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James Walker questions his perceptions of a partner in his new single ‘Expectations’. He talks about the unrealistic expectations we put on others and how they’re going to miraculously fix all our problems. He identifies the feeling of dependency towards this person and asks himself, “Am I in love with you, or my expectations?” It's tough to make this distinction, especially since society pressures us to conform to others rather than complement them. But Walker’s got a beautiful way of deciphering his heart, and that’s one of the most captivating pieces of this song. “I want you to love me like I need you if we’re ever gonna last.” Walker constructs his story through rose-colored glasses; romanticizing his expectations with a reverberant electro-pop sound. When Walker’s silky and resonant vocals come in, it’s a sensational battle of emotions versus the mind. Illusory vocal harmonies and electronic instruments appear distant, as if telling you to look beyond the surface to determine how you really feel about them. That’s an attractive melody! This is a great song for when you’re in your feels and want to give your mind some clarity! As a singer/songwriter, James Walker gets inspiration from experiences that shaped him. From consistently being on the move to having two open heart-surgeries by age 21, he’s got an incredibly unique background. From his debut album ‘English Bones’, his evocative lyrics and mesmerizing stories have been highly praised by a global audience. He’s written about everything from introspection to codependency. Walker’s distinctive musical footprint is truly inspiring, and ‘Expectations’ is just a snippet of that. Be on the lookout for more singles from his upcoming 3rd album! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW JAMES:

Too many of us have discovered the effects of COVID-19 over the past few years. Many opportunities, events, and memories have been taken from us and now as we struggle to achieve a new normal, we find ourselves feeling lost in the world. “FAMOUS” embodies these feelings we can all relate to as Robyn Harris talks about the post COVID-19 world. She expertly describes how most of us feel like our hopes and dreams for future are dying. This has left us questioning our self-worth and wondering what the point of all of this is. The best thing about “FAMOUS” is the message in the lyrics that Robyn sings. “I’m just a regular person with regular thoughts”. A common idea that I’m sure has circulated about everyone’s mind over these quarantine years is the idea that really, we’re just regular people with nothing that special about us. But, we shouldn’t let our achievements determine our self-worth. Robyn sings these lyrics showing that it’s okay to feel a little lost right now as you try to grow into yourself and figure out who you are. This message is really about just being you and living life how you want, regardless of how successful you are. You don’t have to be famous to be happy and special. Robyn Harris is an Indie-pop artist from Nashville, TN. Her music combines synths and acoustic elements to create her own unique sound that is recognizable anywhere. The up-and-coming artist was recently named one of Turned Up Music’s “46 Nashville Artists to watch in 2020”. Along with this, Robyn has been featured in prestigious showcases like Musician’s Corner and Women on Fire. Robyn is making her mark on the music industry, and you won’t want to miss out on a second of her success! Written By Emily Hancock FOLLOW ROBYN HARRIS:

Edwina Maben’s song “go tell yesterday” is the perfect mix between pop and Disney. Featuring a beautiful voice, a driving beat, and an awesome guitar, Maben creates a sense of hope and power in the world; something we could all use a little more of. The line “that if yesterday hurt me, tomorrow is gonna heal me” provides an idea of strength and courage in the face of tragedy as it fiddles with the concept that time can heal the wounds of the past. I think this message is absolutely beautiful and provides a foundation for people who are suffering throughout the world’s crises. What a great song! While I could talk all day about the stunning voice that is Edwina Maben, I think it’s important to describe what else makes this song magical. A classic mix of guitar, keyboard, bass, and strings, this song has a strong foundation that just screams motivation. I love the use of a classic drum set (which is often absent in modern pop music) as it provides a very human-esq feeling compared to some 808s. The overdubs and harmonies on the vocal creates the idea that a group is singing instead of one person, giving the melody more weight and meaning. The professionalism of the mix is also top-notch! From Denver, Colorado, singer/songwriter Edwina Maben is an emerging talent in the music industry. After being selected as a top 5 finalist in Guitar Center’s 2017 national songwriting contest, Edwina went on to attend the University of Colorado with a degree in recording arts and computer science. She’s performed for notable spaces such as: The Troubadour (LA), Colorado & Company (9NEWS), and TEDxMileHigh and has made a large impact in the community with Youth on Record's FEMpowered program and Music Minds Matter. You can check out her music on Spotify, Pandora, and Youtube or go visit her social media links to find the latest information on new songs, news, and more! Written By Aaron Soltis FOLLOW EDWINA:

"Neither one of us want this summer to end" is a true reflection of a warm and inviting relationship that bonds well and does not break. On Kaiyah Mercedes' brand new debut single titled "After Summer Ends", Kaiyah sings about a two-faced relationship that felt like being on an endless plane in paradise but crashed when summer vacation was over. The songwriting done by Kaiyah is majestic and it puts you in a place of deep meditation and introspection that is human to all of us when it comes to ultimate love & trust in someone. Kaiyah also is talking about difficult changes in one's life that can become a permanent negative in someone's mind. As the summer sun sets, the love in the air gets colder over time. This song is a hell of a journey! Just like getting into a summer fling! The production is super crisp and clean with the beautiful electric guitar riffs as well as the acoustic guitar that contradicts smoothly to the electricity of the rockstar guitar being used. Kaiyah's monotone yet enchanting vocals over the melancholy instrumentation fits perfectly. The sound effects of the seagulls and warped background vocals adds on to the chorus as well as the end of the song when it closes out with the seagulls flocking away from the shore. How awesome is that! Kaiyah Mercedes is a rising singer-songwriter from Australia who has taught herself piano and guitar over her lifetime. Kaiyah loves to sing and write folk-pop songs that is inspired by the haikus of nature as well as the global and personal struggles that have came with the coronavirus. Kaiyah is dropping a hot new single titled "I Don't Know Who You Are Anymore" which you can catch when it's released on April 29th. Go give her a shot! Written By Miles Tutor FOLLOW KAIYAH:

'VIOLETS' by KID TRAVIS is a love song that makes use of the refreshing air of spring. It’s this season’s liberating, but not scorching warmth that’s so attractive (and underrated, in my opinion). He spins that into a free-flowing, energetic tune. “You take me high like a pilot, listen to the music it goes on and on...with violets everywhere.” Violets are often indicative of an innocent, down-to-earth kind of love. KID TRAVIS takes that concept and turns it into a charming love story. It has a sort of lighthearted feel that’s intimate, but also pure. A prominent feature of the song is the sound of pages turning and pens scribbling. It’s like KID TRAVIS pens a storybook-style romance right in front of you. He solidifies that sensation with upbeat guitar licks and an Ed Sheeran-esque pop production. Maintaining this warm and airy feel, he adds his soulful voice overtop and it sounds amazing! The lyrics speak of the finer details of this special person that KID TRAVIS has fallen head-over-heels in love with. When you hear the tolling bells in the background, that’s when you know that this love is one of a kind. Sometimes it really is the little things in life that evoke the most joy, just like this song! KID TRAVIS is incredible because he has no genre limitations and can make any song his own. The singer, songwriter and instrumentalist is best known for creating music with melodic punk and trap undertones. However, songs like 'VIOLETS' take other influences like Afro-pop and soul music to really diversify his sound. That testifies to his well-established presence on YouTube and Spotify, where he has more than 480K subscribers and 2.5 million monthly listeners, respectively. Go check him out because you’ll surely find songs of his that'll speak to you! Written By Kevin Rodriguez FOLLOW KID TRAVIS:

I am in love with your beautiful, yet haunting, new single “Brave New World”! What is the story behind this track and what inspired you to write it? Emmrose: Aw thank you so much! I’ve been really inspired by dystopian worlds in novels recently, and wanted to create a song inspired by it! Brave New World was one of the first songs I’ve written on the guitar, and it started with an arpeggio, and kinda continued from there! When did music become something you wanted to pursue? Was there someone or something that happened in your life that started your passion for music? Emmrose: Oh yes, even when I was very young, I was always drawn to music. I would make up my own little melodies and attach stories to them. I thought of myself as a little composer, I could hear all the parts in my head. It was all original too! (Though maybe not very good haha) You have such a great fashion sense! Who are your biggest style inspirations? Emmrose: Ah! I love fashion so much. I love keeping up with trends and making them my own, especially using pieces I already have or buying second hand. Thrifting and wearing vintage is just such a blast for me. I love coordinating outfits with my mood as well as with what I’m doing that day. I probably spend too much of my day planning future outfits (but I’m always in a rush in the morning and never have time to make them happen!!) So yes, I love fashion. I’m especially drawn to the grunge fairy aesthetic, cottage core, and dark academia! (All Pinterest Aesthetics haha) How have you liked living in NYC and studying at The New School? Emmrose: Oh god I love NYC! I’ve lived here my whole life, and I honestly can’t picture living anywhere else. Right now i’m in a cute coffee shop a few blocks away from my next class, but I might go to a cute bookstore and record shop in the meantime. There’s just so much to do in NYC! Going to Uni here is also pretty cool. I’m meeting a lot of really great people at the New School and have never felt better about my social life. High school was a really isolating time for me, and I felt like I was always trying to be someone I’m not. At University I can really just be the fashion loving history nerd who also writes music version of myself, and not have to ‘fit’ in to have friends. If you could be featured on an album by any artist, who would you pick and why? Emmrose: Ooo, I’d love to be featured in a Taylor Swift album! I love the song she recently made with Phoebe Bridgers (as well as pretty much everything Taylor does haha) I also love Taylor’s new vibe, being more indie and introspective. I am such a genuine fan of your music, and I can’t wait to see where your career leads you! Do you have any upcoming projects you can talk about? Emmrose: Thank you so much! I have so many exciting things going on such as putting together some shows in NYC, as well as releasing new singles- which will then be an album! Interviewed By Sarah Curry FOLLOW EMMROSE:

“In the Movies” is an introspective song that reflects on the passing of time and making the most of the present. The best times of your lives are the ones right now, no matter how old you are, but you’re living your best life when you’re present. CHANDLER remarks on how though he might feel hit with FOMO, he knows that when he’s older and more successful, he’ll look back on his penny-pinching days fondly. For him, the journey is more desired than the success, evidence of all of the hard work he’s put in to get to where he is today. Click here to listen to "In the Movies"! CHANDLER’s soulful voice is only emphasized by the complex emotions he carefully crafts in his narrative. His song focuses on mature themes, looking at how his life has been affected by his choices while hopeful for the future. His insecurities and complexities are barred for the world to see and people to relate to. He finds a really refreshing way of untangling complex feelings in a single description or narrative and gives us the language to unpack the emotions we might be feeling right now. Set against the background of the piano and guitar, the song flows seamlessly from reflective to building up and exploding in the chorus. CHANDLER’s careful focus on the layering and narrative creates a faultless delivery conveying his personal story and personality to the audience. A singer-songwriter from Alabama, CHANDLER focuses on carefully crafting personal stories and sounds to unpack the complex emotions someone might be feeling at all stages in life. Influenced by those like LAUV, FINNEAS, and JP SAXE, CHANDLER uses his writing to speak his truth, almost therapeutic in nature. Currently living in Los Angeles, CHANDLER has collaborated with a multitude of people from New York to Portland for his upcoming album. Be sure to check it out, as CHANDLER’s contemplative songs strike chords that you may not even know have existed. Written By Megan Cao FOLLOW CHANDLER:

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