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Living up to life’s expectations can be hard. We’re always so focused on our individual desires for validation in this society. It's easy to get lost in comparing ourselves to others and where they're at in life. As a result, we often lose sight of important things in life when we’re so focused on material things, like our careers and looks. Will Evans’ expresses this perfectly in his new single, “Already Gone.” The song is paired with a beautiful music video that captures how we chase self-fulfillment, even though it may always be just out of reach. “Already Gone” is a cheerful blend of pop country featuring some energetic banjo strums. Featuring driving rhythms and captivating melodies, this song easily catches the listener's attention. Evans’ smokey vocals deliver reflective lyrics about us chasing self-fulfillment and validation. Some of those lyrics include “We look into a mirror, Trying to validate/Dream like we’ll live forever, Live like we’ll die today.” An upbeat masterpiece, this song showcases Evans’ talented songwriting and ability to create a relatable, catchy anthem. Will Evans, a Rhode Island-based pop-folk singer-songwriter, has spent this past decade of his life as the front man for Barefoot Truth—a New England Roots Rock band. After four albums and over 50M streams with the band, Evans began his solo career. So far, he has released three full length albums and has performed for sold out shows across the U.S. and Europe. He is a master of live-looping in his shows, demonstrating his impressive skills as a multi-instrumentalist using the digeridoo, steel drums, acoustic guitar, sultry vocals, and percussive beatboxing. Evans is a known lifelong surfer and environmentalist, and his songs speak to the importance of protecting and connecting with the earth. His songs also convey messages of love, hope, family, and inclusion. Written By Cheyenne Johnson FOLLOW WILL EVANS:

Tayiha’s, “ What I Needed ”, is a pop song about growth - both individually and in a relationship. According to an Instagram post that she made about the song, she states that in the process of writing it, she felt lost and confused about the direction of her life. In the song, she reflects on someone who showed up in her life that helped her feel complete and better her outlook on life. Although this person made her feel loved and needed, she also remembered that she needed to continue learning who she was and to appreciate everything that she has in her life. Self-love and growth is a process, but having someone by your side to push and help you along the way is a lovely way to feel supported on your journey. You cannot prioritize one thing, or person, over the other, because it’ll still affect you. Having both, and giving attention to them is important. This is what Tayiha is trying to get across to her listeners in this song Tayiha starts off the song with a calm voice. She describes a feeling of relief from fear and compares it to the rain and storms fading away in the sky. Essentially saying that the dark cloud she was in had disappeared and she felt brighter, lighter and happier. Afterwards, the beat drops and she mentions another person involved. She describes them as someone that she felt connected with right away and how “ everything made sense ” when they were together. Tayiha was experiencing a loss of direction, but once this person had shown up and supported her, she began to realize that everything was going to turn out alright. She was learning to appreciate life one moment at a time, understanding, and having clarity with every moment she was in. The line “ Everything makes sense when I’m with you ” is significant because her person is what she needed to realize this. In the outro, she says, “ Drying up my tears, it's all clea r”, indicating her growth and awareness of how life will always get better as long as you put in the effort to make a change and have people supporting you along the way. Tayiha is a 17 year old singer and songwriter from Brisbane, Australia. She has an impressive background and has shown that with how far she’s made it in competitions and award shows. She has been featured on MTV Hits with her “ Not Feeling This ” music video, as well as the October 2022 magazine issue of “ It Girl .” In the ACMF National Songwriting Competition in 2021, she placed 2nd place for her song “ Out of Range .” Her song “ No Happy Ending ” was written at the age of 14, and had led her to be a finalist at the 2021 Queensland Music Awards. Lastly, she was a top 5 finalist for the 97.3 FM “The Band Brisbane Built” in 2021. Tayiha is a unique artist with her own sound, defying any and all genres. She shines and is successful at her young age, and proves that with all of her accomplishments and amazing music. Written By Sneet Efrem FOLLOW TAYIHA:

Talking way too much is never a good look. Talking so much that a whole song is written about you isn’t a great look either. “On and On” by Rheum is a synth-rock track about a chatterbox that just won’t quit even mid-break-up. Rheum hit the nail on the head with this power pop banger. Sometimes silence is the only way to penetrate the never-ending wall of words coming from your soon-to-be ex-partner. This energetic powerhouse of a song will certainly get you on your feet and pumped to take on anything. Even that talkative person you can’t get a word in with. Click here to listen to "On and On" With explosive guitar riffs, EDM-inspired backing with a hurdy-gurdy melody pulling the instrumental together this song is a rousing earworm. Rheum introduces interesting sounds into their music that you wouldn’t expect to hear on a modern track. These unique instruments make for an exciting listening experience. Sleigh bells ringing through an electrónica inspired heavy hitter like this is certainly a distinctive choice. The tones of the medieval hurdy-gurdy also add a layer of interest. The production sounds crusty and raw but at the same time professional. Rheum is setting themselves apart from the rest with these songs. Though “On and On” is their sophomore record, a polished maturity can already be heard throughout. Rheum is an indietronica duo made up of two brothers. Henrik and Lars. These two have been making music together their whole lives. Playing in many genres they put together a collection of songs made in their parents' garage years ago. Their upcoming album is called “Cassettes'' aptly named after the cassettes they mixed their music on. Written By Kaiana Lee FOLLOW RHEUM:

"How do I stop over promising?" Singer/Songwriter Josephine asks a second time as the lo-fi drum machine rolls along like a conveyor belt. It's a disarming and razor-sharp lyric that sends her rumination on failure into a spiral. "I'm such a shitty friend!" The striking single from La-based musician Josephine, "Letting You Down," is a masterclass in indie-pop confessional storytelling. The sound of "Letting You Down" is musically clear: sour guitar chords and sweet vocals breezing through verses like a western wind. The sidewinding nature of Josephine's songwriting makes it especially potent upon repeat listens. The chorus opens up into an almost surf-rock style, but it's softened to something dreamier. It's all just so good! As the year comes to a close, Josephine has released my personal favorite song that I've reviewed for the blog all year. It's captivating, relatable, immaculately composed and produced—it's a hidden gem that I feel incredibly lucky to have caught. The cover of "Letting You Down" features the artist practically transparent against a backdrop of phenomenal coastline. I remark on this because that's how she feels in the song: like you could reach out and your hand would pass right through her. "Sorry that I couldn't make your vision come true," the last word dissolving into reverb. Just when you think you've grasped onto something concrete, ("You moved to California with a vision, / then I made you feel like a visitor"), Josephine complicates the picture with a clever turn of phrase ("Or was it that what we had / should've stayed where it was at"). We'll never know the full story — we aren't meant to. "Letting You Down" is the beauty of making out shapes in a blurry portrait. Josephine morphs, stretches, bends, and disappears entirely. "You're probably used to it by now, letting you down," she repeats in the chorus, as though it tasted funny in her mouth the first time. It's not the type of thing you can just shrug off. Not much is known about the LA-based artist, Josephine. But the enigma of the artist behind such phenomenal work only makes it more exciting to get in on ground floor. "Letting you down" is not her only fantastic song. "Serenity" is a hazy, lofi mantra for finding peace in the wake of inescapable change, demonstrating her cerebral lyricism. "Perfect," a gorgeous, R&B track released in 2020, backdrops relationship insecurity against sweet acoustics and strolling beats. Then, just today, she released another single, "Paradise," which is equally magnificent. All four singles released thus far, alongside a feature last year, demonstrate exactly why Josephine is an artist you need to be listening to. Written By Andy Mockbee FOLLOW Josephine:

In "Mess With My Man" by Presley Tennant, Tennant warns another woman against pursuing her romantic partner. Tennant clarifies her threats aren't rooted in jealousy. Instead, she's defending a relationship built from hard work and dedication. And while she isn't blind to her partner's attractiveness, Tennant finds no excuse in a woman wanting a taken man. Therefore, Tennant expresses her willingness to fight if the situation calls for it. And in "Mess With My Man," Tennant's performance is convincing that she'd do anything to keep what's hers. "Mess With My Man" by Presley Tennant spans three minutes and thirty-two seconds, following a simple song structure of Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus. For a quick intro, the intimate tone of the track is set immediately with snaps, a piano, and a synthesizer. As it transitions into the verse, Tennant's first few words give the audience a taste of her strong vocal presence. In the same breath, Tennant flexes her lyrical talents through the beginning lines, "You're like a fatal hot wire/And you're playing with fire tonight/You got no inhibitions/With an out on a mission state of mind." Through the rest of the song, the production subtly builds, with added background vocals, synth pads, percussion, and more, providing the perfect backdrop for Tennant's progression in vocal performance. By the end of "Mess With My Man," listeners get a glimpse of Tennant's future in the country music scene and the extent she'd go to prove her dominance. Presley Tennant is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from Norco, California. At 16, Tennant competed on The Voice, which allowed her to develop a fanbase and later encouraged her collaboration with producers Kent Wells and Buddy Hyatt to continue pursuing a career in the music industry. Considering the influence of country music in her hometown, Tennant developed her artistry within the genre but with a modern twist. Tennant has been sharing her music on streaming services since 2019, with her most recent release being a six-song project titled "600 Miles." And as of 2022, her following has only increased, opening for musical acts like Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Tim Mcgraw, and more. At her young age and with the successes she's had thus far, Presley Tennant is only beginning her journey to becoming a face for this generation's country music scene. Written By Jeffrey Ade FOLLOW PRESLEY:

Pop Artist Hayley Siano continues her trend of releasing one single each year since 2019. This year, it's her newest single “Get To Know Her” which was released on December 9th. This is Hayley's 4th single currently out on Spotify and it's all about the hard truth of letting go of a relationship that is ultimately destined to end. In her new song, Hayley is taking that pain and turning it into strength. With lyrics like "When it's over, I'm gonna get to know her" she sings of putting yourself first. Listeners of Hayley have been highly anticipating this track since the release of her last single, “what you forgot” in early 2021. Hayley's recent release, “Get To Know Her” is an emotional pop track full of soothing vocals and meaningful lyrics that pack a punch. With the impressive control and depth of her voice, she is guaranteed to leave you hanging on to her every word as you listen. Hayley has a hard-hitting song on her hands with powerful lyrics and an even more powerful voice behind it. Acknowledging, let alone accepting the end of a relationship is never an easy thing to do, and Hayley captures those intimate feelings so well in her new song. "Get To Know Her" means a lot to the artist as she has said herself that she has been there and has seen people she's close to in similar situations as well. Hayley's songwriting talent shines through here. Her clever use of lyrics can leave a listener feeling more empowered by the end. Hayley's track speaks for choosing yourself in the end and you can feel the drama, the passion, and the heart in every lyric she sings. With her new release, Hayley wants her listeners to know that they deserve more and there is a light on the other side waiting for them. Hayley Siano is a New York-based indie-pop singer and songwriter. She is a promising up-and-coming artist who is already making waves in the music industry. Her new single “Get To Know Her” is followed by her last single, “what you forgot”, sophomore single, “This Very Moment” and her debut single, “The Morning". It has been Hayley's dream since she was a kid to share her music with the world, and that is something she's finally doing. Hayley is hoping to make her first music video become a reality in the near future for her newest single, “Get To Know Her”. Keep your eye out in the future for this and possibly new releases along the way! You can find this artist's social media accounts in the links below. Written By Jenna Barton FOLLOW HAYLEY:

"Got Away With It" is a beautiful calm single. The artist has a similar sound to Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift, with gorgeous lyrics and instrumentals that highlight vocals. In the track, the vocalist sings about feeling as though her ex has got away with a crime. She compares him to a criminal and her to a crime scene, claiming he stole her heart. Overall, this is a slow ballad that has clever lyricism that listeners will have stuck in their heads. A highlight of the track would be the second verse. In the second verse, a guitar is introduced and it adds to the overall angst vibe the single has. The final chorus is also stunning with the stripped-down vocals and the limited instrumental. The final chorus is a standout moment in the track because it allows the vocalist to shine and is complemented by the soft piano. This song is about heartbreak and has beautiful instrumentals and lyrics that will resonate with audiences. Eliza Harrison Smith is from Washington D.C. and now makes music in Nashville, Tennessee. After going to a Taylor Swift concert at thirteen years old, this singer felt inspired to create her music. The musician attended the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, she began her musical journey to write music for other artists but decided to release her own music. Smith released her debut in February 2021 and she soon after released a three-track EP. Written By Stephanie Berning FOLLOW ELIZA HARRISON SMITH:

Growing up is hard. It’s not until the holidays appear that you realize just how much change has happened, and how different it feels. Lexie Carroll takes a trip down nostalgia lane in her newest single, “christmas day,” which ponders about the changes that come with adulthood. Peppermint candy no longer tastes like joy, snow is not glistening with hope, presents under the tree don’t give you the same thrill they once did when you were younger. Though the holiday still has its traditional charm—her dad still wears his ten-year-old jumper and her mom still saves the scraps of wrapping paper—everything has changed. The room that was once filled with the aroma of pine and holiday cheer, is now permeated by adulthood and albums of memories that once were. “When nothing feels the same/ The snow all turns to rain/We’ll make plans to catch up soon/ And they’ll fall through.” Lexie Carroll wistfully expresses her sentiments for past Christmases and the times when her family was always together. Painting a picture of how family relationships alter as time goes by, Lexie Carroll brushes on harsh reality as she mentions relatable scenarios like how she and her sister catch up with small talk and make plans only to cancel. It’s a conundrum, really, how two people who grew up in the same house their entire lives can one day act like strangers. But Lexie Carroll writes it in a way where it doesn’t feel abnormal at all. In fact, these new Christmases have slowly become the new norm as she bittersweetly sings at the end, “We’ll say goodbye again with all the moments that we’ve saved/But nothing’s ever changed/Here on Christmas day.” Though the song isn’t a traditional Christmas song, the magical sleigh bells that lightly ring with the nostalgic strumming of guitar bring a familiar warm glow to the song’s instrumentation; almost to the point where you can see your own slideshow of old pictures while listening. Based in London, Lexie Carroll is a singer/songwriter whose gift is to paint vivid pictures through her music. Heartfelt and raw, her emotions seep through her lyrics which has drawn people in since her first released single, “Nearly Home.” Achieving over 86k streams on Spotify with this song alone, she has reached the hearts of many, and has continued flourishing in her artistic career. Not only does she have a knack for blissful storytelling, but she also creates her own artwork and lyric videos to enhance her music. As Lexie Carroll continues to make an impression within the music world, she is the definition of an artist through and through. Written By Amanda Palacios FOLLOW LEXIE CARROLL:

Being trapped in a destructive thought cycle over someone you desire can feel suffocating at worse, and awfully distracting at best. In his latest release “Haunted By You”, musical nomad Bradley Denniston described the back-and-forth dynamic of a relationship that left him feeling haunted. There’s something intoxicating about a partnership with high highs and low lows that make it impossible to rid your mind of your person. Denniston embodied the sour feelings of obsession rooted in high hopes and disappointment and somehow turned it into a catchy, relatable single. “Haunted By You” certainly showcases the musical and productional talents of multi-faceted artist Bradley Denniston. An intro reminiscent of 80’s pop is modernized once gritty vocals move their way into the song. The vocal range of the artist is impressive and suitably complements the musical ebb and flow of the single. Perhaps what is more admirable though is that vocals, instrumentals, production, and writing were all done by the artist himself. After just a brief listen of his latest single, it is clear that Bradley is a gifted and well-rounded musician. Bradley Denniston has a long history of producing, singing, engineering, and composing platinum-selling music. During his time as a prominent force at Mutato Muzika, his work was featured in several Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy Award Nominated films, TV, and commercials. Additionally, he’s worked with many notable artists such as Gotye, Tegan and Sara, G-Eazy, and The Lonely Island. While impressively releasing his own work, he utilizes his own company, Radium Media, to continue contributing original music to major motion pictures, TV series, and albums with other artists. Written By Zewdi Cass FOLLOW BRADLEY DENNISTON:

We live in a world where lying can seem like second nature. It hurts when people lie to us, but it hurts worse when we lie to ourselves. We lie to ourselves to protect ourselves. We change the story in our head to believe a better outcome. We lie to ourselves that we’re okay even though all we want to do is breakdown and die. Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s “white lies” is chilling sonic poetry about the little lies we tell ourselves and the person our heart used to belong to. The white lies in this story do not come from malice or secrecy, but instead, they come from fear of missing out and fear of moving on. She dreams of a love grander than imaginable, but yet still holds on to the past because, like all great loves, it was once synonymous with everything she thought she wanted. When people change drastically, from knights in shining armor to the villain of our story, it can be hard to trust yourself.. even though you were the only thing that stayed consistent. How did I not see it sooner? Was there really a change, or was I blinded by fairytale ideals of us together in the end? If I find someone new will it be the love I always needed.. or will I lie next to them and wish it were you? Sometimes we don’t know if it’s better to stay or go, so we get by with the little white lies we tell ourselves and others, and sometimes, the biggest lie is the one we tell ourselves when we say we wish those white lies weren’t actually the truth. “White lies” is pure, raw emotion bleeding out. You can feel the depths of sadness and fading from the moment it begins. Katie’s lyrics are devastating and powerful. She paints a picture with her words that most everyone can relate to. In the chorus, she says, “I tell white lies like, ‘I don’t wanna leave you. I don’t want a life without you,” but the truth is maybe I do time to time.” This vulnerable passage of clarity is something a lot of people go through in the end of a relationship. You already have your bruises and scars and know you deserve better, but believing it and leaving are the hardest parts. We picture a new life, a better one, with the love we’ve always craved, but we’re met with confusion when we remember the love we used to share that was perceived as our forever. She ends the song with a subtle, yet compelling, lyric change as she says, “I tell white lies like, ‘I don’t wanna leave you. I don’t want a life without you,” but the truth is maybe I don’t.” At the end, she says the one thing we all say to ourselves that we won’t say to other people. We tell our family, our friends, and even our partners that we deserve better, but in the depths of our heart, we know we’d pick them and our story over any perfect fairytale in the library. Katie Gregson-MacLeod is a singer-songwriter from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. At just 21 years old, she has a captivating presence and an ethereal voice wrapped in wisdom and profundity. Her sound is influential and causes a string of melancholy that is only ever felt through heartbreak and devastation. She rose to well-deserved overnight fame this summer when she posted a minute-long chorus to an unreleased song called “Complex”. This song went viral with millions of views and fan recreations with their own harrowing tales of letting yourself bleed out to keep someone else alive. From working in a coffee shop to being the voice of a heartbroken generation, Katie has just released her second EP, songs written for the piano , that is sure to bring us to tears while wrapping us in a warm blanket of solidarity and comfort that we are not alone, nor ever will be, in our loneliness. Katie Gregson-MacLeod combines the voice in our head, the ache in our heart, and the power of our being into music that will not only change our generation but will remain undeniable classics for a lifetime. Written By Grace Chapman FOLLOW KATIE GREGSON-MACLEOD:

‘Ghost Girl’ is so catchy! What is the story behind the song? Juliet: It is written in the 3rd person about a girl who’s been through a lot but came out the other side stronger, wiser, and more independent/free. I began the writing process from the concept of a “Ghost Girl” which to me symbolizes the ghost of a girl who once put others before herself, reflected on the pain it caused her, which in turn taught her to love herself and empower herself in the process of moving on. The lyricism came naturally to me as that girl was once me. I wanted to share my perspective in the hope that my listeners, whether they can directly relate to the song or not, can take away that it is okay to feel sad, hurt, or vulnerable. Something valuable I learned is that facing the obstacle of “negative” emotions can help you to let go and discover a whole new side to yourself. Now Ghost Girl is about to hit 100k streams on Spotify and I feel so grateful that it stuck with so many people already. What does your songwriting process usually look like? Juliet: I go about songwriting a few different ways depending on the mood I am in and what idea first inspires me. I am also a producer and engineer so sometimes I will start out producing a track then build vocals around that. Other ways I go about writing a song are starting out with a main concept (Ghost Girl is an example of that) then telling a story based on that concept and what it means to me. Lastly, I randomly get inspired with vocal melodies so I'll record it on voice memos, then make a beat in the same key, record the melody topline on Pro Tools, then start writing it based on the melody and the emotion that it is conveying. *Insert YouTube Video* How did you begin creating music? What inspires you to continue? Juliet: Music came naturally to me and a lot of the time I would randomly come up with melodies in my head and so I decided to start recording them on voice memos. Then I eventually wrote my first song on paper after coming up with a verse melody, channeling my emotions and inner thoughts. When I first began writing I knew nothing about the technical AABA songwriting structure so instead I would listen to my favorite songs and take note of their rhyme schemes, then base the song I was writing off of that structure while using my ear to determine if it was sounding cohesive. I am constantly inspired to continue writing music because of its healing power and the strong passion I have for it that continues to grow each day. I could just be walking down the block and see a street sign that inspires a song, a phrase I hear someone say passing by, or pass by an area that sparks an old memory and base a whole song off of it. Music feels like second nature to me and it’s a way for me to share and express my emotions, that alone is inspiring. It is also a very rewarding feeling to be vulnerable with my emotions in my music (which can feel scary sometimes) and then have my listeners reach out to me saying how much they can relate to what I am sharing. What is your personal favorite out of the songs you have released so far? You can only pick one! Juliet: Currently I would say Ghost Girl because I love how it gives a badass vibe but is simultaneously emotional and open. The song came very fast to me and I finished writing and recording all the vocals within the first two hours of the session. At that time I had been working harder than I ever had as a musician and after I finished recording that song it really started to sink in how vastly I had improved as an artist, so it represents a really memorable milestone for me as a musician. How has living in Los Angeles influenced your music? Juliet: When I moved to LA two years ago I took my music from being just a hobby to a career path. When I transferred from business school to a music school my music started to rapidly improve. I took courses on Business Entertainment, Music Theory, Ear Training, Songwriting, Production, and Engineering which taught me so much about the industry as a whole and gave me new tools on how to write music. When I started going to music school I got addicted to learning (especially when I really started to notice improvement), which in turn strengthened my determination and passion. LA in itself is also a very inspiring place as a musician. There are so many songs written about LA that I couldn’t fully grasp the meaning behind it until I moved here. What is some of the best advice you have received? Juliet: Make it a priority to put in consistent time and effort into your craft and understand that being an artist is not just knowing how to make music. It is important to know the industry as a whole such as your rights as a musician, the business behind it, and the marketing side if you are deciding to pursue music as a career and not as a hobby. You can find all the information you need on the internet so never cease to learn something new and let your curiosity run wild and guide you. Interviewed By Kendall Koval FOLLOW JULIET:

“One Foot In” is a stark look at a lover pleading for his partner to come back and at least hear them out. When you don’t see your partner enough, it’s tough to just watch them leave, even if you know they have responsibilities and you have responsibilities you both need to fulfill. But it’s hard, especially if you end up leaving things on a bad note. Scott’s playful quip of standing there with one foot in the door is reminiscent of the complicated feelings and emotions you have watching your partner walk away. Scott’s throaty vocals compliment the complicated influx of feelings and emotions that she gives voices to in the song. The laidback nature of the production along with the upbeat synths add flavor and beats to the piece. The sense of melancholy is only highlighted by Scott’s vocal range, from breathy at times to soaring and strong. The aching ballad of trying to hold on when everything else is falling away is thoughtfully poignant on the complex feelings that arise as a relationship comes to a close. Temme Scott, based in Los Angeles, is perfectly fine with leaving her emotions plain for anyone to see. Her raw lyrics and folk melodies fused with her gritty intonation and soulful but tender vocals. While vulnerability is one of her biggest strengths, her ability in crafting a narrative for others to relate to is also nothing to sneeze at. During her senior year of college, Scott spent a semester abroad in Buenos Aires, where she immersed herself in the indie music scene, discovering the excitement of playing live all over again. Her authenticity is something that she prides herself on; her music evokes the wonderment of childhood though marked with adult themes and complicated feelings that chase after us day by day. Temme Scott’s second foray into the industry is coming with a bang. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW SCOTT: