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“So This is Love” is such a catchy song that really culminates dating in the modern age! What is the story behind this song? Lexi: The song idea for “So This Is Love” came to me when I was talking to a friend who wanted to get back in the dating scene and I suggested she try a dating app. The problem is we both agreed dating apps can be super unimpressive, especially when comparing dating in the modern age to the Cinderella love story we have dreamt of since we were little. It seems the minute you match with someone on a dating app it's just a gamble whether you’ll even make it to date number 1. Then I dug even deeper and began to list off all the phases of what I think makes up dating in the modern age. First, you match on a dating app and you typically facetime to make sure they’re not a serial killer, second you go out somewhere casual for drinks cause no one wants to pay for dinner, third you get stood up, and fourth more often than not you get ghosted. I realize not all love stories that come from the dating app end up this way, but it seems it's always a series of plot twists. I am a huge Disney fan, so I love that you included an excerpt from Cinderella! What inspired you to feature part of it and name your song after it? Lexi: I wanted to write an introductory melody similar to Illene Woods “So This Is Love” to catch people’s attention right from the beginning of the song. However, I wanted the whole concept to have a twist. The idea was to create my own rendition of “So This Is Love” from Cinderella but make it a bash on modern day dating. Too many people struggle with finding someone on a dating app and I wanted to bring the story of dating in the 20th century to life. What does your songwriting process look like? It’s crazy how you can write such a great song from your LA apartment! Lexi: Truly my songwriting process continues to change. I find myself constantly growing and becoming a better writer from the people I get the chance to write with. This song was written by two of my favorite and extremely talented songwriters, Nadia Vaeh & Henry Ingraham. I came into the session with the idea of writing a rendition on Cinderella’s “So This Is Love” and they both loved the idea. We wrote this song in about an hour. From there, Henry Ingraham produced it and did an amazon job captivating such a unique, edgy, and 80’s synth vibe into the overall sound of the song. Is there any artist you hope to see perform live one day? Maybe even collaborate with? Lexi: YES! That would for sure hands down be Josie Dunne. She has been a huge role model to me since I moved to Nashville in 2019 and I continue to listen to her music all the time! I have gotten to see her perform live once in Nashville and her energy, stage presence, and humbleness has continued to have such an influence on me. If I ever got the chance to be Josie’s opener it would be a dream!! What was it like playing your first headlining show in Colorado earlier this year? I’m sure it was AMAZING! Lexi: Performing my first headlining show at Larimer Lounge back in January was an incredible experience and awesome turn out. It was the biggest show I have ever performed and it was super cool to see so many of my friends and family come out to see me! I have always felt so supported by my hometown Littleton, Co. and can’t wait to perform there again at an even bigger venue! It was so sweet of you to send a cute letter and photo to your two fans who you were at your show in Denver! What do your fans mean to you and do you have anything you’d like to say to them? Lexi: Oh my gosh I couldn’t do it without my little fans. They are the most inspirational part about getting to be an artist. They simply fill my heart and make everything I do as an artist worth it. I will always support and appreciate my fans because I want to write music that people can relate to. Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW LEXI:

I’ve been to several weddings in my life. One of my favorite parts is the first dance at the reception. The moment is beautiful - the couple getting to revel in the fact that they’re now married. Something I’m not too fond of is the same songs being played for these first dances. The rotation is so repetitive it can be easily guessed what the couple will dance to. Here to solve this problem is Patrik Jean with his new song, ‘For You’. This sweet ballad has Jean baring his soul to his partner. He speaks of his undying love for them and how nothing could break the relationship the couple share. Anyone looking for a first dance song should be considering, ‘For You’. This song evokes the beauty that is love and is the perfect soundtrack for an everlasting relationship. Until the pre-chorus, Jean’s vocals are only accompanied by piano. The first verse has the lyrics, “I never thought that I would find/ A love like the one that’s in your eyes/ It feels like I waited all my life/ For someone like you”. This quiet beginning introduces Jean’s emotion while also setting up his love story. As the song progresses, Jean explains that he didn’t think he’d be able to love someone in the way he loves his partner. Not only do the lyrics tell a love story, but they are also a reminder that a great romance can come to anyone, even if you don’t expect it. As the song builds to the chorus, a string section joins the piano. These new elements boost the songs overall romanticism. With the added instrumentation, Jean’s vocals are given an extra layer of emotion. He holds nothing back as he put his whole heart into this declaration of love. A song that expresses a love so deep is one that should be shared to couples everywhere, especially ones committing the rest of their lives to one another. Starting out as a songwriter, Patrik Jean has already amassed several platinum awards. He’s worked with artists such as James Arthur and Callum Scott and had his music featured on shows such as ‘American Idol’. While his work with others is notable, Jean himself has been releasing music independently since 2018. He currently has over 60 million streams and that number is constantly increasing. In 2018, Jean released his first EP, ‘L Is For’. The EP’s first track, ‘Lean On Me’, currently sits at over 15 million streams on Spotify. Jean is currently working to expand his international career, with plans on commuting between Stockholm, London, and LA as the world starts to open back up. Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW PATRIK:

Love is a powerful feeling. It can add a new sense of happiness into your life to care for another person. At the same time, this happiness can also come with harsh consequences. When the two parties become invested in one another, it can create tunnel vision. As the relationship progresses at lighting speed, the people involved stop paying attention to what’s going on around them, and they don’t notice until it’s too late. Your Best Friend’s Favorite Band sings about this phenomenon in his song titled (very fittingly) “Crash and Burn.” I liked the strumming guitar melody that the song starts out with. I also like how the music builds throughout the song. It starts off with the guitar strumming and gets loud by the end. It’s as if the music is illustrating the crash that Your Best Friend’s Favorite Band is singing about. Additionally, I liked the lyrics at the end of the chorus where he sings, “Crash, crash, crash and burn.” These lyrics are a catchier take on the song’s title. It sounds like a line out of a hit boy band song. Even though it seems overly simple, it’s the part of the song that gets stuck in your head and makes you want to listen to it again. I expected Your Best Friend’s Favorite Band to consist of more than one person. It’s still a super cool name. If you want to hear more of him, check out his other song called “Time of Your Life.” It’s very optimistic sounding, something to lift your spirits. The melody makes me think of running barefoot on a sandy beach. It’s too bad that I wasn’t anywhere warm for spring break! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW YOUR BEST FRIEND'S FAVORITE BAND

There are hundreds of cliche sayings about love. Love is blind. You’ll find love where you least expect it. Love can make you stupid. These phrases are overused to the point where they often go in one ear and out the other. You don’t think of them as factual. Then one day, a person comes into your life, and those cliched sayings suddenly make a lot of sense. In their new song, ‘Stupid.’, Ni/Co teams up with Jonathan & Friends to admit that the love they have for their partners is making them act like fools. I’m sure all of us have said ‘I’d never do x, y, z in a relationship. Only simps do that’. In this song, the artists are so head over heels for their partners, they find themselves acting like the lovesick fools we all say we’d never be. This song got me excited for warmer weather. The upbeat tempo and fun lyrics make a perfect track for summer days. Whether you’re lying on a warm beach or relaxing in your backyard, this song creates a joyous atmosphere wherever it’s played. Dani and Colton, the duo who make up Ni/Co, have distinct voices that work together to create an energetic experience. While I was listening, I felt like the two vocalists were having a conversation. They’re each acting stupid over someone they like and were sharing the self-awareness they have of their situations. I particularly liked the lyrics, “How you got me doing such dumb, dumb/ Shit I swore I’d always run from/I’m chasing, I’m chasing”. To me, those lyrics encapsulate the essence of the song. The artists are admitting they’re acting foolish but they’re still going to chase after the one they love. In 2019, the pop duo Ni/Co started to gain popularity on YouTube. The duo, composed of Dani Brillhart and Colton Jones, currently have over 40 million YouTube views. Before Ni/Co formed, Brillhart and Jones performed together in a show at the University of Alabama. Not long after, the duo was formed. Ni/Co recently were chosen to represent the state of Alabama in the competition show ‘American Song Contest’. Jonathan & Friends put their first single up on Spotify in 2020. Since then, they’ve amassed hundreds of thousands of streams on the platform. Often partnering with artist Julia Wolf, this is their first song partnering with Ni/Co. ‘Stupid.’ Is available to stream now! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW NI/CO: FOLLOW JONATHAN & FRIENDS:

Without a doubt, music is such an integral part of our lives. I mean, what better way is there to feel your emotions so deeply or boost your mood in an instant? ‘Love At First Song’ by AJA is about this beautiful relationship she has with music and the passion she has for it. Now that’s something we can all relate to! “I love the way you get me speechless; you keep me from the deep end.” Music holds such a special place in our hearts, and AJA wants us to celebrate that. So get on the dance floor and let this song move you! This catchy 2010s style party anthem will have you mesmerized. AJA’s passionate and powerful vocals evoke a euphoria reminiscent of Kesha and Katy Perry. “You’re the drug when I feel the heartache, knew the second that the record started; falling hard every time I sing along.” Such heartwarming lyrics are made even more memorable by the energetic percussion in the background. I'm most inspired by the way that AJA’s emotions express themselves so freely. It truly brings out the best in her...and in YOU! If your day doesn’t get 100 times better after listening to this song, you’re lying! Props to AJA for sharing this incredible piece of her heart with us! The 17-year-old Toronto pop artist relates to her listeners with standout vocals and evocative lyrics. Her first two singles ‘NERVE’ and ‘Who’s Gonna Love You?’ have already pushed her over a million streams. With high acclaim from Billboard and iHeartRadio, AJA encourages you to pursue your passions and be honest with yourself. If you’re like me and can't get enough of AJA’s energy, check out her Top 5 Canadian radio hit ‘Red Button’! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW AJA:

"JUST BE YOU!" is the most important element to a person's individualism AND integrity that admittedly most of us step out of those boundaries with our personal freedoms. Nora Sänger's hot new single "Be Yourself" goes into the idea of creating your own path as a person without becoming envious or mentally hard on yourself based on others. Their opinions AND achievements should not stop you from going forward with your life as an individual! BE YOURSELF! This song has a beautiful, angelic quality to it! I love the dreaminess of all of the instrumentation as well as the lullaby-like singing that Nora provides over the mellow acoustics from the guitar AND the clunky jazz xylophone which is a very integral instrument based on the light energy of the song. The build-up of this song is massive and it becomes more dramatic yet ethereal as the song keeps moving along with Nora making her vocals more demanding. There are clearly elements of folk, country, jazz AND soul that just create a folk-country smoothie. All the ingredients to this song are fresh! Nora Sänger is a singer-songwriter who is based across the pond in Germany! Nora incorporates soul, funk, country AND many other genres into a folk-pop blend that is sonically very pleasing. Nora has already released a good chunk of music, with her 2015 album "Always Golden" being her golden entrance to the pop game as well as various released singles including "We'll Make It" which was released in February AND the 2020 single "Leap in the Dark." Nora is phenomenal! Go give her a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW NORA:

Your new single “Losing Sight” is such a beautiful and moving song. What is the story behind your new track? Danny: Well firstly, thank you. Nothing means more than hearing from people that a song I have put out has moved them, because that is really what I aim to do with my music. I wrote the song with Charlie Glover-Wright, with who it has been my absolute pleasure to collaborate over the last year or so since meeting at one of my earliest post-lockdown gigs. We started the session, Charlie sat down at the piano, I brought in this lyric I’d come up with a few days earlier - “would you forgive me if I lost sight of my path to forgiveness?” – and within 2 or 3 hours we had a practically finished single. It was one of those songs that seemed to materialise in front of us and just felt right every step of the way. I certainly spent many late nights over lockdowns interrogating my choices in life, questioning almost every decision I’ve ever made, and worrying if I’ve been living the life I should be living, and I certainly don’t think I’m the only one who found themself feeling this way. “Losing Sight” is all about letting go of this “I should/This is what I’m supposed to do/This is my path in life” attitude, and instead taking on a mindset of grabbing the opportunities the universe throws up to us and running with them. It’s a change in mentality that is a defining note of my own personal development over COVID. What made you start making your own music? Danny: I started teaching myself guitar and learning covers off YouTube tutorials from when I was about 13, and I first started writing my own songs when I was about 15. It was never a conscious decision to switch to original writing but felt more like that was why I started learning guitar in the first place and was the natural progression. Considering the fact it was around this time I was discovering all of my earliest songwriting inspirations, from Ben Howard to Joni Mitchell, and really learning what a song could mean, while also entering the teen angst years, maybe it was inevitable. Why did I start playing guitar in the first place? I saw a friend sing wonderwall at a school concert. Why did it become a genuine career path? I was on track to sign a premiership rugby contract, playing for an academy from very young, until a serious injury and several surgeries made it much harder to realise that dream. If I hadn’t had music to give me something else to work towards, I’m not sure I would have been able to cope so well with the fact that I was not able to play the game I had loved since the age of 4 as a full-time job. What an incredible music video you made for “Losing Sight”. What is one of your favorite memories from the shoot? Danny: I could talk about this music video for hours, but in a nutshell, building the concept with my partner (and editor of the video) to represent all the paths in life I have found myself on and either been thrown or jumped off of and then being able to look back at it and know how well the meaning of the song is represented in the video is the best feeling. The technology behind the shoot warrants an entire university degree but in brief, it was all shot in one day, on one virtual production stage, allowing us to be in countless locations within minutes of each other. This is what gave us the freedom to include all the settings of different chapters of my life I wanted in there, from an accountant's office to a rugby pitch, to a science lab. What is your favorite place you’ve performed live so far? And where is on your bucket list to hopefully play one day? Danny: Well.. this question came at a great time, as I’ve just had a whirlwind few weeks. I had my first international show in Paris the day after my last London headline. Memories of both will stay in my mind forever, but the Parisian crowd was just beautiful. The gig was in an old cinema building, the team who got me out there and ran the show were amazing, and the fans who came down listened to every word I sang, and let me off when I spoke some terrible French... I can’t wait to get back out to Paris and to explore more of Europe with my songs and guitar under my arm. The cherry on the cake is that I’m writing these responses from a beach in Miami, as I just performed alongside Gareth Emery during his set at Ultra Music Festival. We have a track coming out in the Summer on his new album Analog. It's still sinking in how insane the experience of this weekend has been, and I can’t wait to come out to perform in the states again. What song are you most proud of in your discography? I’ve been giving it a listen and they’re all amazing! Danny: Again, thank you thank you thank you. That truly means so much. But the song that currently I’m most proud of has to be Belong. It is so brutally honest about a terrible state of mind that I and I’m sure many others found themselves in when lockdown first started. Anxieties I have struggled with my whole life were multiplied tenfold and I felt alone in a world of lonely people. I don’t think I’ve ever conveyed a feeling better in song than that. Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year you can talk about? I can’t wait to hear more from you :) Danny: Well as I just mentioned there’s the collab with Gareth coming soon. But perhaps even more excitingly I’m just a few days away from finishing an upcoming 5 track EP, and this is by FAR the best music I’ve ever made. It’s a mixture of old and new songs, a couple of new co-writes with Charlie, and all produced with Michael of RYP Recordings who has helped drag all of my insecurities out of the writing and into the record. It's honest, it's raw, it's brutal, and at times you won’t want to be standing still listening to it. I can’t wait to put it out. On the live front, I’ve got Cornbury Music Festival this summer, which I can’t wait for, and a whole host of live shows in the pipeline. I look forward to seeing a whole load of both new and familiar faces when I hit the stage again with all of this new music. 2022 ain’t gonna be too bad by the looks of things… Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW DANNY:

Stop what you’re doing and go add “Never Go Wrong” to your most recent playlist! Whatever kind it is, this song needs to be on it! This fresh collaboration between Nicky Youre and David Hugo depicts finding a person that is so perfect for you, you know nothing bad will ever happen in the relationship. “I’ve seen you in a movie/I heard you in a song” –how sweet are these lyrics? This latest single encapsulates that feeling of being head over heels for someone and does so in the most upbeat and catchy way. With a quick tempo, energetic beats, and ear-pleasing vocals, “Never Go Wrong” combines these essential elements to create the ideal summer dance-pop anthem. This song is perfect for all occasions– working out, hanging with friends, going to the beach, etc. The melody hooks you in from the very first note and you stay with the song the whole time just vibing and having fun. The beat is seriously addicting and before you know it, you’ll be playing this tune on repeat and singing the lyrics out loud. My favorite part is when they sing, “Never wanted anyone more/Falling forwards onto the floor”. I love that I get the feeling of being crazy in love with someone. There is seriously nothing else I want to listen to except for this song. While relatively new to the music scene, Nicky Youre has already established himself as an artist with his debut single, “Sex and Lemonade” which has over 2 million streams on Spotify. His second single, “Sunroof”, found even greater success having over 37 million streams of Spotify. He’s currently working on some new projects– and we can’t wait! We can definitely except more great tunes from Nicky Youre in the future! David Hugo has been releasing music since his single “Falling Hearts” in 2019. Having started playing piano at age 10, Hugo has had quite a lot of experience as a creative. Along with his success in music, Hugo is a known TikTok star where on his channel he posts original vocal covers of popular music and comedy sketches. Hugo currently has 1 album out along with 1 EP and multiple singles. If you like artists like Isaac Dunbar and Shawn Mendes, you’ll love more of David Hugo’s works. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW NICKY YOURE: FOLLOW DAVID HUGO:

Ariana Fig is on a relationship merry-go-round in her new song, ‘Maroon’. She and her partner are going round and round with no real change. Their problems are always the same and festering just beneath the surface. Fig is holding back her words, hoping that her partner will realize that some of the things they do and say hurt her. While Figs’ partner does notice her restraint, they think it means she isn’t in love with them anymore. They are constantly assuming that their relationship, once bright red with passion, is fading into a darker maroon. Fig is at her wits end with this constant spiral that leads nowhere. Yet, every time she thinks about leaving, her partner shows a different side to themselves. She sees the side she fell in love with, and the merry-go-round continues spinning. Click here to listen to 'Maroon'! The song opens with the lyrics, ‘I fall in love almost every night/ It’s not that hard for you to play nice/ there’s so many versions to you’. From this opening I was hooked immediately. These lyrics allude to something being not quite right with Figs’ relationship. A gentle pop beat accentuates the vocals of Fig, allowing her emotion to feature prominently. The strain this relationship is inflicting upon the young woman can be felt through the way she sings. At certain points it sounds like Fig is getting choked up while speaking of her relationship. Around the three-minute mark a beat is introduced that emulates a heartbeat. What I found to be powerful is when Figs’ vocals are accompanied only by this heartbeat as she sings, ‘you know I hear them all the time’. This lyric is in response to her partner’s constant excuses and lies. While this song is telling a complicated love story, this moment reminds you a real human heart is caught in the middle. This heart always finds something to love, no matter the hurt that it constantly endures. Ariana Fig has a wide range of musical talents. The young artist can write, produce, and perform. Fig first got her start playing violin in a symphony orchestra. By the age of 13, Fig had started to write her own songs. In the years since, Fig has released numerous singles and an EP. With some of her earlier inspiration coming from legendary artists such as Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, Fig has worked hard to create her own unique sound. ‘Maroon’ is available to stream now on Spotify! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW ARIANA:

Unrequited feelings are a pain. When you like someone, you want to know if that other person feels the same. The frustration of the situation can get worse if the other person is looking for someone who has several of your qualities. It almost makes you want to stand in their face and yell “I’M RIGHT HERE! NOTICE ME”. In ‘Digging For Diamonds’, Matilde G is standing her ground. She likes someone and wants to possibly create a relationship with this person. Unfortunately, this person keeps overlooking Matilde. They refuse to open up or define their relationship like Matilde wants. As Matilde thinks over her situation, she decides she doesn’t want something without labels. She wants to commit to someone, and if this person can’t see her as the diamond she is, then she isn’t willing to stay anymore. As I was writing this review, I played ‘Digging For Diamonds’ on repeat. This song is one that I can, and did, listen to over and over. With catchy lyrics and a pleasing melody, it was easy on the ears and even easier to hit the repeat button. Matilde shows off her strong vocal ability throughout the song. Not only does she hold out some impressive belts, but she also brings great emotion to her lyrics. You hear Matilde finding her inner strength throughout the song, moving from being okay with ‘undefined’ to ‘No more undefined’. By the end of the song her powerful vocals make it clear she isn’t willing to settle. She wants to be seen for the wonderful value she has and is done with being overlooked. This anthem is one I can’t wait to play in the car with my friends. Matilde G is ready to become the next female pop icon. Inspired by artists such as Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga, Matilde is prepared to carve her own name into pop history. She fell in love with music at a young age and started writing her own music by 13. Matilde has received accreditations from the Trinity College of London where she worked to perfect her musical craft. The Italian singer-songwriter is currently based in Singapore where she has been featured on the singing competitions ‘Singapore’s Got Talent’ and ‘KWC Singapore’. Recently, Matilde was signed to Swedish label and production company, The Kennel AB. ‘Digging For Diamonds’ is available to stream now on Spotify! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW MATILDE:

WasteLand collaborates with BOI to create the ultimate dance-pop jam just in time for summer. “Rich Friends” is about a girl who decides to be herself and be free in the world where everything is controlled by the rich. She continues to say how she “never really minded being trust fund free” because in the end she knows it will turn out okay. “Rich Friends” reminds us that sometimes the best things in life are free and it’s not all about the money and objects you have. All that really matters is that you just do you and have a good time! With relatable lyrics and a catchy beat, you can’t help but want to party to this dance track. “Rich Friends” includes a lot of horn instrumentation along with guitar to create a high-energy base to the song. Whether you’re at work or on vacation, this songs’ good vibe is contagious. It’s the perfect tune to add to your summer pop playlist. You can’t help but be happy and smile when you hear the melodic beat of this song. My favorite lyrics were “I know where I stand/ I know who I am/ they don’t know me like I know myself”. To me, this was a good reflection of the song and how at the end of the day we know ourselves better than anyone and we shouldn’t let other things or people get in the way of us living our lives. WasteLand is an established DJ and producer from Australia. His music has broken through the EDM world of music to be performed on stages all over the world, including Tomorrowland and EDC in Las Vegas. Recently, he has focused on more of a pop sound. He has definitely created a following, having a combined Spotify count of over 3 million plays. If you like artists like Zedd and Flume, you’ll love WasteLand. Anna Buckingham, also known as BOI, is an experienced artist having been a featured vocalist with numerous groups including LDRU. She has also performed alongside artists such as Alice Ivy, The Chainsmokers, and Xavier Dunn. She released her first single, “Imaginary Boys” in 2019 and received much praise and love for it. If you like artist like SIA and Charlie XCX, keep an eye out for more great hits from BOI. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW WASTELAND: FOLLOW BOI:

The Assist reminds me of the oldies from Coldplay: classic sounding songs with strong vocals, great lyrics, and a rocking beat that will drive you right back into the early 2000s. Their latest song “Daydream” does a perfect job at grabbing your attention with a simple but powerful message. The line “no matter how long those days seem, let’s daydream” describes the bittersweet notion that despite the troubles that life may bring, you should never let your dreams fall away from you. I feel like this is a very relatable message, since it’s pretty common to wonder what the future may hold and what it would ideally be. The use of electric guitars, vocals, a drum set, and synths offers a very effective sound that is hard to beat. An important part of the song is the recurring motif of the electric guitar (panned to the left) which compliments the lead vocals throughout the verses and chorus. The lead singer then provides a soothing but passionate melody that is quite memorable, keeping the listener engaged. Arguably one of the most important aspects to songwriting is the blend between instruments, which was done phenomenally well in this song. No instruments or sounds sticks out unnecessarily, every instrument works together well to create a general ambiance, and even the countermelodies are consistent and do not clash with the lead vocals. The Assist also provides a top notch production quality, rivaling that of some of the most popular mainstream artists to date. The Assist is a new indie pop/rock group hailing from the UK. Their recent appearance in the music world is already shaking listeners by storm and their growing presence has even received glowing reviews from BBC Introducing, Clash Magazine, and more. Their debut album “Council Pop” releases on August 4, 2022 and looks to be a promising addition to the pop/rock genre. You can find The Assist on platforms like Spotify, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also visit their website for the latest information on new music, tours, and even great merch! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW THE ASSIST: