“Red Lights” is a dreamy, Lo-fi pop hit that is about someone who ignores red flags, even if it’s not on purpose. Likely, we can all relate to having been in situations where we’ve blatantly ignored when someone showed a red flag. It’s honestly a cycle of never getting out of the relationship that becomes so toxic and difficult for us. “Red Lights” depict these feelings of knowing someone is bad but still not letting it go. We can’t let go because we love them, but we can’t pretend we didn’t know they were bad for us. It’s such a dilemma and hard spot to be in. What do you do when you can’t help but keep blowing past the obvious red lights? Holy Mattress Money perfectly intertwines these feelings in an emotional, yet chill tune. The Lo-fi elements to “Red Lights” are the star of the show throughout the song. The electronic music has a slow downtempo, light guitar, and hip-hop influenced saturation and synth beats. The overall feel to this tune couldn’t be any more chill and dreamier. I loved how effortless the vocals were in this single, they felt equally as relaxed and not too overpowered for the vibe of this music style. My favorite lyrics from “Red Lights” were “I keep running back to you every time/ Friends wonder how I could’ve been so blind”. There’s never really an understanding as to why we overlook the obvious red flags. The only thing to do is leave them and see the warning signs for what they are, and yet, we simply can’t do it. No matter what our friends try and tell us, we don’t listen. I liked these two lines the best simply because I felt like they were exactly about me. I could so easily see myself in this song and in these words, it was the story of my life. The relatability was just another perk of what makes this song so great. Holy Mattress Money is led by producer and songwriter Jesty Beatz, of whom has produced more than 30 tracks that feature various performers on lead vocals. This unique way of creating music from different perspectives and that feature different vocalists in every song, has been extremely successful and made Holy Mattress Money a unique name in the music world. Holy Mattress Money breaks all the traditional “rules” that musicians have been told to follow in order to be successful, however Jesty Beatz has done it in a way that’s new, fresh, and uniquely his. The high-energy performances blend electronic indie-pop elements with a twist of new live musicianship. Holy Mattress Money is delivering an experience you won’t want to miss out on! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW HOLY MATTRESS MONEY:

The Wrecks are back again with their newest album release, “Sonder”. The title track, named after the album, is a bold and emotional pop-punk piece that explores the main concepts for this album. The song “Sonder” is about a slow breakup that really digs deep into the feelings you go through during heart break. The raw honesty about hopelessness and the words that were never said between two people, make this tune all the more of an iconic summer hit. “Sonder” is a perfect mix of alt-rock and a love ballad that showcases The Wrecks talent for genre-bending and their unique musical genius. Nothing says breakup ballad like electric guitar. “Sonder” is heavily based on this guitar and in-your-face drum set beats. This rock anthem does a great job of balancing the instrumentation to make sure the melodic lines don’t cover up the more modern pop lyrical writing. The bass lines are epic and add just the right amount of flavor to make this track what it is. I really enjoyed the more simplistic rhythms of the chorus in the lyrics. The separation of each word of “I thought by now…” really adds this drama that I felt like perfectly represented the anger of a breakup. The fights and conflicting feelings, the regret of not saying the words you were supposed to, the longing for things to work out are all perfectly represented and shown through “Sonder”. The Wrecks are an American pop-rock band that found instant success following their debut single, “Favorite Liar” in 2016. The Wrecks continue to reach new heights with their riotous energy and natural charisma as they release their newest album “Sonder”. The group currently has over a million monthly Spotify listeners. Along with making it onto the Top 40 Alternative Radio hit multiple times, they have opened for many notable artists such as Nothing But Thieves, Paramore, and The Maine. The Wrecks are currently on tour in America, make sure you catch them live and grab tickets before they’re all sold out! You won’t want to miss out! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW THE WRECKS:

Let’s face it. It HURTS when close relationships end. We make mistakes, trust is broken, and then we’re left to pick up the pieces on our own. Only afterward do we realize what went awry, and sometimes we’re at fault. For Zach Paradis, that gut-wrenching sensation was still fresh in his mind when he wrote ‘Now I Know’. He talks about his failed relationship; now realizing what he did wrong and wishing he could have a do-over. “We should’ve been more baby...I really let a good thing die.” It’s funny because the lyrics scream “Emotional damage!”, but the tune itself is super upbeat. It’s clear that Paradis is trying to preserve the relationship in his head, even though he can’t get it back. You really feel for him. Paradis puts a remarkable twist on your average summer pop bop. He starts with a phone call intro, leading into some impressive verses. “Couldn’t see that you were right until you left, you moved on and something clicked inside my head.” His realization moments in this song are catchy AF! Surrounded by the sparkling, feel-good vibes of electric guitar, whistles and vocal harmonies, Paradis really shines. He includes a salient post-chorus, where his regret comes in full force. He then builds it out into this ingenious, trap-driven countermelody in place of the last chorus. Add Paradis’s gorgeously vulnerable falsetto and you’ll be blown away! Cleveland, Ohio native Zach Paradis (last name pronounced “paradise”) is a blooming singer-songwriter and music producer now based in LA. His early fascination with poetry and fantasy novels led to an appreciation for music melodies. His professional journey started back in 2015 as an audio engineering intern with Atlanta’s Reach Records. A few years later, he launched his solo artist career and enjoys doing it full-time. He’s greatly inspired by producer-artists like Pharrell, Jon Bellion and Ed Sheeran. His music blends the energy of hip-hop and pop with the evocative melodies that he makes himself. His new 5-track EP ‘Now I Know’ is available now and you should totally check it out! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW ZACH:

