Dean Mitchell is a queer Mexican-American singer and songwriter claiming a new space in the alternative pop realm. Dreamy and ambitious, Dean Mitchell’s forthcoming records wade through heavy emotions with a lighthearted resiliency typical of a Cancer. The enigmatic songstress feels at home in the genre-less landscape of today’s music and offers her unique talent for listeners who also feel like “chameleons” — always a little out of place and hard to pin down.
Growing up she found inspiration in a wide range of influences: funk and R&B of the 70s and 80s, 90s grunge, polished 2000s pop, and everything in between. With whimsical production by Lost Boy, her moody songs sparkle with radical honesty and highlight her bright and powerful vocals. Dean Mitchell sings about the messiness and turmoil of growing up, grieving, and trying to find your place in the world with bright eyes and an open heart.
Called “one of the Boston music scene’s most valuable players” by The Art Fuse, Julian Loida is a percussionist, composer, and producer. Loida’s musical curiosity and open-mindedness has propelled him towards a wide-range of sounds, genres, and artistic endeavours. He’s performed jazz, folk, and classical, collaborating with dancers, visual artists, songwriters/composers, and musicians of all stripes. The thirst to participate in and experience this range of sounds is partly a product of Loida’s synesthesia. Music is a full- body experience for him, with sounds often invoking involuntary sensations of colour, texture, or even taste.
Loida often writes and arranges for his projects and ensembles (the Cuban/Brazilian band INÃ, jazz quintet Mojubá, chamber-folk band Night Tree), and his music has been featured in film, ads, and dance performances. His interdisciplinary projects aim at breaking down artistic barriers. The evening-length solo-project Recital of Dedications incorporates speech, visual media, and music into a series of dedications to individuals, historical moments, and more. In 2018, he released the album Bach LIVE!, featuring J.S. Bach’s music arranged for percussion. Loida’s 2019 release, Wallflower, marks his solo-album debut, and also provides the clearest distillation of his voice as a composer to date. Loida’s discography continues to grow with singles and EP’s featuring vibraphone and electronics to solo piano. Julian is preparing to release his second full-length solo record in the spring of 2023.
John Oates (of the iconic pop-rock duo Daryl Hall & John Oates) is thrilled to release his re-imagination of the hit song “Maneater” as the reggae tune he always thought it could be. Oates originally came up with the chorus hook idea in the reggae style after coming back from a trip to Jamaica in the early 1980s. Last year, while appearing on the critically-acclaimed Questlove podcast, Oates told that story and an avalanche of listeners messaged in that they would love to hear that version. This overwhelming response lead Oates to reach out to his producer friend, Native Wayne Jobson who organized a recording session in Kingston, Jamaica assembling a veritable “who’s who” of legendary reggae musicians. The result is an amazing remake of this classic hit.
breakout multiplatinum Pontiac, MI rapper DDG recharges his red hot single “I’m Geekin” with a new Official Remix featuring none other than rapidly rising rap phenom Luh Tyler. Stream “I’m Geekin” [feat. Luh Tyler] at all DSPs HERE via Epic Records and watch the music video HERE.
Together, they expand the original with fresh flavor and fire. Luh Tyler pulls up for a stunning and striking cameo highlighted by his signature rasp. “I’m Geekin” instantly captivates as both rappers prove relentless in their confident and charismatic flows. The accompanying music video projects this energy on screen and highlights their collective star power.
Simultaneously, “I’m Geekin” continues to make waves. Thus far, it has piled up 4.2 million Spotify streams in addition to reeling in 1.6 million YouTube views on the music video. Plus, it earned widespread critical acclaim. XXL touted it among “The 13 Best New Hip-Hop Songs This Week,” while VIBE praised, “DDG is cool, calm, and collected despite his new track being titled ‘I’m Geekin’ and the duality is real. If this is geekin’, perhaps everyone out to follow suit to how DDG is living.” REVOLT noted, “He treats his family to a luxurious ride in a private jet as he spits some bars to match the braggadocious mood.”
Star2 began his life in a Thai refugee camp where he was forced to flee genocide from the Burmese army in Myanmar who burned his village to the ground. A lottery in the camp brought him to San Diego with his grandmother and her four children. Working alongside producer Chico Bennett, his collaborations with acclaimed rappers include Soulja Boy, $tupid Young, Mozzy, MBNel, Luh Kel, Lil Poppa, HoodTrophy Bino, YSN Flow, and MarMar Oso to name a few. Star2 has also received acclaim from the likes of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, GQ, Earmilk, BET, Lyrical Lemonade, HotNewHipHop, HipHopDX, The Source, Ones to Watch and more.
Indie rock band, Mise En Scene is thrilled to release their new single “Burn Out” that is out now along with the music video that is featured on Wonderland Magazine.
“Burn Out” is off their new EP Reality Bites to be released June 23rd. The title track is also out now as well and can be heard here: https://fanlink.to/realitybites.
The band says, “Burn Out is about finding yourself in a garbage relationship. You can’t believe you are living as your lowest self with a person who drags you down.”
“Reality bites, and it hurts every time.”
British songwriter, singer and producer Tatiana DeMaria is thrilled to release her new single ‘Open Wide’, out now.
‘Open Wide’ is a song that sounds like nothing else. Effortlessly moving from strong defiance to raw vulnerability the song is a genre bending showcase of Tatiana’s ability to weave catchy melodies and lyrical depth into a sound uniquely her own.
On a bed of unorthodox drums and powerful vocals, this track serves as the perfect introduction to Tatiana’s upcoming debut solo EP + album.
Tatiana says, “I wrote this song long before the pandemic, but it has taken me this effing long to get the sound right, and I’m stoked to share it now. With that said, the sentiment of the song has only become more poignant. The song itself is about the paradox of escapism; the contradiction that arises when we seek to escape from our problems or reality, but in doing so, we often end up feeling more trapped, disconnected, or unfulfilled.”
What a year it has been for Oxlade. The 2023 Vevo artist to watch owns one of 2022’s biggest hits with “Ku Lo Sa” and its remix featuring Camila Cabello, with more than 300M+ global streams and 5B+ TikTok views across the world.
Almost one year since the release of the now most viewed COLORS session in the past 4 years, the prince of afropop Oxlade is finally back with “Ovami” feat. Flavour, second piece of his much-awaited album “Oxlade From Africa”, coming soon in 2023.
“Assembled real brothers, all from the eastern part of my beautiful country Nigeria. Tribalism is a major tool used by politicians to divide and cause chaos between the beautiful people of my country. I love and respect each and every tribe the same way as mine.
“Oxlade From Africa” (the album) is not just a body of work, it’s meant to be a meditation for Africans at large and lovers of this special continent.”-Oxlade
Georgia-based recording artist Bri Trilla’s Major Payne-inspired “Big Mood” visual is an homage to her hard work and dedication to her craft. Influenced by Jay-Z, Future, Drake, Dreezy, and other lyrical rappers, Bri Trilla uses wordplay to connect her fanbase to her story. Her upbeat, encouraging sound will resonate with anyone dealing with the trials of life.
A number of influencers and celebrities have supported and become fans of Bri Trilla’s music. She has received support from Ari Fletcher, Glo Rilla, Lakeyah, Jayda Cheaves and JT of City Girls on Instagram and Tik Tok. Bri Trilla strategically markets her music on social media. As soon as notable music executives inquired about the song, Bri Trilla knew her music would carry weight. Bri’s performances and tour bookings began to pick up after the single.
“Social media reaches fans fast,” Bri Trilla explained. “People are looking for things that make a great caption. This surely allows me to market my music much easier.”
Indie singer-songwriter, Eric Dash is thrilled to release his new single “Everything is Nothing” that is out now.
This is the second single off his new album to be released in August. The first single “Two Steps” is out now as well and can be heard here.
Eric says, “It’s written about family and friends that he left behind in a pursuit of musical stardom, but wrote the chorus while singing to his dog, Lola, that he loved. The cover photo was taken the day before he found out she had an aggressive cancer.”
Eric “Dash” Friedman has been making music since his early teens. He started writing at 8 and recording EPs at 13, playing shows all over the Tri-State area. However, it was when he was 23 that he had any success with his YouTube single “One More Love Song”.
Indie rock band, Carver Commodore is thrilled to release their new single “Never Satisfied” that is out now along with the music video that is featured on Wonderland Magazine.
“Never Satisfied” is featured on their new EP If Nothing Happens to be released on August 15th. They recently released the first single “Drown Me in Emotions” that is also out now as well.
The band says, “Unsatisfied (obviously), but more specifically, we as a band were feeling like we had been “grinding” and doing all the “right things” for a few years but were watching everyone around us become successful seemingly overnight. And due to comparison, we were robbing ourselves of the potential joy that would come from the successes we did receive. So the song is about comparison on a personal and band level.”
Indie rock singer-songwriter, Kath Myers announces her New Album Bad TV to be released on July 21st. As a preview she has released her the first single as the title track that is out now along with the music video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2G9ImCSd6Q
Kath says, “This song is about depression and how it feels like a force outside of oneself that has to be dealt with until it decides to move on. Like the sandman in European folklore, there are different interpretations of whether or not this character is good or evil. Humans are made up of both lightness and darkness and I believe that we have to become friends with both sides in order to experience our full true selves. Even though it can be crippling and painful.
Bad TV was recorded and mixed at Verdugo Sound by Myers’ pal and co-producer Aaron Stern. Myers and Stern recorded her first record, Sensitive Groups, at the beginning of Pandemic in Stern’s then untreated garage.”
Rising Dutch singer-songwriter – MICHAEL J. BENJAMIN – has unveiled his latest offering “The Same Again”, taken from a debut EP due this Autumn.
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A radiant, reflective ballad that sees the young musician pair distinctive Cash-meets-Cohen vocals with his knack for heart-rending storytelling, the new track was produced by Jon McMullen (Wet Leg, Michael Kiwanuka) in London. A song that finds the singer-songwriter rewinding sepia-tinted memories of his past, and pausing for thought on what could have been, Michael J. Benjamin explains of “The Same Again”:
“A girl and I used to walk along these farms on the edge of town, then I left for London and when I came back we broke up. After that I used to come back to these seemingly holy farms to find inspiration and tranquillity; to catch a glimpse of light of the moon and relive old memories. Looking back now, it’s the act of not letting go of the past that drove me to write this song. The farms were like a sanctuary, or a relic of better times. Even today it remains a magical place to me.”
Connecticut born and bred artist Jake Huffman creates a euphoric realm of indie pop rock, bringing his anthemic energy to a global audience. As lead vocalist and drummer, the multi-instrumentalist was previously known for his time in the viral alt rock band, McLovins. Having taken the time to rediscover who he is as a solo artist, Huffman returns with a complete arsenal of new music, all of which has been entirely written, performed and produced by Jake himself.
Huffman’s new EP, Younger, is an outstanding showcase of his musical abilities and artistry. The four-track release is both wholesome and catchy, prevailing in all areas, from its insanely infectious melodies and clever lyricism, to the intricate instrumentation. Opening track “Martyr” is Huffman’s catchiest song to date and the perfect encapsulation of what the artist is about, both lyrically and sonically.
“Vampires In Hippie Clothes” was written following Huffman having a dream about wandering around a dusty festival campground, reminiscing about the place where he spent the majority of his teens/early twenties playing and going to music festivals. The song is deeply nostalgic and has a sticky warm energy and a hint of a reggae vibe.
Then there is “Babe” which is a creepy, sexy, vicious indie pop track. Having been experimental with the song’s creation, Huffman captured an 80s sci-fi horror mixed into a twisted fantasy like day dream. The artist admits, “For all the risks we took on the song I actually think it’s very cohesive and fits right in with the other tracks.”
Bringing the EP to a close is “Bodytalk,” sonically taking the limelight for its unique musical palette that has been described as “if the Bee Gees were running from a Scooby doo swamp monster.” The song tows the line between rock, pop and funk. Huffman shares, “The main monster wubby subby sound is actually a cello that I manipulated with a few different filters and ran through the Soundtoys decapitator. I’ve been writing and working on these songs for a few years now and this is the one I find myself listening to the most. It also SLAAAPS live!”
Huffman’s latest project is an amalgamation of his musical influences and vast heritage of experience. At the age of 14, Huffman and his band McLovins posted on YouTube a cover of Phish’s “You Enjoy Myself” from his parents basement in Connecticut. Overnight the video went viral and sparked a rabid following of fans around the world. Since then, he has shared the stage with Blink-182, Foster The People, BB King and The Flaming Lips.
Huffman has garnered humbling praise from the likes of the Rolling Stone, US Weekly, NPR and legendary XPN Radio Programming Director and DJ Bruce Warren, as well as also having caught the attention of Emmy, Grammy and Tony award-winning producer and composer Bill Sherman (Hamilton, In The Heights, Sesame Street) and Glee producer Michael Novick. Meanwhile on television, the musician has left an imprint as a composer and lyricist for Sesame Street, writing dozens of songs for artists like Ed Sheeran and Leon Bridges. With plenty more on the horizon, it looks like 2023 will be an explosive year for Jake Huffman.
MONSTA X member, JOOHONEY, has released his highly anticipated debut solo album, today. JOOHONEY The 1st Mini Album, LIGHTS, is a culmination of the all-rounder’s past 8 years as the team’s main rapper, producer and songwriter. With all 6 tracks written and produced by JOOHONEY, the creative process of this album has helped with the discovery of what is most true to him, as well as focusing on his inner voice. LIGHTS is an extensive record of honest emotions, as well as JOOHONEY’s signature explosive energy and charisma. He candidly tells of his passion during debut in 2015, and his desire for freedom in the reality of the present; all while promising to be with fans forever in the future. JOOHONEY sends out an optimistic message of finding hope, despite the wounds suffered in the process of fighting for freedom.
My solo album is finally out in the world after long waited eight years! I feel truly happy and excited to share the music filled with my honest emotions. The album itself shows my color the best and I believe MONBEBE would like it as well. I hope this album could serve as the key and light that opens up this desolate world.- JOOHONEY
Meet Singer-songwriter Sammy Shepard. He is thrilled to release his debut single “All I Need” that is out now.
Sammy says, “A dream that my 6 year old self made to have my own music released has come true. I wrote, recorded, and produced the song on my own, and it is a true piece of my heart and soul!”
Hard-hitting electro-pop band SM6 is a rising group with a powerful presence that can’t be ignored. A new chapter lies ahead, full of driving synths, head-pop instrumentation, and a vocally punk edge you wouldn’t normally hear in pop music today. The dark atmosphere they begin to create teases what’s to come for the future of SM6.
Los Angeles-based electro pop artist, MaeThePirate, has released her new album, Xenon, today. The album is an amalgamation of diverse moods surrounding Mae’s personal experiences. The long-awaited set of songs ties together the many mental journeys Mae went through not only within a romantic relationship but within herself. Her music delves into the topics of mental illness and social media, and she aims to create a community where people feel comfortable discussing these issues. Her dance-pop sound incorporates her beloved cello in every song, and her uplifting lyrics transform negative aspects of life into positives. Mae’s ultimate goal is to build a community where her music serves as a safe haven for those seeking solace and escape. Focus track “High,” was written by Mae the first weekend in her brand new apartment after she finally set up her music equipment, thinking that everything would be painful but she really was able to exhale for the first time in months, knowing no ones going to come barging through the door angry. MaeThePirate states, “Right after I left my boyfriend, and I left a terrible abusive situation, I wrote this song when I realized that a lot, if not the majority of this pain, was caused by someone else, and now I’m actually free.” Mae recalls that the Lofi sound on this track was influenced by the new room she was in; she had never mixed in that room, and she had never sung in that room. She elaborates, “My roommate was next door so I didn’t really want him to hear me yelling these lyrics, the shyness of being free but also the light energy of the cello and airy sounds have the energy of someone who is a little shy in her excitement, because truly, I was. I thought he was my everything and that we were meant for each other. And now, after escaping, I’m feeling so high.”
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
