Your new song "Petty" is such a dynamic, upbeat, dance song! What's the story behind it? Alyssa: I had heard a lot of songs, especially on TikTok, about seeking revenge on your exes after a breakup. But what about if you don’t want to give the time or energy to them? Petty is ironically about not being petty towards an ex. What made you decide to pursue music professionally? Alyssa: I have always been a massive fangirl. I struggled a lot during high school and turned to music to cope. Sometimes I would be at concerts multiple times a week, and would even go to some alone. When I was watching my favourite artists up on stage, I kept picturing myself in their position and imagining what it would be like to have a room full of people singing your songs back to you. Since then, I made the decision to study music performance and songwriting at university and haven’t looked back. Who are your biggest influences? Alyssa: I have so many! I love Kehlani, H.E.R, Ella Mai, Kiana Ledé and Ariana Grande but then I also take a lot of inspiration from Bastille lyrically. What challenges have you faced breaking into the music industry? Alyssa: My biggest challenge has been learning to be my own fan. I was bullied all throughout high school, especially when people found out I wanted to be a singer. It got to a point where I couldn’t perform without having an anxiety attack. Eventually, I realized that the only person stopping me is myself and I won’t get anywhere if I don’t have faith in myself. What would you do if you weren't a musician? Alyssa: That’s a really tough one! I went through so many dream jobs over the years from becoming a pediatrician to a makeup artist. It honestly wasn’t until I realized I could have a career in music that I knew that I had found my dream job. What's in store for you in the near future? Any new projects in the works or upcoming gigs? Alyssa: I am working on plenty of new music. Not sure exactly when I will be releasing again as I want to make sure everything is as perfect as possible but just know there is new music in the works. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW ALYSSA PALMER:

Congratulations on all the success of your single “Where the Light Dances”! What is the story behind this song? Yamaree: Thank you! It has been so crazy to watch the song grow since it’s release. I wrote this song after a three year break from music! It is a song coming from a a vulnerable place, questioning my purpose and my faith! I wrote it as a desperate cry towards the Lord for Him to show up in my life and direct me! How did music find its way into your life? And what made you want to enter the Christian/Gospel genre? Yamaree: Music has always been apart of me! I’ve been writing songs since I was 8 years old- I don’t remember a day where I didn’t write or sing something! It’s funny though, I never thought I’d end up in the Christian/Gospel genre…it just sort of happened at the right time! How has the move to Charlotte treated you? And what inspired you to make the big step moving across the country? Yamaree: Moving to Charlotte was the best and hardest thing I’ve done haha! It has been a stepping stone for my dreams which I did not expect. We moved primarily for my husband’s job. He does studio work for a large worship label out here which has been a huge blessing for my music opportunities as well! Who would you say are your biggest inspirations when it comes to your music and songwriting? Yamaree: I have SO many but the biggest inspirations I have are Tori Kelly, Amanda Cook and Noah Kahan! What are a few items on your bucket list when it comes to your music career? Yamaree: I would love to go on tour, that has always been my biggest dream! But also doing a duet with Tori Kelly is also at the top of my list What can we expect next from you? I can’t wait to see what you have planned! Yamaree: I am currently working on an album! I am very excited and proud of the songs I’m writing. This is the first album I have intentionally wrote for and it’s been really healing! I can’t wait for the world to hear! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW YAMAREE:

They say that “you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t force him to drink.” Ceara Cavalieri’s gritty pop/rock song, “Used”, is about a one-sided relationship. Cavalieri is showing her partner how much she cares, but he does not seem to be returning the favor. She can show him how much she cares, but she can’t force him to care. Realizing that her efforts were fruitless, she got out of the relationship. Cavalieri makes it crystal clear that knows her worth. This breakup may be sad, but a queen will straighten her crown and know that the best is yet to come. One aspect of the song that I liked was the angry guitar. It starts at the very beginning and continues all the way though. Cavalieri is using the whole song to release her negative feelings. I feel like the guitar was the perfect musical representation of anger. The progression of her feelings is demonstrated well in the chorus. At first, Cavalieri is trying to reassure herself in supposing that “the text didn’t get though.” She then gets angry and begs the question, “why don’t you care?” Overall, I hope this song will inspire its listeners to raise their standards and to never settle for anything less than. Ceara Cavalieri discovered a love for music from a very young age. So far, she has released six singles. If you enjoyed listening to “Used,” her other single, “Radio Silence,” has a similar sound. Surprisingly, Cavalieri is a woman of many talents. Along with writing powerhouse breakup songs, she also has a degree in Psychology from UCLA. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW CEARA CAVALIERI:

How many of us can relate to having a one-sided friendship? Probably all of us. “Friend Like Me” is a song about just this– having a bad friend. It’s always one person doing everything in the relationship: texting first, making plans, listening to the other person’s problems, and even just showing they care through nice gestures. Being the friend who always does the work with nothing in return can get tiring and damaging. You get to a point of resenting the friend for not reciprocating affection and it ultimately can tear people apart. “Friend Like Me” represents that point in the relationship where you realize it’s one-sided and wish that someone would treat you how you treat them, aka: a friend like you. Starting off with some piano and synths, “Friend Like Me” takes on a chill, cool vibe. The longer melodic phrasing in the bass lines and synths creates a more intense kind of feel. It reflects Grae’s emotions well I think, how she’s kind of over it and a little pissed off over the friendship. The moderate tempo also helps create this mood of “badass/cool”. When I hear this song, I feel like I should be runway walking all powerful like. The single really does hold an air of power around it. It’s all about Grae realizing like “damn, this friend sucks, I could do so much better”. It’s about moving on and knowing your worth– don’t stick with someone who doesn’t value you like you value them. I think that’s not only an important message, but also, it’s conveyed through a song that gives off confidence and power. Rachel Grae is based in the New York tri-state area where she can be found writing and preforming with her keyboard. The up-and-coming star has found her way to the spotlight through her large following on social media such as TikTok. The early draft of “Friend Like Me” went viral on TikTok racking up 7.3 million views and 1.5 million likes. With the support of her passionate fanbase, she got to the studio and worked to release this new single. Rachel draws inspiration from Kelly Clarkson and Adele as well as younger artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae. Grae’s music is emotional and vulnerable, always bringing honesty to her fans. Grae continues to put out music that will resonate with people, keep a look out for more great songs from Rachel! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW RACHEL GRAE:

There’s Proverb that goes, “be not deceived with the first appearance of things, for show is not substance. I think Tilsen would not agree more with this quote. In her song, “Like I Do,” she reflects upon how her romantic partner is seemingly perfect to the outside. However, behind closed doors, things could not be more different. In reality, her knight in shining armor treats her horribly. I would argue that Tilsen was probably afraid to speak up because she feared being called a liar. In singing “Like I Do,” Tilsen is using music as an outlet to face her fears. I liked the progression of the song. Tilsen seems to perfectly illustrate the unfolding of her ex-lover’s personality. In the first verse, she talks about the good side of his personality. Tilsen recalls the times when he would bring her flowers after a hard day at work. When it gets to the chorus, Tilsen sings, “everybody knows you, but they don’t know you, not like I do. In the next verses, she transitions to talking about the darker sides of her ex’s personality. In fact, the first line of the second verse is “Close the door and you’re a different person.” Going back to the chorus, Tilsen brings up a valuable point that is not mentioned in the Proverb. That is, all the things you hide in the dark will eventually come to light. Tilsen was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She was the daughter of an opera singer which fostered a deep fondness for the human voice. “Like I Do” is a song off of her second EP, Little Worse . If you want to hear another side of her, “Forever, For Now” is another song in that collection. While “Like I Do” is reflecting on old love, “Forever, For Now” is bursting with the happiness of new love. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW TILSEN:

The Buckleys latest single is brimming with fun, innocent pop-country energy. “Oops I Love You” is quirky, bubbly and a great piece of songwriting from the Australian sibling-trio. This is their first single for 2022 and is hitting charts in their native Australia as well as making their way up the American charts. This is also one of The Buckley’s first major single since the pandemic. “Oops I Love You” Is a fantastic mix of quirky country and Americana/pop. The song structure is classic pop country style, but each part feels well thought out and structured. The bridges really tie the verse and chorus together beautifully with some interesting effects. The lyrics are fun and make for a great summer love song. The overall vibe is incredibly catchy and even the vocal effects towards the end are fun. Lead vocalist Sarah Buckley turns on her inner Taylor Swift in a fun spoken style version of the chorus towards the end that is just a great little tag before we finish out the song. The simple beat, bass licks and guitar work are all wrapped up in a perfect summer bow to kick off the summer. The solos and song writing are so tasty. “Oops I Love You” reminds me of a refreshing Sydney Sunshine and Southern Sweet Tea with a hint of Lemonade. The Buckleys are an Australian sibling trio from Byron Bay, Australia. Vocalist Sarah Buckley, Lachlan Buckley on guitar and Molly Buckley on keyboards have been making music for years and have topped the charts in Australia. During the pandemic, they spent much of their time performing virtual concerts and writing music. They came to Nashville to record this new hit and are seemingly poised to start making waves in the pop country/Americana scene in America. The trio are gearing up for some major festivals in Australia later this year! Written By Bryan Massey FOLLOW THE BUCKLEYS:

“Find An Island”, LOUUD’s newest single, sums up feelings of wanting to escape from life and the people around us. I felt like this song was very fitting for my life currently and the message really resonated with me. Sometimes life can get overwhelming, and we start to ignore our problems instead of facing them. It’s easy to put the real world on a back burner, but in the end we’re just hurting ourselves more by putting off the issue. We find ourselves in this circle of self-sabotage as we keep on moving away from what’s wrong, and it’s hard to break away from it. It’s true that people can suck and we might want to run and hide away on our own personal island, but eventually we have to face our problems in order to grow. Upbeat bass lines, a quick tempo, and ear pleasing vocals– “Find An Island” is the perfect vibe for the summer. The combination of these simple elements creates a masterfully put together single. The simplicity of the synths used and the consistency of the bass line makes “Find An Island” easy to dance to. It’s an easygoing groove and you can’t help but find yourself bobbing your head or swaying along to the chorus. What really makes this song stand out from a typical dance-pop tune, would have to be the vocal’s by LOUUD. The sweet, high pitched easy of the notes LOUUD sings, creates a sound that isn’t typically heard that often. The unique voice is a nice touch that adds just the right about of spice! The Stockholm based artist LOUUD, also known as Louise Udin, has been preparing for the spotlight since she was little. From writing her own music at a young age, LOUUD has perfected her craft with experience and inspiration from 90’s RnB, Disco, and 70’s pop. LOUUD has created a style known to her that combines self-irony with a contemporary feel. Her previous singles, “Out of Love” and “Better Off”, found her success in making it to numerous playlist and radios such as New Music of Sweden, The Line of Best Fit, Ja Ja Ja Apple and more. After 3 years, LOUUD returns with this hit single. Follow LOUUD to keep up with more great pop music! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW LOUUD:

“My Love” is a seductive pop anthem about the excitement of love. Love is a passionate fire, a chilling whirlwind of a snowstorm. It allows you to sink to the bottomless depths of the ocean or the irrefutable heights of the sky. Klary encompasses all of these feelings with an upbeat electronic dance track. When you’re with your lover, you can’t help but feel content and joyful at simply being in the same presence as someone who reciprocates your feelings. Klary uses a pulsating electronic bass to set the atmosphere of her song, seductive and fun. Though she seems like she’s playing coy, she affirms that her lover had her hooked from the first moment that she saw them. Looking to include modern pop-flavors, her song is creating a buzz amongst pop lovers and enjoyers. “My Love” sets the benchmark for Klary’s creative persona and aura, showing that she can blend pop, rock and R&B together into an atmospheric soundscape. Born in Germany from an Indonesian mother and Austrian father, Klary moved to Itay at a young age where she spent most of her life before deciding to move to London in 2018. Inspired by the Backstreet Boys at the age of 4, Klary started her singing career in 2011, collaborating with other artists and performing mainly cover songs. Over the past years, she’s been part of several bands and acoustic duos, but in 2021, she decided to spread her wings and released her first single as a solo artist, “Love Again”. Klary’s cultural upbringing and versatility is one of her strengths, and one that she seeks to emphasize in her music as she continues on her journey as a solo act. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW KLARY:

“Better Luck Next Time” is a dark and moody alternative pop song about a young man who’s chosen to prioritize his career over everything else. Sometimes, it’s hard to stop taking work home. It’s hard to prioritize yourself over simply being a cog within the machine. Burnout is always tough and the sense of FOMO cannot be helped. And when you’re so used to this routine of constantly doing work work work, it’s difficult to sit down and take a breath on your own time, not just the business time. The soundscaping of this song is absolutely immaculate and mesmerizing, swelling from haunting and moody to cheerful and bright. The song sets the scene during a plane crash as our protagonist attempts to finish his report with billowing smoke and a punctured lung. She effortlessly blends business jargon into a narrative. Additionally, Yenn decides to blend interesting production choices with pop and a hint of jazz, emphasizing her lyrical storytelling on humankind’s tendency of obsession and how this self-destructive behavior is ironically funny and a terrifying hint of a potential future. Maya Yenn is a UK independent producer, singer, and songwriter who’s determined to place her unique sound of feathery and gossamer vocals within the moody R&B scene. Her lyrics often feature dark lyrics and narratives around themes like anxiety and nightmares. While taking some inspiration from the upbeat pop-sound of bands like Glass Animals and blending it with innovators like FKA twigs and BANKS, Yenn crafts her own unique brand of glassine dark-pop. Yenn’s writing and arrangements are hauntingly thoughtful, and it’s exciting to see where her work will take her. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW MAYA:

Hermit mode: intentionally isolating yourself to self-reflect and restore drained energy. One day or another, we need to give ourselves a break. We often forget the beauty in the simple things because we’re worried about a specific outcome or are constantly in fight-or-flight. Grounding you in the present, ‘Floating’ by Cassie Marin is a great self-care tune. It’s a reminder that there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back to rediscover who you are. It also doubles as an appreciation of the mundane; the things we take for granted. Marin invites you to float in the sky with her, above all the anxiety and doubt you may have. It’s the perfect song for activating your inner optimism! ‘Floating’ features a stylish mix of bubbly synths and hi-hats. Marin’s charming voice SOARS on this part-psychedelic, all-wholesome track. Check out these awesome lyrics: “I am here now, fear now tasting like water...don’t be acting out of madness, I can tell when you’re under.” Her lyrics throughout are highly innovative and clever. Marin’s figured out how to embrace the present moment and identify when others are projecting onto her. She’s turned her fears into self-empowerment, revealing itself in her free-flowing confidence. With the soundscape added on, it’s as though Marin is completely immersed in her own universe; vibing to her unique rhythm. Nothing can stop her groove! Cassie Marin is a visionary artist and multi-instrumentalist based in LA. As a child, Marin dreamed of competing at the Olympics as a gymnast. However, when she was 13, she sustained a serious injury that resulted in a major shift in her career path. She found solace in music, and soon she taught herself how to compose and produce her own songs. Using the same determination that she had for going to the Olympics, Marin developed a style all her own. She’s known for making electro-pop bops backed by her distinguishable saccharine vocals. Praised by tastemakers and audiences alike, Marin’s hot streak continues with ‘Floating’, her latest single. Her next album comes out this summer so stay tuned! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW CASSIE:

"Teddy Bears" is all about recognizing that this new guy is going to end up just being a mistake. He may shower you with teddy bears and roses, but it's all a facade to mask the ill intentions that he really has. Those butterflies you get by seeing him are quickly going to die the longer you stick around. Other girls have seen it, and some have endured it, and it's going to be no different for you. So now it's up to you to listen to what everyone has to say and choose to stay away from this guy. Yael does an amazing job at producing this sweet-sounding tune to reflect the feeling that one gets with new love. From the very start, one major aspect to note about this song is how smooth the melody and Yael's voice sound. The beginning almost sounds as if it's being played from a record player, and then transitions into a clearer tone once Yael starts to sing. This is a very unique element in this piece that is rare to find in any other song. Another particular component of the song that deserves to be recognized is the way the pace slows down in the last thirty seconds. This change of pace really highlights Yael's voice and lyrics giving more value to these two features. As for the idea of the song as a whole, it really is a cool aspect of new love. Most songs are written about the breakup, or finding out after all this time that they ended up not being a good person. This song skips that whole idea and is written from the perspective of saving yourself all the tears before it's too late. With all the love songs that have been written, it's refreshing to hear a different take on when a relationship turns sour. At only sixteen years old, Yael Danon is a trilingual singer/songwriter who was born and raised in Panama. She began her music journey at the age of eight, and after performing in the school talent show decided that pursuing music is her passion. In 2019, Yael and her family traveled to Israel on vacation and decided to audition for Israel's Got Talent. She auditioned and ended up winning the Youth Category when she was thirteen. After her win, Yael decided that she wanted to release her own music and went on two release six of her own singles. This led up to her debut EP Diary Girl., which will be out this summer. This EP contains pieces about true life experiences, all things that can be found in her diary. Yael has so much time ahead of her and will continue to make great music that shares nothing but true emotion. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW YAEL DANON:

Your upcoming single "One Summer's Day" paints a beautiful and nostalgic summer scene. How did you come up with the storyline for this song? Jay: I drew on a real experience I had while I was living in Turkey and getting my Turkish driving license. I’d never written a song drawing on a real relationship before (even though if you listen to the song you realize it’s not actually a real relationship) and I wanted to evoke the feeling of that summer. I felt such freedom, it was so much fun. I wanted to capture that feeling in a song. On your website, it mentions you utilize your experience as a filmmaker to write songs that tell stories. What specific skills have you adapted from your career as a filmmaker? Jay: I n filmmaking you’re constantly being told to show the important parts of the story, start where the action happens, things like that. I try and use those ideas in my songwriting - creating short but vibrant scenes. Every time I write a new song I’m already visualizing the music video. I don’t always have the resources to make the music videos I’d like to, but in my head, I see each song as a little movie. What has your transition from the filmmaking world into the music industry been like? What particular challenges have you faced? Jay: At first it was really daunting. I had found all the people locally involved in filmmaking and had gotten better at networking. When I switched to the music scene, I didn’t know anyone. It took a year or two to build up contacts and get better at networking but I’m getting to know people now and that makes all the difference. When did you realize you wanted to be a professional in the music industry? Have you always been musically inclined? Jay: I started writing songs when I was a kid and always performed in small circles. I tried to do it professionally in my early twenties but didn’t have the right support, knowledge, or experience to be honest. The internet wasn’t as accessible as it is now with TikTok. I couldn’t get anywhere with it and had no understanding of how to move forward, plus I was insecure and directly connected my music to my emotions which is a terrible way to do business. You have to be emotional when writing a song but be able to see it as a product and separate from your core being otherwise it will overwhelm you. There’s so much rejection. So I got disheartened but I believed the reason I couldn’t do it was that I wasn’t very good at singing or songwriting. I laid my real passion to write songs and perform them aside. I still did it as a hobby but whenever anyone asked me if I wanted it as a career I said no. Until I got played on BBC Introducing in 2018. That was a turning point for me. How do you go about creating a song that tells a story? What's your process like? Jay: I tend to write the hook first. Funnily enough, the hook for One Summer’s Day was a bridge in another song. And then I thought, wait - I really like this bridge, maybe its a hook. Once I have the hook which contains the theme I write the story around it in the verses. I spend a long time, days maybe weeks, writing the verses, trying to get them as concise and tight as possible. Who are some of your biggest influences or inspirations? Jay: Taylor Swift, Maisie Peters, Gregg Alexander, Gary Clark. They all write great hooks and use emotion really well in their songs. Interviewed By Hannah Conkin FOLLOW JAY MOUSSA-MANN: