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After a breakup, you want to erase all the memories of your past lover. You do this by eating chocolate ice cream and ripping up the photos you have of them or with them. Some time goes by, and you learn to embrace your single-ness. When you least expect it, you find an un-ripped photo of your seemingly long-lost ex and find yourself reminiscing on good times with a person you thought you wanted to forget. Cassidy Mann puts this recollection of memories to music in her song, “Tropical Sour Candy.” When I first saw the title, I thought it was kind of silly. Now that I’ve listened to the song, it makes perfect sense. The words, tropical and candy, are supposed to symbolize the good memories, whereas sour stands for the bad memories. The repetitive strumming of the guitar was very soothing, and it fit in well with the lyrics. With that, Mann’s voice was soft and velvety, adding on to the peacefulness of the music. Overall, I thought these elements made the song light and happy, which is kind of surprising considering that it was about a breakup. If you want to hear more of Cassidy Mann, you should check out her other song, “Since I Met You.” Rather than a breakup, this song is about working up the courage to uncover hidden feelings of love. This song is much slower than “Tropical Sour Candy,” but you can hear more of the richness in Mann’s voice. I also love that the lyrics seem to tell a story through memories. I only wish I could find out if the story has a happy ending! Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW CASSIDY MANN

Are they REALLY invested in you? Or do they ghost you and show up only when you’re thriving and NOT when you need them the most? Don’t let them play that game again! ‘ON DEMAND’ by Heather Sommer gives you the power to clap back at anyone who’s taken their relationship with you for granted. Honestly, screw them! You’re not someone else’s chess piece that they can just use when it’s “convenient.” You deserve a hundred times better than that. Don’t let anything change your mind this time. Cut them off so they know that you're not one to be messed with! Sommer draws you in with an irresistible 2000s pop-rock sound. Sizzling electric guitars and energetic trap beats build this synergy that boosts your confidence. Sommer’s bold, unapologetic vocals give you the resolve to leave their twisted game behind. “Let me go ‘til you see me win, ‘Gotta catch up, how you been?’ Yeah you’re so full of it.” Ooh, that’s a well-deserved burn to them! Throwing shade with lyric after lyric, Sommer hits them where it stings. What I love most about this song is her visual of a tv screen. She adds phrases like “silver screens and static” and “you'll see it clearer when you press rewind” to help capture her frustration with being overlooked. It’s brilliant! Heather Sommer is a visual artist (and dog lover!) who’s been shaking up the Pop/EDM scene since 2018! She’s greatly involved in designing her own album art, merch and lyric videos, as well as singing, writing and producing her own music. She’s been featured in several Spotify editorial playlists and has these chameleon-like vocals that allow her to seamlessly bounce between genres. (Fun fact: she even has a song called ‘CHAMELEON’ if you want to see more of her versatility!) She’s incredible because she’s fully invested in herself, and that’s how you know she’s passionate about what she does! Her next EP ‘One Size Fits All’ is coming soon so stay tuned! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW HEATHER:

Sometimes, it can feel as though you’re speaking, but no one is listening. You’re here on Earth, surrounded by people, but you might as well be invisible. Erica Manzoli encapsulates these feelings in her new song ‘Silent Movie’. The song has Manzoli going through the motions of life, watching without really interacting. She feels as though her life is passing her by and she’s stuck in this state of being a viewer. Manzoli worries that no one will notice if she can’t come back to herself. She doesn’t know what her life could be like if she gets stuck as the viewer. This song puts into words the uncertainty that comes when you feel as though you’re a life viewer who can never become a participant. There’s an honest vulnerability to ‘Silent Movie’. Manzoli mixes raw vocals with heartfelt emotion to create a story that feels deeply personal. One of the lyrics that creates the songs emotional core is, “I’m shouting but nobody hears”. This lyric has a beautiful fragility to it. Manzoli does a wonderful job at creating a sense of trepidation. You can tell that the person in this ‘movie’ is about to break. They’re teetering on the edge, inches away from losing themselves, and are begging for someone to pull them back. They don’t know what would happen if they never came back to themselves, much less if anyone would even notice. ‘Silent Movie’ leaves you with a sense of heavy emotion that stays long after the last notes ring out. Erica Manzoli is working her way up in the music industry. The singer-songwriter wrote her second single, ‘Silent Movie’, from a deeply personal place. Feelings of dissociation and derealization impacted Manzoli through her childhood. She uses the single to describe her feelings of disconnection with reality. Manzoli has two singles on Spotify, ‘Silent Movie’ and ‘My Best Friend Is My Therapist’. To stream the singles and find out information on Manzoli’s upcoming live shows, check out her page on Spotify! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW ERICA:

After listening to Lex Gibbon’s newest song “All I Do (Is Cry)” I realized just how powerful of an addition she is to the pop genre. Her voice carries an air of professionalism that’s hard to find in newer artists today and Gibbon takes full advantage of this. The line “how could you make me feel optional?” is worded so effectively as it not only shows a deep level of pain but a sense of worthlessness caused by one person. A message of grievance and betrayal is something that many people can get behind and Gibbon does a phenomenal job at showing the female perspective. Coming with the standard industry synths, 808s, and amazing vocal overdubs, “All I Do (Is Cry)” is a mixing masterpiece. The main vocals carry through beautifully without any competition but are still supported by the bass and main beat. The guitar riff throughout the song provides a nice harmonic rhythm (almost like a recurring motif) that is present during each verse and blends in during the chorus. I absolutely LOVE the background vocals and harmonies (panned hard right and left). They create this feeling of space that’s often hard to do when mixing which really fills out the song! Lex Gibbon, a 17 year old singer/songwriter from Hertfordshire, U.K. is a voice of inspiration for victims of bullying around the world. Doubling as a model, Gibbon has had collaborations with a plethora of brands including: BBC Radio, Curvy Kate, Zalando, and more. She’s recently amassed over 13,529 monthly listeners on Spotify and has taken over social media by storm for both her music and modeling career. You can find Gibbon’s music on Spotify, Youtube, and Pandora. You can also visit her website, Instagram, or Facebook to catch up on the latest news of this rising star! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW LEX:

Did you know that love can literally heal pain? According to a study from Stanford University, the “warm and fuzzy” feeling created by love elicits the same response from the brain as do painkillers. An added benefit is that this natural feeling does not have any harmful side effects. Life can be unpredictable. Sometimes it takes its iron fist and knocks you down. A Scottish pop duo called The Eves wrote a song about how receiving “Big Love” can help heal pain and pull you through life’s unfortunate events. I liked the build up in the verses and chorus. The verses are upbeat but still soft. As the verse progresses, the music gets faster until there is a big burst on the chorus. It is almost as if the music is illustrating the message of the song. That is, you’re pushed down by life and picked back up by love. I also liked the electronic sound of the song because it gives the music a good dance beat. Even though the words address a heavy subject, the song still manages to be light and happy. Once two solo acts, Marissa Keltie and Caroline Gilmour formed The Eves in 2018. The pair has stayed hard at work. Not even a worldwide pandemic can slow them down! In 2020, they had the privilege of working with Lewis Gardiner, a producer who has worked with other members of pop royalty such as Nick Jonas. The Eves collaborated with Gardiner on many songs, one of them being a single called “Love Will Find You” that was released in August 2020. Written By Kelli Dixon FOLLOW THE EVES

“Runaway” is an upbeat and bright song about running away from stagnation. Though others are afraid of change, that doesn’t mean that you should be. Trust your gut, it’ll “never hold you back”. While change is scary, running towards it, away from what is familiar, is the only way that you’ll learn to grow as a person. Baker’s youthful voice resonates to dive in and keep moving forward rather than dancing around your true feelings. Though in the first half of the song, Baker is toying with the idea of rushing forward and leaving her lover behind, she’s still wary of doing so but throws caution to the wind in the second half, not looking back and acknowledging that she needs a change even though others just want her to stay the same. Baker’s voice is refreshingly vibrant, adding a layer of brightness to the track’s initial melancholic-like start. Her warm and comforting vocals dance onto of the bright and energetic guitars and drums, a bed of indie pop-rock. Throughout the song, Baker’s joy at running away and facing the unknown is infectious, and her careful structure of the song is clear as she layers her vocals to build up to the climax. Her song is the epitome of fresh beginnings, inspiring anyone to take a leap of faith and have trust in themselves. Molly Baker is an up-and-coming artist that made her beginnings on YouTube, recording music videos and lyric videos for her original songs. Realizing her passion for singing by participating in open mic nights and musicals, Molly has turned that passion into launching her career as a musician. Always smiling with one hand on the guitar, Molly’s infectious joy for music is something so pure that it can’t help but make you smile. As she gains more and more experience, Baker’s youthful nature and voice is sure to make an impact in the industry. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW MOLLY:

‘Hotel in a Hurry’ by Skylar Lee is a song of regret. She tries to uncover what was left behind after running from a relationship; where she didn’t know what she had until it was too late. “Now I’m thinking I forgot something behind I can’t replace, and all that I can do is hope the feeling goes away.” It evokes that gut-wrenching sensation you get when reality starts to kick in. That struggle to accept what happened makes you wish you could change the past a million times over. You’ll no doubt feel empathetic towards Lee as she speaks on her distress. A captivating piano melody creates an intimate setting for Lee to tell her story. “I wish I could take up all the space in my bag, so the memories didn’t fill up the emptiness; and here I am as I’m taking off from the past.” Lee’s wistful vocals are like echoes of the past, as if saying, “What could’ve been if I hadn’t left so soon?” Vocal harmonies and soft synths do an exceptional job of accentuating the mournful mood. Then, the bridge gets almost haunting as Lee gets to the heart of her struggle. In a way, she creates this safe space for you to process your own past alongside her. I got chills by the end of this! You’ll be just as amazed when you listen to the song yourself! Based in Nashville, Skylar Lee is a pop icon in the making. Relying on instinct, she’s a powerful storyteller who pens soul-stirring lyrics with ease. Her vocals are first-rate too! Her musical abilities have received recognition from Nashville radio, as well as the ASCAP’s Writers Showcase. 'Hotel in a Hurry’ brings Lee up to five singles that have been released under her name. Her ballads are nothing short of inspiring. In fact, her previous single ‘Roman Holiday’ has been featured in the “Artist Interviews” section of our blog! Go check it out and follow her for more! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW SKYLAR:

Chloe Lilac is done being lied to in her new song, ‘how does your girlfriend feel about it’. She thought she was getting close to someone, a potential relationship in her future. After spending all this time together, Lilac finds out there’s already a girlfriend, and that she’s ‘the other girl’. Frustration is left where romance once lived. Not only was this person lying to Lilac, but also their girlfriend, disregarding the emotions of either woman. No one likes to be made a fool, especially when it’s by someone you thought you could trust. With lyrics inspired by her real life, Lilac lets her emotions out in this fresh pop-rock anthem. Some songs are meant to be sung; others are meant to be screamed at the top of your lungs. For any of us whose partners have lied about something massive, this song is one you’ll want to scream in the car, in the shower, and into your hairbrush that doubles as a microphone. Lilac’s lyrics hold a great deal of relatability. In one section she’s having a conversation with the person that tries to defend themselves, “Like that’s the old me, and you’re willing to change” When you find out you’ve been cheated on things go one of two ways. You either break up, or the other person vows to change, saying that they’ve grown from their bad decision. Either option is frustrating and offers itself to emotional turmoil. If you are ‘the other person’ another sea of emotions can hit you. Lilac expresses her shock and surprise through the chorus, “oh my god, all that I ask of you, how does you fucking girlfriend feel about it”. The way she presents the lyrics shows her range of emotion. When she exclaims ‘oh my god’ you can feel her emotional shock of finding out this information. Her voice is lighter and uncertain. By the time she’s asking about how the girlfriend feels about the situation, Lilac is angry, screaming her words. A heavy guitar break follows the ending of the chorus, adding to the anger of the lyrics. After the chorus and the guitar break, the following verses are quieter and express the conversations Lilac is having with the cheating person. She uses the verses to explore her own feelings before returning to the chorus, circling back to shock and anger. This song perfectly captures the confusion and emotion that one feels when finding out they’ve been lied to in the worst of ways. Chloe Lilac is quickly making her mark on the music industry. She currently has over 30-million streams on Spotify between her EP, collaborations, and almost twenty singles. If you liked ‘how does your girlfriend feel about it’, check out her other song ‘DOUCHEBAG’. Want to see Lilac live? Well, you’re in luck! She has upcoming dates in April, May, and August. Check out Lilac’s Spotify to stream her music and find out more about her live shows! Written By Maddy Mahady FOLLOW CHLOE:

“April” recounts a time where Beth Keeping experienced the perfect holiday romance. Have you ever had a moment so special, you wish you could stay in it forever? This is exactly what this latest single is about. Living in the moment and experiencing a magical moment even though you know it won’t last. This story is recounted so beautifully and in detail that it makes you feel like you’re living the story right along side Beth. “April” is the perfect song to listen to when you want to reminiscence on a love of your own. This latest single tells the romantic story of when Beth fell in love in a jungle. This tropical scene is reflected within the beats and instrumentation of “April”. All sounds are meant to mimic nature; the snares act as thunderclaps and the beats are meant to sound like the waves of the ocean. Combined with Beth’s smoothing vocals, “April” gives an organic and authentic telling of a story. My favorite lyrics were, “We flew fast/ Living in a movie montage”. I love the idea of being so in love, that you feel like it’s the perfect movie scene, it’s so sweet. Beth Keeping is known for being an artist that combines country storytelling and pop sounds to create infectious songs. Her inspiration draws from artists like John Mayer, Lauv, and Gabrielle Aplin. Before she recorded her debut EP in 2018, she wrote for other artists across the UK, USA, and Singapore. The stories she tells through her music are always attention grabbing yet truthful and honest. “April” is the third single from her EP which will be due early June 2022. Keep a look out for more great music from Beth, she’s not one to miss! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW BETH KEEPING:

“Shine” is such a fun, catchy song! What inspired you to write this new track? Alexander: Thank you so much! From the start I wanted a funky beat to follow my song ‘Alright’ that I had ready to release at the top of 2022. It needed to follow the vibe but be a slightly faster tempo. It began with a simple kick drum and snare, before adding the funky bass guitars, my signature bells, and distinctive chimes, which appear in all of my songs. I also envisaged a talkback for the bridge, but it didn’t really work so we had to re-write it at the top of the year to be more melodic. The song went through two different bridge / middle 8’s, three bass guitars, four mixes and four mastering sessions before the version you hear today. The lyrics are all things I love but we turned them into metaphors. For example, I am a keen astronomer. I have a massive telescope which, pre-pandemic I would volunteer my scope for the public star parties at Griffith Observatory (where they filmed La La Land) and teach people about the planets or the stars we could see that night. It seemed natural to develop ‘Shine’ from all things that sparkle in the night sky but with a metaphorical twist. I also love cheddar cheese so found a way to finesse that into the second verse along with gummy bears, one of my favorite go to candy! Vocally I wanted to use my voice range, so this song has the most vocal layers I have ever recorded on a song so far. Every vocal on the song is mine from backing vocals to adlibs. It has been one of my favorite songs to write and record. What inspired you to make the transition from acting into music? Alexander: I am still a SAG actor, but when the pandemic hit at the top of 2020 productions went on lock down, so I decided to write music until things could start up again. Two years later I am loving my music career, and hope to land a recording contract. I did film for a feature with Mickey Rourke at the end of last year, ‘Replica’ and it will be out later this year. I hope you’ll be able to see it when it releases. I trained in fight choreography for the first time. I was so scared I was going to really punch my co-star. I had to fake strangle him in a juvenile correction facility – it was wild! Who are your biggest inspirations when it comes to your music? Alexander: I love all types of music, and listen to a lot of 80’s pop. Actually I just listened to ‘Brothers in Arms’ from Dire Straits. Great album. The intros are so long! From today’s music I like Charlie Puth, Harry Styles, Dua, Bruno Mars (Silk Sonic), Justin Timberlake, mostly pop. We love the music video for “Shine’! What was your favorite moment from the shoot? Alexander: Thank you so much! I think my favorite was putting on the gold glitter jacket, satin shirt and getting to play that 70’s disco role. I had fun being in character. The snap at the end was my brain child to match the ending of the song itself. It wasn’t as easy as I thought though – the light switch was the other side of the door away from the music playing. The light really does go off at that moment in the video! Tell us a bit about your new talk show, ‘The Alexander Show’! Alexander: Oh wow, yes so I wanted to create a show similar to Graham Norton or James Corden but for teenagers about today’s working teenagers. We invite teens to the show to talk about their latest music or movies. It’s a 12 minute show that has an interview portion, quick fire facts and then a fun game to finish up. We play anything from What’s in the Box to Speak Out. Anything silly really! The whole set is British and we film in Hollywood. It was really hard to find the props on set – we had a lot of things sent over from England, and we pulled a lot of things from my bedroom. Each week I bring something new for the shelf and the team have to try and spot what it is! Congratulations on the Rising Star Award at the HMMA’s! What is on your bucket list to achieve in your career? We can’t wait to see what’s next for you! Alexander: Thank you, you guys are the best. My immediate bucket list is pretty solid. I really want a recording contract with Atlantic Records or Warner for example. I’d love to have their marketing support and go next level with my music career. I’d love to do a collab with other pop artists, turn on the radio and hear my songs, go on tour, and win a Grammy in 2023. I’m also manifesting to play young Robin during the backstory of Robin from ‘Batman’. I have read the comics and think I’d make a great Robin, for whenever they start casting! Aside from that, I am a Freshman in high school, and plan to leave the year with a 4.0 GPA, release new music, and continue to work hard at being the best I can. It’s a big bucket list… wish me luck! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW ALEXANDER:

'Concrete Jungle' by Lisa Keane embodies the feeling you get when you're in the sweet spot of a relationship. Where it feels like nothing could go wrong as long as you have that person by your side. You haven't had your first fight yet and intentions are pure. Everything they do gives you butterflies, from their laugh, to the way they hold your hand, even to the sound of them breathing next to you in the car. 'Concrete Jungle' details all those little things that makes being in love special and it's something you never want to forget or let go of. When I think of a concrete jungle, I think of a city. Cities are very cramped and crowded as well as loud and overwhelming. Lisa expresses in this song that she wants to escape from the concrete jungle she's in with the person that she loves, even if it's not forever. She cherishes every moment she has with this person and if it ever were to end, she wants them to remember her and all the incredible memories they created together. The tone of this song is very soft, from Lisa Keane's kind vocals to the dreamy sound of the music itself which has a bit of Taylor Swift 1989 vibes. This communicates that this person makes Lisa feel a sense of euphoria and comfort. She feels safe and relaxed when she's with them, and she can't get enough of that feeling. Lisa Keane is a singer/songwriter based in Dublin, Ireland. She has been writing songs since the young age of 13 and has musical theatre experience as well as jazz vocal training. Lisa's passion for writing sparked when she discovered a music class that taught teenagers about writing, recording and performing. She currently holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commercial Modern Music and Songwriting from BIMM Dublin. 'Concrete Jungle' is her first single of the year with more to come. Written By Kaitlyn Nicole FOLLOW LISA:

Girl Pow-R is back again with a fun and uplifting dance-pop song­. “Galaxy” encourages people to realize the talent they have and be strong. This ties in well to celebrate Women’s History Month and remind women that they can do whatever they want to do. “So much you can achieve”, Girl Pow-R gives off the message that regardless of struggles and hardships, your potential is endless. “Galaxy” uses mainly electric synthesizers for the bass of their song, which helps create an “out of this world” spaceship feeling. The vocals are unique for a pop song considering the group is a trio of ladies. Their voices blend well to give a cute and young sounding tone. The trio of girls continue to sing about women empowerment– one of the most notable lines being, “All this power that you carry/ it’s so extraordinary.” They reinforce the ideas that the sky is the limit with what you can achieve. This message is especially good for younger listeners to hear! Girl Pow-R is an Alternative Dance-Pop group that aims to be an inspiration for young women around the world. They have seen much success with their debut album having over 2.2 million streams across all platforms. Girl Pow-R was also nominated for a JUNO award of “Children’s Album of the Year” along with many others. “Galaxy” is a small taste of what is to come from their upcoming album that will be released later this year. If you enjoy artists like Fifth Harmony and Jojo Siwa, you’ll love Girl Pow-R. Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW GIRL POW-R: