriter from Australia who has taught herself piano and guitar over her lifetime. Kaiyah loves to sing and write folk-pop songs that is inspired by the haikus of nature as well as the global and personal struggles that have came with the coronavirus. Kaiyah is dropping a hot new single titled "I Don't Know Who You Are Anymore" which you can catch when it's released on April 29th. Go give her a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW KAIYAH:

'VIOLETS' by KID TRAVIS is a love song that makes use of the refreshing air of spring. It’s this season’s liberating, but not scorching warmth that’s so attractive (and underrated, in my opinion). He spins that into a free-flowing, energetic tune. “You take me high like a pilot, listen to the music it goes on and on...with violets everywhere.” Violets are often indicative of an innocent, down-to-earth kind of love. KID TRAVIS takes that concept and turns it into a charming love story. It has a sort of lighthearted feel that’s intimate, but also pure. A prominent feature of the song is the sound of pages turning and pens scribbling. It’s like KID TRAVIS pens a storybook-style romance right in front of you. He solidifies that sensation with upbeat guitar licks and an Ed Sheeran-esque pop production. Maintaining this warm and airy feel, he adds his soulful voice overtop and it sounds amazing! The lyrics speak of the finer details of this special person that KID TRAVIS has fallen head-over-heels in love with. When you hear the tolling bells in the background, that’s when you know that this love is one of a kind. Sometimes it really is the little things in life that evoke the most joy, just like this song! KID TRAVIS is incredible because he has no genre limitations and can make any song his own. The singer, songwriter and instrumentalist is best known for creating music with melodic punk and trap undertones. However, songs like 'VIOLETS' take other influences like Afro-pop and soul music to really diversify his sound. That testifies to his well-established presence on YouTube and Spotify, where he has more than 480K subscribers and 2.5 million monthly listeners, respectively. Go check him out because you’ll surely find songs of his that'll speak to you! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW KID TRAVIS:

I am in love with your beautiful, yet haunting, new single “Brave New World”! What is the story behind this track and what inspired you to write it? Emmrose: Aw thank you so much! I’ve been really inspired by dystopian worlds in novels recently, and wanted to create a song inspired by it! Brave New World was one of the first songs I’ve written on the guitar, and it started with an arpeggio, and kinda continued from there! When did music become something you wanted to pursue? Was there someone or something that happened in your life that started your passion for music? Emmrose: Oh yes, even when I was very young, I was always drawn to music. I would make up my own little melodies and attach stories to them. I thought of myself as a little composer, I could hear all the parts in my head. It was all original too! (Though maybe not very good haha) You have such a great fashion sense! Who are your biggest style inspirations? Emmrose: Ah! I love fashion so much. I love keeping up with trends and making them my own, especially using pieces I already have or buying second hand. Thrifting and wearing vintage is just such a blast for me. I love coordinating outfits with my mood as well as with what I’m doing that day. I probably spend too much of my day planning future outfits (but I’m always in a rush in the morning and never have time to make them happen!!) So yes, I love fashion. I’m especially drawn to the grunge fairy aesthetic, cottage core, and dark academia! (All Pinterest Aesthetics haha) How have you liked living in NYC and studying at The New School? Emmrose: Oh god I love NYC! I’ve lived here my whole life, and I honestly can’t picture living anywhere else. Right now i’m in a cute coffee shop a few blocks away from my next class, but I might go to a cute bookstore and record shop in the meantime. There’s just so much to do in NYC! Going to Uni here is also pretty cool. I’m meeting a lot of really great people at the New School and have never felt better about my social life. High school was a really isolating time for me, and I felt like I was always trying to be someone I’m not. At University I can really just be the fashion loving history nerd who also writes music version of myself, and not have to ‘fit’ in to have friends. If you could be featured on an album by any artist, who would you pick and why? Emmrose: Ooo, I’d love to be featured in a Taylor Swift album! I love the song she recently made with Phoebe Bridgers (as well as pretty much everything Taylor does haha) I also love Taylor’s new vibe, being more indie and introspective. I am such a genuine fan of your music, and I can’t wait to see where your career leads you! Do you have any upcoming projects you can talk about? Emmrose: Thank you so much! I have so many exciting things going on such as putting together some shows in NYC, as well as releasing new singles- which will then be an album! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW EMMROSE:

“In the Movies” is an introspective song that reflects on the passing of time and making the most of the present. The best times of your lives are the ones right now, no matter how old you are, but you’re living your best life when you’re present. CHANDLER remarks on how though he might feel hit with FOMO, he knows that when he’s older and more successful, he’ll look back on his penny-pinching days fondly. For him, the journey is more desired than the success, evidence of all of the hard work he’s put in to get to where he is today. Click here to listen to "In the Movies"! CHANDLER’s soulful voice is only emphasized by the complex emotions he carefully crafts in his narrative. His song focuses on mature themes, looking at how his life has been affected by his choices while hopeful for the future. His insecurities and complexities are barred for the world to see and people to relate to. He finds a really refreshing way of untangling complex feelings in a single description or narrative and gives us the language to unpack the emotions we might be feeling right now. Set against the background of the piano and guitar, the song flows seamlessly from reflective to building up and exploding in the chorus. CHANDLER’s careful focus on the layering and narrative creates a faultless delivery conveying his personal story and personality to the audience. A singer-songwriter from Alabama, CHANDLER focuses on carefully crafting personal stories and sounds to unpack the complex emotions someone might be feeling at all stages in life. Influenced by those like LAUV, FINNEAS, and JP SAXE, CHANDLER uses his writing to speak his truth, almost therapeutic in nature. Currently living in Los Angeles, CHANDLER has collaborated with a multitude of people from New York to Portland for his upcoming album. Be sure to check it out, as CHANDLER’s contemplative songs strike chords that you may not even know have existed. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW CHANDLER: