“What is the sound you make when you’re alone, when nobody is asking for the truth?”
Initially, this song was supposed to be directed at someone that I thought couldn’t be honest with themselves, even while alone.
But as I wrote, I realized that it was a message to myself.
Life is too short to waste it on playing a ‘part’ because otherwise you might end up wishing you could get that time back.
Check out my pulsating new single, “Honest,” on your favourite platform.
“Honest” features my talented cousin, Eve Parker Finley, who did an incredible job writing and arranging all of the violin parts.
The strings really added that level of visceral tension that I think the song needed.
My music tackles self-reflection, self-love and love with others.
We all need to learn how to love ourselves, flaws and all.
And I believe that the love we share comes back to us.
Thank you for listening,
Seyblu
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Chicago based alternative indie rock band Neptune’s Core announce their dynamic, layered EP Called Upon due out August 25 via Side Hustle Records and available to pre-order now. Alongside the announcement, the band shares the first taste of the forthcoming project with anthemic track and self-directed video “Inside” out everywhere now.
Plus, celebrate the new album with the band at the official EP release show live at Chicago’s Metro on August 26 along with Motel Breakfast and OK Cool. The band will also play at Avrom Farm Party on August 5 in Green Lake, WI. Tickets are on sale now via linktr.ee/neptunescore.
Called Upon, Neptune’s Core’s triumphant forthcoming EP is a powerful representation of who the band is today, both as people and as musicians. The project is their first release in almost two years, and the four-piece is proud to present a collection that is true to who they are today–one that captures their growth, pain, joy and everything in between as they continually discover themselves. Jackie Cywinski (guitar/vocals) says, “‘Called Upon’ is a beautifully diverse EP that truly shows how we work together in order to make music that is alive. The parts all four of us play separately naturally intertwine into unique, dynamic songs that we are extremely proud of.”
“Inside,” out today, provides a space for the band to voice their innermost fears and insecurities. The energetic track was born after Sofie Richter (vocals/guitar) sang the melody into her phone with a voice memo and later, brought it to her bandmates who lit up with excitement. From there, each member added their own signature piece to the puzzle and continued to rework it together as they brought it into the studio. With a booming bassline, dark, looming vocals, and shimmery guitar riffs, the track draws from Richter’s own experiences and acts not only as a catharsis for her, but as a megaphone for the universal feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Hoping to provide a channel for others to relate, Richter shares, “‘Inside’ is full of experimentation. It’s full of agony too. The lyrics come from a real part of me. They give voice to my struggles. Belting out ‘When does it get better?’ makes me feel something, which is why I wrote the song–to feel something and to share that feeling with others.”
North East singer-songwriter – JAMES LEONARD HEWITSON – has announced his new album ‘More Pop’ (due 6 October, via Butterfly Effect Label).
Leading with the single “Black Jeans”, the release also arrives alongside the announcement of a run of UK live dates this July.
STREAM “BLACK JEANS” ON ALL SERVICES HERE
A chipper cut with a distinct retro feel, “Black Jeans” sees James Leonard Hewitson pair his knack for meticulous earworm melodies with colourful and hyper-real storytelling that unfurls as a pragmatic pastiche of his Hartlepool hometown.
Over a score that blends bouncing ‘60s-tinted beats with spiralling electric guitars and bubbling synths, James’ striking observational lyrics like “my favourite team lost on Saturday, my town declined to a ghost-town getaway” leave an added sting of emptiness, mundanity and loss. Explaining more about the song, JLH says:
“”Black Jeans” is a pretty corny song, but the melody just sort of flowed so I kept going with it. I’m from a generally down-trodden North East coastal town called Hartlepool, but it’s great how your fashion sense helps you escape the wider socio-economic realities of where you are.”
As sprightly choruses descend into more sprawling stretches of contemplative instrumentals, he adds:
“The song morphs from a doo-wop song in D major to a noisy, blues-y jam by the end. I was listening to Courtney Barnett’s ‘Things Take Time, Take Time’ a lot last year and I loved the way some songs just kept going in a meditative way, even though they could’ve finished earlier.”
“Black Jeans” arrives as the first sample from James Leonard Hewitson’s awaited second album ‘More Pop’, arriving 6 October 2023. Largely a compilation of ideas that were created during the depths of the pandemic, the record touches on themes of loneliness, lust and sadness and is inspired by some of James’ favourite pop artists.
Where his debut record ‘Only The Noise Will Save Me’ saw JLH getting started as an artist, ‘More Pop’ lands as an in-depth exploration of how he’s previously been held back. Recorded and mixed by Chris McManus at Blank Studios in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the album was mastered by Peter Maher and features a small cast of performers including Michael Kitching on drums and percussion and Josh Ingledew on synths.
Our ethereal and nostalgic new single, “Dreamer,” draws inspiration from all of the past and present band members of Lost Cousins. Its lyrics revolve around the concept of Dreamers, referring to individuals who invest their entire sense of self-worth in creative and ambitious objectives. Being musicians, our way of life often appears unique and distinct from an outsider’s perspective. We reflect on the realization that many Dreamers tend to suppress their creativity as they become aware of the challenges involved in showcasing it. Ultimately, the essence of the song lies in capturing the beauty and uncertainty that come with striving for ambitious goals. We encourage listeners to embrace their inner dreamer instead of disregarding or neglecting it.
Written at a lakeside cottage, and recorded at a mountaintop chalet, the peaceful environments contributed to its airy and natural atmosphere. We enlisted co-production from Leon Taheny (Owen Pallett, Fucked Up, METZ) and mixing from Chris Shaw (Death Cab for Cutie, Wilco, Modest Mouse) who perfectly balanced the pulsing, driving, and dance-inspired rhythm section with the dreamy shoegaze-inspired synth strings, guitars, and vocals.
“Dreamer” is for driving with the windows down on a summer night, as the sun slowly sets.– Lost Cousins
Setting himself ablaze out of pure lust for validation, The Wisconaut today releases the official video for “Can’t Kill A Cowboy.” Directed by Sam Fisher (Lauv, Claire Rosinkranz) minutes from the American border with Mexico, the video features stunt coordination by Stuntworld Inc. A two-minute journey told in reverse, “Can’t Kill A Cowboy” is a striking balance of equal parts pyromania, self-deprecation and the unwillingness to die – Watch.
The Wisconaut, known to the government as Andrew Idarraga, added more context to today’s video in saying, “We blew all of our money on a few minutes of footage that capture the essence of what it means to be the cowboy.”
TAYLR is a self taught musician and singer-songwriter based in Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary, Alberta) that has the control and skill of a trained vocalist while maintaining the warmth and fun-loving nature of their inner child. TAYLR is no stranger to self reflection and deep internal exploration that bold, technicolor songwriting is born from.
Taking bits and pieces of R&B, jazz, folk, and indie pop, “the thinking person’s songwriter” succeeds in creating hearty melodic recipes in which you can taste the earnestness in every spoonful.
Driven by what makes a good song great, TAYLR has been writing with and for artists such as Ellen Doty, Kate Stevens, Hayden McHugh and has founded the projects KODAE (est. 2019 / neo soul, experimental), Dear Friend (est. 2020 / 70s style indie pop) and Layla June (est. 2023 / soulful folk). Over the years TAYLR has had the pleasure of performing alongside artists such as JJ Shiplett, Ellen Doty, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Jon Bryant, Ocie Elliot and Wyatt C. Louis. TAYLR enjoys creating friendships and thoughtful relations to create the best possible experience of music – as therapy, as catharsis, as closeness.
Whether TAYLR is playing a small intimate acoustic show, or a festival stage, the spirit of authenticity can be found in every note and lyric sung, reflecting the core of TAYLR’s writing; connection and love.
Announcing the release of debut record, Young Old Man. The new album for indie alternative/folk artist Albert Kass was produced in his hometown of Los Angeles by Grammy nominated producer Billy Mohler.
Kass has returned to writing and performing after two careers and two decades: “Call me a late bloomer. All the perceptions were there. But I didn’t feel I was called to music until now.”
The album is a coming-of-age tale—a culmination of years of original songwriting and a coalescing of sound, style and aesthetic. The young old man: broken-in yet modern, vintage vibes that echo of tomorrow. Raw with an edge but softened with bittersweet nostalgia, like the worn leather of a favorite jacket.
Tightly edited with 10 songs, Young Old Man remembers the purity and clarity of youth, and how the joys and miseries of growing up take on energies of angst, abstraction, and the sarcasm of adulthood. “I wanted to feel that in song,” he says.
The sound production is minimal, to enhance intimacy and his easy, deep melodies. “Stripped down is what my life sounds like now. Like ‘Shallow Sea,’ putting my soul, inside-out, on display.” Kass utilizes only voice, acoustic guitar, upright bass—featuring soulful bowing on tracks like ‘The Void’ and ‘Awake’—and simple percussion. The result is less extreme, with easy, haunting hooks, arpeggios, as well as a subtly visceral quality, like on ‘Hurricane.’
GRAMMY® nominated artist Flo Rida, GRAMMY® nominated artist Spice, internationally known as the ‘Queen of Dancehall,’ and artist and actor Rotimi released a new single “Energy,” available now on all music streaming platforms and YouTube!
HelloBeautiful.com, a digital content property owned by iONE digital has released its June cover featuring mother and actress Tia Mowry. In this HelloBeautiful cover feature, Mowry stands in her truth and opens up about her divorce and how this life-changing decision has impacted her and her family. The multihyphenate actress sat down with award-winning Journalist Cori Murray and shared details about her new perspective on life, her style, and how this journey has influenced her to continuously find what makes her happy.
“I always say that I am chasing the joy. I’m chasing my authentic self, my potential,” said Mowry. “That’s where the magic happens: when you are living your truth. That doesn’t mean that your truth is always going to be rainbows and Skittles. Joy and happiness is like a rollercoaster. What made me happy 10 years ago is different than what’s making me happy now.”
With an ever-blossoming career, Mowry has also embarked on a new business venture. Her new natural hair care line, 4U by Tia offers natural hair care that’s science-backed, nature-made, and totally clean for your curls, health, and the environment. The brand launched earlier this year. This mompreneur is blazing a path for her reinvention and has her eyes set on the future.
“People often ask me, ‘Where do you see yourself in 10 year or 15 years?’ and I see myself living in Portofino, Italy, having a nice glass of wine and eating some pasta. And just enjoying my life.”
A lush, sonic dreamscape that layers drippy synth lines, sugary sweet vocals and an addictive hook, Emma Noren’s latest single “Garden” manifests the artist’s musings around big embarrassing dreams and the search for contentment in the now. Expertly blending dreamy indie pop with a dash of surf rock, it drops you right into a psychedelic garden of Eden – Emma is both human and snake, caught up in an internal dialogue between a desire for the unknown and choosing instead to be content with exactly where you’re at.
Engineered by Cal Barter (Courtney Barnett, Vance Joy) and produced by Noren, Garden is a fusion of southern california talent featuring Bex Free on drums, percussion and background vox, Julianna Zachariou on bass and rhythm guitar, Sarah Bernstein on synth and Zack Marzoni on lead.
Says Noren, “Garden is this metaphor for all of my biggest, most embarrassing dreams – everything I want to do and be – and me shaking myself by the shoulders to wake up and realize that what I have and who I am now is actually pretty cool. As a kid, I fantasized about having a big garden of my own when I grew up, but I ended up living in a bunch of places that didn’t have room for one. Instead I got a bunch of other amazing things: a dog named Flapjack, a girlfriend, some really killer friends. So the message of Garden is maybe what I got was better than what I thought I wanted. It represents this intimate, torturous obsession that I have with the future and the unattainable, and attempts to bring me back to reality. It’s intended to be a bit of a soft slap on the cheek, a push to focus on what’s right in front of me and how beautiful it is, and a gentle reminder that we have time to grow and get there on our own time.”
The song is playful, referencing the artist’s current life: now I have a dog/I still don’t have a garden/but we have a home/it’s all I really wanted, while also deeply tender, with the chorus pleading Can’t you see it, when you look at me?/I hope that you know that you’re all the garden I need, referencing Noren’s self-reminder to focus on the present and its flawed sweetness. Garden closes with a bridge that literally blooms, with soaring vocals singing take it slow/we have so much room to grow with increasing urgency until it reaches crescendo and the whole thing cracks open.
Garden’s accompanying video, shot by Troy Paul Bloom and co-directed by Bloom and Noren in the artist’s childhood hometown in Sebastopol, CA is the perfect dreamy counterpart to the sound recording. Set against a backdrop of neon spring grasses and teeny rose blossoms, Noren slouches in a yellow lawn chair wearing a bubblegum pink 80’s prom dress, strumming guitar while slowly being buried under a mountain of flowers as the video progresses. Says Noren, “I wanted it to be visually beautiful, with really vivid colors and dreamy imagery, but I also needed it to be playful with an undertone of urgency – that’s why I pictured slowly being buried alive in flowers. It represents the obsession that I feel internally, of wanting so desperately to achieve certain things and look a certain way now, and all the while life is just piling up on top of me when who and where I was to start with was so gorgeous.”
Multi-talented UK newcomer Monroe X delivers a crossover summer banger by
linking up with US hitmakers CJ and Capella Grey for “Skin Out” – released via
AWAL.
Across a low-key, bass-driven beat fusing R&B conventions with dancehall
cadences, “Skin Out” explores reconnecting with an ex for one last moment of
pleasure, for old times’ sake. Displaying his international appeal, Monroe X is joined
by New York heavyweights CJ (of UK Top 5 single “Whoopty” fame) and “Gyalis”
hitmaker Capella Grey, whose presence on “Skin Out” elevates the original sensual
vibes brought by Monroe.
Initially testing “Skin Out” to fervent excitement from TikTok audiences (as well as
major music names like Kojey Radical, Haile and Strandz), “Skin Out” is sure to mark
Monroe X as the new king of summer party anthems, while establishing himself as a
master of wordplay by smoothly dropping creative bars across the slick production –
courtesy of Irish teenage prodigy JBJ and award-winning duo The FaNaTiX
(Popcaan, Giggs, Skillibeng).
Monroe X said the following about “Skin Out”: “I wrote this song after my toxic ex-
girlfriend reached out to me after 5 years. She unblocked me, invited me over to
reminisce and reconnect. Writing this song was a pre-journal of my intentions with
her and an expression of our relationship after not seeing my ex for so long.”
Following on from the April release of ‘He Will Reign’ is Kanda, an up-and-coming artist hailing from Coventry. Reputable for his nostalgic essence and ability to transcend through genres, Kanda has delivered his latest offering named, ‘Bottom of The Bottle’.
STREAM/DOWNLOAD: KANDA – BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE
Produced by Harri Georgio and Maniscooler, ‘Bottom of The Bottle’ explores mental health and the feeling of isolation even when you’re surrounded by others. Encouraging listeners to check up on their loved ones even if they appear happy, ‘Bottom of The Bottle’ is built over a cinematic production with the use of big horns. Layering the beat with his rich and captivating vocal, Kanda sits centre stage as he unravels a narrative of uncertainty and self-awareness. Accompanied with a set of powerful visuals that are centred around the abuse of Alcohol, we follow Kanda as he attempts to have fun with his friends meanwhile his thoughts are elsewhere. Finding it hard to speak his truth, he falls into bad habits before suddenly feeling the consequences.
MUSIC VIDEO: KANDA – BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE
Speaking on the release Kanda commented, “This song is all about the emotion of isolation despite being surrounded by company. It should be interpreted as a constant reminder to think of others and to check up on your friends and family. Sometimes it’s not always apparent what others are going through and truly feel, so I decided to express this in a chill, relaxing song.” Kanda continued, “I wanted to create something similar to one of my previous singles ‘IHGYN’, whereby the song is not just a melody and a rhythm but more so a message to those suffering and those who sometimes struggle to acknowledge the struggle of others. Also, although the song is heavily situated around alcohol, the depressed emotions and expressions throughout the song and video are intentionally indicating that dialogue with others, is a much more ethical way to approach these problems as opposed to drinking alcohol and living the same day on repeat. It’s hard to speak out to others, but it is also the best way to move towards a healthier and happier state.”
Budding Bristol-based band, HUNNY BUZZ, share their brand new video to their punchy surf-pop banger “Now I Can Get Over You” released only a few days ago. Drenched in a rich layer of grungy guitar with lead singer’s Lyd Read’s personality and panache spilling out across every second of the track. Today’s new track is the first of many in the build-up to their forthcoming Pacific Wax EP out later this year.
Pop it on, give it a listen;
Playlisting the song? You can do so HERE
Speaking about the track’s narrative-driven lyrics and melancholic nature, Lydia Read explains “‘Now I can get over you’ is a blow-by-blow account of when a relationship goes so wrong, there can be relief in accepting the romance is dead and moving on.”
2023 is the year to keep an eye on HUNNY BUZZ, who are already super tight live since they formed in 2020, and possess the vitality of British tour successes Black Honey, Dream Wife and Wet Leg. The Group is made up of singer-songwriter Lydia Read, guitarist Rowan Barfoot, drummer Billy Pedrick and songwriter, producer and bassist Ewan Base.
Keep up to date with HUNNY BUZZ on Instagram / Facebook / Youtube
Andrew Cushin, who is currently wowing sold-out crowds in arenas across North America supporting Louis Tomlinson, has released his new single “It’s Coming Round Again.” A deliciously stirring anthem for these times, the track is the latest offering from his highly anticipated debut album, Waiting For The Rain, out September 29th via Strap Originals. The accompanying music video shows a snapshot of Andrew’s experience on his first ever U.S. tour including footage from his recent performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
This song is dedicated to your toxic gaslighting ex. “Hated You All Along” is a banger, bridging the gap between POP and PUNK with a f*ck you attitude. Let’s call it the new nostalgia.
I started out writing songs from the back of an ambulance during my late-night shifts as an EMT, fuelled by the mission to get out of Thunder Bay, ON and get on the big stage.
Recently signed to Wax Records, “Hated You All Along” is my label debut and opportunity to showcase my sound which touches on emo, pop and punk, with nods to hip-hop.
Play it on repeat.
august brodie
The Wans’ new eleven-song LP, Magical Touch, was co-produced, recorded and mixed by Michael Fahey at Starbird Sound in Nashville using vintage recording equipment and recorded live with minimal overdubs. With two new additions to the band, Akshay Narang and Noah Denney, it was sure to add to the expansion of the sonic qualities. Noah Denney, formerly of Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown and who originally played bass in The Wans, now sits behind the drums. “The new sound is so exciting for me. We’ve known Akshay for over a decade and bonded over everything from Nine Inch Nails to Depeche Mode so it was only natural to ask him to play some synth and guitar with the band.”, says Kerr.
“This record feels like my novella, a journey similar to Steinbecks ‘East of Eden’. It took 4 years to write and a week to record.” says Kerr. There’s no doubt that The Wans wore their influences proudly on their sleeves, like Queens of the Stone Age and Nirvana, but this record feels more precise and like nothing we’ve heard before from the band. There are certainly hints of 80’s and 90’s Brit-Pop influences, but the songwriting has become more focused and that’s not an overthought.” Kerr continues, “My dad, Tony Kerr, has been my main songwriting partner since I was 16. Some Father-Son’s bond over fishing, but we bond over writing songs. It’s become effortless when we write together.”
Bassist Thomas Bragg states, “Simon and I have been so excited with what’s going on in the Irish/British music scene in the last few years. Bands like Idles and Fontaines D.C have made some of the best records of the last decade and I think that definitely had an effect on our music and this record.”
The Wans’ have always shared a brotherhood and love for making rock n’ roll, which is much needed in today’s overall climate and music scene. Lyrically, this record purposefully radiates self-awareness, love, and togetherness. “The Wans’ are everything to me. When it comes to the song’s they’re all we have.” says Kerr. The great Joe Strummer once said, “People have got to stop pretending they’re not in the world. It’s time to take that humanity back into the center of the ring and follow that for a time. Think on that. Without people you’re nothing.”
Wes Denzel is a rapper/songwriter/producer based in San Antonio, TX. The multi-talented artist has opened for top tier acts including Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q as well as performing at SXSW and gracing stages throughout Central Texas. In February 2021, following the release of his studio album ‘I Was Almost Happy’, Wes Denzel was named KUTX Artist of the Month. Denzel is a talented songwriter and much of his previous releases share the theme of love and relationships, so with his latest 2023 album, ‘Last Night in Houston’, he is excited to venture into a new concept and showcase his versatility as a writer.
With her debut single release, ‘Changing Tides’, Olivia Coggan makes an immediate and favourable impression, establishing herself as a singer-songwriter to watch.
Produced by acclaimed musician Ben Edgar (Passenger, Angus & Julia Stone, Vika & Linda Bull, Matt Corby, Missy Higgins), Olivia’s performance reflects her coastal, folk upbringing, resonating with warmth and authenticity with a maturity that belies her youth.
“I have been writing a lot of songs these past couple of years and I’m so excited to now share them with everyone” says Olivia.
“Changing Tides is about the awkward tension in a relationship when you realise that you are drifting toward different shores, yet have so many unfinished conversations and unresolved issues. It’s the head telling the heart what to do, when the heart is breaking” laments Olivia.
Since graduating from the prestigious Talent Development Project this year, Olivia has been on the road supporting Australian music industry favourite Kasey Chambers and sharing the festival stages with her muses Sons Of The East, Steph Strings, The Dreggs, Matt Corby, and The Cat Empire, most recently at the sold out ‘Crooked River Wines Winter Wine Festival’.
No stranger to the lifestyle of the music industry, Olivia and her older brother Gabe, have grown up in the backstage theatres across Australia, on the road with their father, award winning performer, Darren Coggan.
“I have often performed with Dad on stage since I was a small child and we just recently finished a small tour of co-headlined shows together, which has been really special.”
Whilst clearly the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, Olivia’s brother is also lending a hand to her creative journey.
“Gabe graduated this year from the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney and is a talented cinematographer and editor. He recently produced, filmed, and edited the video clip for ‘Changing Tides.’ I know that Gabe has a huge career before him in the film and television industry, so to produce my first video clip is pretty cool, and he was the right price!”, laughs Olivia.
“The tide’s changing and it’s taking you with it…”
Kid Prexy is a talented powerhouse who is making a name for himself in contemporary Pop, Hip-Hop, and Alternative music. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, the 15-year-old prodigy grew up and lives in Edmond, Oklahoma. Kid Prexy has been playing guitar, drums and singing in the School of Rock band since he was 8 years old and has performed many live concerts in different music genres such as alternative, pop, rock, punk, grunge & blues.
In the summer of 2021, the promising artist recorded his first EP, Broken Promises, at 13 years old exuding an emo Rap and smooth melancholic style, inspired by the likes of Juice Wrld, Post Malone, Kid Laroi, Lil Peep & Xxxtentacion. Then in early 2022, he wrote and recorded five Lo-Fi Chill Acoustic songs for his second EP Lights in the Forest, which was inspired by BoyWithUke and Powfu.
Now in 2023, Kid Prexy is gearing up to release his third EP, inspired by Machine Gun Kelly, Jxdn & Blink182 to explore the Pop Punk and Alternative Rock genres that he loves to showcase his guitar and singing skills. The highly anticipated EP was produced by Grammy Nominated Multi-Platinum Producer Kevin “Thrasher” Gruft (Travis Barker, Machine Gun Kelly). Leading single “In My Head” is a riveting emotional rollercoaster, with moody vocals atop gritty guitar riffs and intense pop punk sonics.
Sadye transcends the limits of experimental and mainstream alt-pop, challenging listeners and breathing new life into the genre with otherworldly mystique and uncompromising vision. From humble beginnings as a small town singer/songwriter, Sadye writes with depth and heart, often taking on unexpectedly dark and heavy themes. Inspired by her intense struggle with cancer, discovering self-worth, and dealing with toxic relationships, her lyrics are steeped in a sarcastic form of catharsis as she learns to love her literal, and figurative, scars; a theme beautifully juxtaposed by catchy, modern melodies and edgy pop production, appealing to fans of Kim Petras and Charlie XCX to Nine Inch Nails and The Weeknd.
Sadye’s debut single, “Biblical,” represents a rebirth of sorts, building on what came before, but charging forward without looking back – beautiful and catchy, yet dark and familiar, Sadye invites listeners to join her ethereal cult and indulge their deepest inhibitions. The song was added to coveted Spotify playlists including Obsessed, IT”S A BOP!, New Pop Picks, Night Pop and more as well as Apple’s New in Alternative, Amazon’s Breakthrough Pop, Girl Squad and Tidal’s Future Sounds. Her latest single “Dark Side” is an enthralling love song. Sadye confides, “I was falling in love and I wanted to know everything. Not everyone just rips themselves wide open right away, and having to be patient was healthy but it was killing me. I wanted to write about it in the most honest way I could and I wanted to be dramatic because I am.”
Los Angeles based singer-songwriter and producer Darius Martin pioneers expansive alt R&B music complete with pop-laced hooks and island-drenched soundscapes. Writing about the beauty and struggles found in life, Martin aims to connect with his listeners on a deep level, pouring his own emotions and autobiographical experiences into every release.
Born in El Paso, Texas, Darius Martin spent his childhood in Alamogordo, New Mexico where he took influence from the vastness of the desert. Relocating to Southern California in high school, Martin was an active and serious athlete in his teenage years. Fate though, had a different plan, and when a serious illness sidelined Martin, he began channeling his time into discovering his new passion for music. Influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye, Martin began experimenting with different sounds and genres aiming to achieve a sound that is fresh as it is timeless. The songwriter attended the prestigious Los Angeles Film Institute where he graduated in 2020. His college experience further reinforced his passion and ambition to pursue a career in music. Equipped with the skills developed during his time at the Los Angeles Film Institute, he began recording music professionally.
In 2022, Martin released his debut single “Ring”, a sultry club infused anthem drenched with intoxicating rhythms over deep dark basslines, pulsating beats, and melancholic lyrics that leaves a haunting memory of sensuality and abandonment. The single was followed by “Feel A Way”, a slow-burned, pitch-black alternative R&B track all about loss and regret. Martin’s emotive vocals fervently sing his remorse to a former lover, enticing the listener with every note.
“Already Won” is a melodic hip hop single with Dribbletoomuch, where both artists take count of their accomplishments while celebrating their future success. An inspiring anthem that captures the relentless pursuit of excellence, the song inspires listeners to conquer their challenges and seize their moment in the spotlight. With “Waves”, Martin creates a seductive and introspective release detailing the pain of a push and pull romantic relationship. Organic percussion underlays layered brooding harmonies and visceral electronics highlighting the emotional upheaval of a broken relationship.
Darius Martin’s recent single “Options” details the whirlwind sensations of a wild romance. Shockingly seductive and sonically imaginative, the songwriter’s rich and textural vocals glide effortlessly over iridescent sonics and penetrating bass.
Crafting music that deeply resonates with his listeners, Darius Martin takes inspiration from real life experiences and contrasting perspectives to highlight “the good, bad, and in between. I want real life emotions and feelings to be poured out into my music.”
With over 50 million streams, 23 year old singer-songwriter Alexa Cappelli, who MTV hailed as a “voice of a generation,” presents her new single & music video, “Backwards (feat. Knox),” out today on Arista Records.
“Backwards” features Nashville-based singer and songwriter Knox. Opening with serene guitar-picking and Alexa’s arresting vocals, the song soon blooms into a sweeping, heart-on-the-sleeve duet. It’s an emotionally charged and empowering breakup anthem that sees two of the most exciting names in pop joining forces.
Alexa elaborates on the new single: “‘Backwards’ is about that part of a breakup when you realize you have made it through the pain. It’s liberating to be able to look back on old relationships after moving on, regardless of if the other person hasn’t been able to. In the past, people have tried to come back in my life only to tell me they haven’t been able to let go — I never want to hold grudges, and they shouldn’t either. Life is too short to move in any direction but forward.”
Alexa Cappelli molds her songs out of heartfelt confessions, honest thoughts, and unforgettable experiences projected without filter by her traffic-stopping voice. Rather than pull any punches, the Southern California singer and songwriter opens up fearlessly with attitude and sensitivity in equal measure.
Opting to leave college early, she focused on music wholeheartedly. In the midst of the global pandemic, her single “Forbidden” gained traction, amassing over 3 million Spotify streams. She captivated audiences on TikTok with powerful performances and candid posts. During 2021, “SAY SOMETHING” generated over 5.8 million Spotify streams and paved the way for her independent Confused @ 22 EP.
Email: neill@outloudculture.com