You know that cool phenomenon where we can see ourselves in other people? The more often this happens, the closer we feel to them. As a result, it’s easy to romanticize our relationships and imagine a brighter future. That’s where ‘The Night Sky’ by Eighty Ninety comes in. This is a chill synth-pop anthem about that moment where you see that special someone as your everything. “I could see a lifetime in that look in your eyes; oh, your face, it was the night sky.” When you’re in love, it’s like the whole universe is at your fingertips. Capturing that thought in 4K, Eighty Ninety brilliantly blurs daydreams and reality to achieve this feeling. In doing so, they create the best of both worlds! This song takes the infinite beauty of the night sky and intermingles this with ideas about fate versus charting your own path. “Taught you how to read the signs, said, ‘It’s fate, we can’t escape it’; when I think about it now, think we just tried out our own ending.” Adding to this, shimmering synths and acoustic guitar shape an affectionate atmosphere where love can flourish. Time seems to standstill at points, occurring so organically that it’s like it was meant to be that way. It's that feeling of peace you get when you can comfortably sit in silence with someone you care about. It’s visually stunning and enlivening! Meet Eighty Ninety, a NYC-based duo comprised of brothers Abner and Harper James. Specializing in minimalist indie-pop, they fuse vibrant lyrics with a part-acoustic, part-electronic production style they like to call “808s and telecasters.” So really, it’s their emotions that drive the story! Their 2016 debut ‘Three Thirty’ went viral, and their support since then has been astronomical. They’ve also been endorsed by Taylor Swift, who added the duo’s 2017 track ‘My Favorite Song’ as #13 (her lucky number!) on her official playlist Songs Taylor Loves! ‘The Night Sky’ is the title track of their fabulous new EP, which is out now for your streaming pleasure! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW EIGHTY NINETY:

Last Year sinks you into an oddly enchanting pool of haunting comfort. The intimate and sensual poetry that pours out simultaneously stirs, unsettles, and caresses in its familiarity. The smooth, melancholy, indie track delves into the bittersweet nature of processing heartbreak. It kind of feels like taking a candle-lit bath to make the most of a power outage; wind-whipped branches rap at the bathroom windows while the steaming, sudsy water keeps you warm, shielding your reminiscent state from the storm. Ella Ruby releases gritty emotion through velvet vocals akin to those of Angie McMahon and boasts production seemingly snatched from Gregory Alan Isakov. A slow, swinging bassline and understated percussion create the sturdy-based framework for misty mountain magic of strings and acoustic guitar to pour in over. You can still hear fingers brushing past the grooves of the guitar strings thanks to the clean, stripped-back production that invites you into to the intimate musical space's reassuring warmth. Vivid verses register soft and low, leaving room for a slight crescendo into the richness of the vibrant yet somber chorus. Light vocal layering features whimsy-soaked hums that play in the waves of strings, an ephemeral sweetness that calls the hairs on your neck and arms to curious attention. Shaped by her beloved stormy, Seattle weather, Ella Ruby is an independent artist who cites her main influences as Billie Marten, Brandi Carlile, Julie Byrne, and Shannon Lay. Between Last Year and her debut single, Baths , Ella Ruby has shored up the foundations for her flourishing musical style that already honors the singer-songwriter inspirations she has named. Multi-talented, Ella also lends her talents to the world of ceramic art when not crafting hypnotic indie daydream fuel. Selfishly, I would request that Ella forgo all hobbies and responsibilities, just until we can get the rest of the tracks from her upcoming EP, baby blue . Written By George McSherry FOLLOW ELLA:

Belot recently released her funky dance-pop single "Driving to LA." This piece brings that "you only live once" kind of energy, as the song talks about just dropping everything and doing what you really want to do. Belot sings about how with getting older, it becomes difficult to make time with friends or to do things just for the sake of pleasure and not for the sake of having to do it. She sings about how the other person seems to have their life completely figured out while she is still in the process of chalking up a plan, so they should just drive to LA before they have to start their professional lives. The message of this song is a great reminder for listeners to take time for themselves, and to do activities that sound extremely fun just because. Just like her other pieces, this single is absolutely electric and doesn't fail to bring that high-energy beat that Belot always produces. Even from the very first milli-second, the upbeat melody begins. I like how all the sounds kind of start at once so that the energy is kept consistent throughout the entire song. Whether it's her vocals or the melody, Belot succeeded in making every aspect of this song a certain level of happiness that makes listeners automatically happy as well. The melody has some bouncy beats to it and creates such a funky sound. As for her vocals, Belot has a very light and airy voice which is perfect for the tone of the piece as a whole. And with the lyrics, Belot sings about good times and living life to its fullest. All of these aspects make this piece the perfect feel-good song and strengthens Belot's reputation as an artist with the best electric tunes. Growing up in London, Belot was exposed to the music scene at a very young age and decided that she wanted to pursue music after attending a Paul McCartney show in Hyde Park. She attended Roadhouse workshops growing up and was able to be surrounded by writers and producers. Belot is relatively new to the music scene, as she began performing and releasing music within the past few years. She released multiple singles leading up to the release of her debut EP Electric Blue in 2020 and also has just released a new EP Harmless Fun as of June 10. Her funk-pop tunes have such a fun sound to them and are as colorful as Belot herself. Written By Melina Darlas FOLLOW BELOT:

“When It Wasn’t” is a reminiscing country ballad about the fleeting spark and subsequent extinguish of a relationship. Everyone has felt the spark of attraction and hopes it’ll grow into something more, something real. The real pain usually comes when you’ve put in effort and time into a relationship that simply ends up going nowhere. When it was something, and then when it wasn’t. Wild Fire crafts delicate and realistic narratives, filling the song with potential scenarios that everyone has experienced. And though they mourn the thought of a relationship extinguishing, they also uphold a vengeful attitude, realizing that they’re better off without hold of another person over their every action. The smooth background accompanies their sultry and smokey voices, projecting their feelings onto their words and actions. Wild Fire, made up of sisters Kelli and Kayla Iutzwig, draw upon their experiences as they continue to release real narratives. Their 2021 release “What If We Never Met” confirms this as it’s spent over sixteen weeks of Spotify editorial playlists like “Wild Country”, “Next in Nashville”, “Fresh Finds Country”, and “Fresh Finds”. Linda Wilson, President of the Texas Country Music Association, describes them as “one of the best up-and-coming young artist duos”. They’re truly setting the scene ablaze. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW WILD FIRE:

It’s hard to disappoint your parents. They’re older and have more life experience, so they think they know what’s best for you. Most of the time, they do, and you should trust their guidance. However, there are other times where their opinion may be wrong. In his song, “Boys in the Street,” Calum Scott reflects on one of these instances. Fortunately, love really does conquer all. This song does a really good job of storytelling. In the first verse, Scott touches on being young and pinpointing the start of the conflict. In the following verses, he sings about how the conflict progresses as he and his dad get old. The last verse is my favorite because we discover that Scott’s dad finally accepted him. It is unfortunate that his dad was on his deathbed when this happened. Still, it must be comforting to know the conflict came to a positive resolution. Another aspect of the song that I enjoyed was the simple instrumentation. Scott sings with a lot of emotion. The subtle flow of the piano really allows it to break through. Calum Scott was raised in the city of Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. He discovered his love of music by becoming a drummer, but Scott was encouraged by his sister to pursue singing. In 2015, he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent. He transformed Robyn’s upbeat dance tune, “Dancing on My Own” into a ballad. It caught the attention of the toughest judge, Simon Cowell who sent Scott straight to the semifinals. If you want to hear more of Calum Scott, his new album, Bridges, will be released on June 17th! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW CALUM SCOTT:

The title is not sarcastic. Indie pop artist Plaid Brixx is "Doin' So Well". Like SO well. Feeling upbeat and want to double down on some endorphins? Feeling super depressed and need to steal someone else's? Take some from here, I have a feeling Plaid Brixx won't notice, but I bet they would share happily if they did notice. The cover art captures the vibe accurately to the point where you don't really need to pay attention to my interpretation. But I'll give it anyway. Have you ever done a backflip from a rope swing, splashing into cool river water in the summertime? Neither have I, but I imagine it would feel something like this song. The vibe is set with layered, country-adjacent anthem vocals, featuring introspective lyricism that I would usually find nauseatingly positive, but that manages to keep its grip on sincerity and relatability. Plaid Brixx rejects the modern trend of "being dark and broody" to focus on the bright and shining moments that life gives us. A drum loop sets the song off before the organic additions of an acoustic guitar and a drumset enter to anchor the song in an electro Rascal Flatts energy. Plaid Brixx is an indie pop artist based in Colombus, Ohio. Their 2014 debut EP, Chemistry, was well-received critically, receiving a nomination at the Independent Music Awards and they have been working together ever since. They have performed at prestigious events like South By Southwest and with acts such as BORNS, Matt and Kim, and even DJ Khaled. The infectiously positive vibe that Plaid Brixx create has everything you need for upbeat indie summer anthems. Written By *George McSherry* FOLLOW PLAID BRIXX:

“Heartless” isn’t just your average breakup song. It’s a dark and moody reflection on a toxic relationship. Instead of focusing on a breakup and the feelings after it, Nolf chooses to pinpoint the exact moment that you realize the crash of the relationship isn’t worth it. How you blissfully ignored the red flags around you as you tried to salvage this relationship from its fiery end. But now that it’s over, things are seen in a clearer light. But despite the messy end, you still want more. You willfully ignore your heart’s longing and try to logically conclude how this relationship was poisoning you with heartlessness. David Nolf expertly uses the imagery of a fiery car crash off of a bridge to describe the tsunami of emotions swelling through you. Besides the catchy hook, the production of the song relies on the epic drop and booming of the bass to hammer in the heartless nature. This song has a dark atmosphere that’s accompanied with gritty drums and echoing synths. David Nolf is a relatively new artist, but he brings a fresh perspective and attitude to the pop-edm scene. Performing at a variety of small gigs around LA and Hollywood, he’s slowly built a name for himself with dark and gritty songs that are partnered with soulful and heartwrenching lyrics. “Heartless” is only a taste of things to come as Nolf carves out a place for himself in the scene. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW DAVID:

Life sure is sweet, especially when you’re listening to Dreaming Soda’s flavorful debut song “Caramel.” With nostalgic pop sounds mixed with groovy synth sounds, the end result is an altogether unique production. If happiness was a song, it would be “Caramel.” If the flavors of a cake were a song, it would be "Caramel." There is something original and exciting about the nature of the tasteful track that Dreaming Soda has baked for us. With lyrics about the sweetness of sugar and delightful flavors of caramel, you can almost taste the colorful details of the song. The voiceover from a child remarking “it tastes very nice and sweet” provides a nostalgic touch, reminding you of the euphoria you once experienced as a child, indulging in the sweetness of your favorite treat for the first time. It reminds you of the times you baked cookies with your parents. The smell wafting through the kitchen. The excitement of the first bite. For those who are past childhood, the song can be perceived as a flirtatious back-and-forth expressed through baking analogies. The hook is especially captivating, describing how “you got me caramelized in your caramel eyes.” The song also talks about “trying it before biting it,” and the artist admits, “I like you, but it’s way too soon.” This creative approach makes the song even more original and fun. Dreaming Soda is a rising musical duo consisting of Ella Sterland and Renee Stein, who describe themselves as chaos-pop artists who create music about “all those niche memories from growing up just before the internet.” Adding specific analogies to their music, from a biscuit tin filled with sewing threads to scabbing at recess for canteen cash, the duo pays tribute to little moments from their childhood that they hope can resonate with the collective. Their colorful approach to music and unique lyrical melodies are sure to set them up for success. Listen to “Caramel” out now! Written By Chelsea Luo FOLLOW DREAMING SODA:

In "Need Me Now", LIAS shaped a smooth, hypnotic sound. No matter where you may find yourself, pair it with a coffee and cigarette breakfast to be taken to a contemplative misty mountain morning. The track's somber nature, set in heartbreak, is offset by a sincerity and finesse that lends a comforting power to the music. Despite the electronic production that features, the song has an undeniably organic, vintage feel to it, like a stick-n-poke tattoo or pressing your head against cold, raindrop-laden windows. The song introduces itself with a clean drum loop that anchors the song before adding the core elements of LIAS's stirring vocals and piano into the mix. It's not only the palpable energy of the vocals that raise hairs on your neck, but also the hauntingly relatable lyricism employed to paint the instilling imagery of relationship post-mortems. The piano fills are paired with lo-fi effects and muted bass to establish an ethereal sonic space where I implore you to get lost in catharsis. LIAS is a Berlin-based indie-electronic artist who employs a raw honesty in his music, using his classical vocal training to break down his varied and profound emotions, ranging from fear of failure to suffering of separation. LIAS took professional detours in his adult life, working in investment banking and the world of startups before launching his solo career. Despite the seguets into the non-musical, LIAS' affinity and proclivity for music is well-established; as a boy he worked as a soloist with established acts such as Jose Carreras and the Bavarian State Opera, honing his talents on some truly grand stages. Written By *George McSherry* FOLLOW LIAS: