Peyton Shay has unveiled her latest single, “Savior Complex,” a powerful anthem celebrating self-reliance and independence. This bold and emotive track is now available to stream and download across all major platforms.
“Savior Complex” emerges as the ultimate soundtrack of self-sufficiency, challenging the conventional narrative of dependency in relationships. It cleverly captures the rebellious spirit of doing the contrary of what’s advised, set against a backdrop of dynamic instrumentals and profoundly resonant lyrics. Peyton Shay has crafted a unique track that not only incites you to dance but also strikes a balance with its serene, dreamlike bridge leading into an energetic, catchy chorus. The song’s conversational tone, highlighted in lyrics like, “All I am is an empty hand. If you tell me when to breathe I’ll hold it, hold it. I don’t need your CPR, honest, honest. Savior complex, savior complex, savior complex,” radiates a strong message of autonomy, bolstering the listener’s confidence in their own self-sufficiency. This single is a precursor to Peyton Shay’s eagerly anticipated EP, showcasing her collaboration with Adam Castilla (The Colourist) in production and the finesse of Grammy award-winning mastering engineer John Greenham (Billie Eilish, Girl in Red, Gracie Abrams, K. Flay).
Peyton Shay embarked on her musical odyssey at the age of 11, launching her first single just a year later. A self-taught pianist, she also harbored a passion for acting, frequently appearing in horror shows and films. Peyton Shay characterizes herself as fiercely independent, often reflecting this trait in her music through themes of evasion, heartbreak, and lovebombing. She adopts a playful, lighthearted approach to broaching complex subjects in her songwriting, lending her lyrics a unique and engaging charm. Acclaimed for her silky tone and unwavering confidence, Peyton Shay has garnered accolades from numerous notable publications, including Earmilk, CLOUT, and Grimy Goods. Her dynamic presence on TikTok has attracted over 5 million views, and her music has not only reached #18 on the US Billboard charts and #7 in the UK but has also soundtracked TV shows and networks like All American on Netflix, The Big Bang Theory on CBS, MLB Network, NASCAR Race Hub, and the Hallmark Channel. Moreover, her tracks have been chosen for promotional content by prestigious brands such as Lululemon, Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret, and Makeup Revolution, showcasing her wide-ranging appeal and versatility as an artist.
British alt-folk artist Ruth Theodore today shares the rousing new single “Barbed Wire Fence”, a whimsical and rebellious anthem that celebrates queer love, freedom, and defiance.
Amongst nimble guitar picking, bouncing percussion, and warm horns the track transports the listener to a romp along the picturesque River Itchen in the British countryside. Through poetic verses and catchy choruses, Theodore weaves a tale of exploration that paints a vivid picture of the river’s charm juxtaposed with the apparent absurdity of the man-made barriers she encounters – both physical and metaphorical.
Whether it’s navigating private property or challenging political ideologies and social prejudices, the song’s theme resonates with the universal desire for freedom and the courage to defy limitations. “Barbed Wire Fence” asks the listener to question and challenge the barriers that confine us, both physically and mentally, while embracing the spirit of adventure and solidarity in our journey towards liberation. The repeated refrain of “buttercup, we’re coming up” serving as a rallying cry against the physical restrictions imposed on the many by the British landowning classes.
“Barbed Wire Fence” is accompanied by a playful visual captured by Theodore’s cell phone in the very locations that feature so prominently in the song’s lyrics.
From busking in the streets to selling out shows all over the world, Hobo Johnson returns with brand new music and a brand new tour.
Today, Sacramento’s very own spoken word lyricist Hobo Johnson returns after a two year hiatus with two brand new singles ‘Dads Bed’ and ‘Metaverse’, which although tackle polar opposite themes, both resonate with the unique, eclectic sound that has become associated with Hobo Johnson over the years.
Listen to ‘Dads Bed’ & ‘Metaverse’ HERE
‘Dads Bed’ is a song built on the extremely powerful emotion of grief, as Hobo Johnson depicts the pain he and his family have felt since his father’s passing. The strain in his voice and this struggling gasps for air as he sings makes this a deeply raw and genuine account of his loss.
Although Hobo Johnson claims not to be a rapper, on his viral, breakout song ‘Peach Stone’, which amassed millions of views and attention online, like a rapper he is narrative driven, and employs his own style of spoken word poetry to communicate his thoughts in a stream of consciousness kind of way. This in turn gives his music an authentic and genuine edge, due to the conversational style he employs in his delivery.
‘Metaverse’ unsurprisingly speaks on the extremities of the digital age we live in and in a tongue in cheek manner plays on the idea of the metaverse and what twisted possibilities the future holds.
With Hobo Johnson being back releasing new music, he is entering the next phase in his career, with lots of exciting things on the horizon. This summer, Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers will be embarking on their Headline US Drinks Tour this June- Tickets can be purchased online here.
Maijah Anastasia Sanson-Frey (born May 24, 2000), known professionally as first-name-only Maijah (MY-yuh), is a West Coast-based singer-songwriter and up-and-coming popstar. Maijah, who has been writing and performing her entire life, began officially releasing music in 2021, eventually gaining over 10 million combined Spotify/Apple Music streams in just 2 years. Influenced by a multitude of artists from Lana del Rey, Amy Winehouse, and Sza, to the Beatles, David Bowie, and Frank Ocean, Maijah mixes powerhouse vocals with a love of harmonies and lyricism, bringing an alluring layer of depth to the pop genre. Coining the term “Main Character Music,” Maijah’s genre and subject-matter-diverse sound is tied together by the intention that no matter the song, the listener will feel like the main character of their own movie while listening. A lyricist at heart, Maijah aims to inspire, empower, and charm those who listen to her music through raw authenticity and the glittering hints of magic that she has grown up in — often including playful lyrics riddled with references to astrology, spells, and spirituality. Maijah, who is open about mental health struggles, also hopes to demonstrate to her listeners that you can be a confident baddie while simultaneously dealing with the realities of life. Whether it’s through relating to everyday human existence, promoting confidence and self-love, or simply by entertaining, Maijah hopes to make the world a better place through music.
April 5th will see the return of highly rated West London polymath Hope Tala, who is set to return from a period of writing in LA with stunning new single, ‘ Cry’ on April 5th via PMR. Produced by Anoop D’Souza ( Umi, Asake, Unknown T), the track showcases the honeyed vocals and spellbinding songwriting that has seen Hope rack up millions of streams, gain widescale press support and two co-signs by none other than Barack Obama. Hope is set for a big few months.
Following his recent ambassadorial announcement, Tom Walker has partnered with Suicide prevention charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for the release of his brand new, towering ballad “Lifeline” – a searingly emotional tribute to a friend he sadly lost. Listen to the song here.
Data shows that one in five people will have suicidal thoughts in their lifetime, and “Lifeline” explores the feelings and thoughts that race through your head when it affects the people closest to you – and questions what can be done to help. Watch the powerful video, produced in partnership with CALM here.
Tom says of the track: “Me and my friends lost one of our own suddenly and unexpectedly. It’s difficult to process grief. I felt we were all asking ourselves ‘what could I have done? What could I have said? What could have been done differently?’ Sometimes people make choices that are beyond your control and it’s hard to help someone who isn’t reaching out. My hope is that maybe by writing a song like this that addresses the stigma behind mental health, it might persuade people to think twice and ask for a helping hand when they’re really struggling. CALM is an amazing charity who help people when things get too much. I’m keen to spread the word about their amazing work in any way that I can.”
The Dangerous Summer are thrilled to announce their forthcoming record, Gravity, out June 21st via Rude Records.
Pre-save Gravity on streaming services HERE. For vinyl, merch and custom item pre-orders visit HERE.
To celebrate, the band have also shared their brand new single, “Gravity,” out now. A perfect way to begin a new era of The Dangerous Summer, “Gravity” is a powerful anthem about overcoming personal darkness and navigating the mysteries of the unknown. The tracks’ mystical instrumentals alongside Perdomo’s dreamlike vocals offers listeners a provoking glimpse into the band’s soul-searching journey through space to find their unique sound.
Speaking on the track, lead singer, AJ Perdomo shares, “‘Gravity’ almost never happened. It had an old name – ‘The Walls Outside,’ with completely different lyrics. A week before the end of the record, I locked myself in my room for 2 and a half days. It was kind of a breaking point in the record, but it turned out to be filled with so much heart, that it ended up as the first single. It really encapsulates the album. The lonely journey we spent out in space finding our sound. There were times where I thought that we would never make it back.”
Energetic, hard hitting and hooks for days, Royal Castles make nostalgic but contemporary garage-power-pop. Hailing from Guelph, Ontario, the 3-piece blend riffy guitar licks, wooly bass and ear-candified harmonies.
Their sophomore album, ‘Just The Hits’ was released in 2021 and recorded at North Of Princess Studio with producer Zane Whitfield (Glorious Sons, Blue Stones).
They have partnered again with Whitfield and are currently releasing 5 new songs towards a new EP called ‘Singles Night.’ STAGE FRIGHT is the third single.
Royal Castles are Katrin Sawatzky, Jordan Gabriel and AJ Johnson.
Emerging from Prague, NOANNE is an artist whose melodious tales paint vivid landscapes of raw emotions and unconventional perspectives. She weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of sound, drawing listeners into her realm of introspection and self-discovery. In a world where conformity reigns, NOANNE stands as a delightful enigma, finding solace and inspiration within her introverted nature. The stages of theater, the reels of film, the realms of music and the captivating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) become her sanctuary, where she sheds the veil of self-consciousness and steps into the spotlight of pure artistic expression. It is through these immersive artistic mediums that she reveals her true essence, leaving no corner of her soul unexplored.
Her latest single “Forgiveness” is an evocative and deeply emotional song that emerged from the creative synergy between NOANNE and the accomplished musician and producer Gregory Darling. Combined, their introspective songwriting and nuanced understanding of music has resulted in a song that resonates with profound emotional depth.
The inception of “Forgiveness” came about during a period of intense personal reflection for NOANNE. Inspired by her own experiences and inner contemplations, the song was conceived as a means to explore and articulate the intricate emotions surrounding the themes of release, self-confrontation, and the journey toward emotional and psychological liberation.
Lyrically, “Forgiveness” is a poignant exploration of the complexities inherent in the process of forgiving. NOANNE explains, “It delves into the nuanced interplay between words left unsaid and the weight of silence, capturing the internal turmoil one faces when grappling with unresolved emotions and the desire for closure.” The opening lines, “Give it to me – The taste of satisfaction, Leave them behind – All unanswered questions,” immediately draw the listener into a world of introspective questioning and emotional intensity.
As the song progresses, it touches on themes of loss, disillusionment, and the transformative power of acceptance. Sonically, “Forgiveness” serves as a reflective pause, a moment for the listener to internalize the song’s emotional journey. This break is not just a musical interlude but an integral part of the song’s narrative structure, providing a space for introspection and emotional processing.
Offering a cathartic journey for listeners, NOANNE shares, “This song represents a universal experience of confronting and releasing the burdens of the past, while speaking to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of forgiveness in healing and moving forward.”
To Write Love on Her Arms has officially debuted their new series Back to the Basics. Join TWLOHA team members on their newest YouTube show as they have honest conversations about mental health. The episodes aim to be a welcome mix of lived experiences, humor, humanity, acknowledging pop culture moments, and tackling heavy topics that deserve our time and attention, too.
“Conversational storytelling is such an essential piece of the work we do here at TWLOHA, so it’s really exciting to bring a YouTube series to our community,” shares TWLOHA Head of Communications + Marketing Kat Baccash. “We’ll be talking about so many things from the intersection of pop culture and mental health to sharing our own experiences and diving into more nuanced mental health topics. It’ll be light, heavy, funny, and most importantly, comforting and encouraging. We want those watching to feel as though they’re hearing from their friends.”
On the inaugural episode of Back to the Basics, some TWLOHA team members talk about the 96th Academy Awards (aka The Oscars) by recapping big moments from the show and hitting on the mental health undertones of some films in particular like Oppenheimer, The Holdovers, Barbie, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things. “The Oscars, Movies, + Mental Health” is available to watch now at
Los Angeles based artist SMILEZ is no stranger to standing out in the crowd with his vibrant presence. He is the missing link between grungy punk catharsis and unrestrained hip-hop bravado, with the artist stating, “I like to put my DNA into everything I do which is why it feels so personal.”
His new single, “Self Sabotage,” produced by Digital Nas (Kanye West, Playboi Carti) is a blend of hip-hop and punk rock. Speaking on the story behind the track, SMILEZ shares, “I found myself reflecting a lot and saw that I had a tendency to self sabotage and wanted to explore that.” With both the lyrics and music complementing each other, “Self Sabotage” emits a chaotic and contagious energy, emphasized by throbbing beats and clashing percussion elements, as the artist chants, “I over complicate it with bells and whistles // Turn something good to something bad cause I’m the saboteur.”
SMILEZ met Digital Nas last year at a party he threw and the two became friends and started working on what would become SMILEZ’s new project Saboteur, coming later this Spring. SMILEZ has emerged as a rare disruptor in the new RAGE space. He had multiple successful tours, opening for the likes of Trippie Redd, Wiz Khalifa, and JuiceWRLD. In 2021, he released a string of singles, including the track “HAPPY,” which hit #1 on the SoundCloud charts, racking up more than 7 million streams. With his notable brand making waves in the industry, he ended 2022 with a deeply emotional track in honor of his late brother titled “Sit Back & Relax”, which serves as a PSA to the fentanyl epidemic. In 2023 SMILEZ started the year with a Genius ‘Open Mic’ Performance, and release of his debut project Ur in My World. 2024 is set to see SMILEZ take his music to the next level, kicking off with “Self Sabotage.”
DJ Holographic shares her first release of 2024, a cosmic new single titled “Aries.”
Forged in the timeless house and techno hotbed of Detroit, DJ Holographic’s sound stems directly from some of the earliest pioneers of the genre. With mentors such as Detroit legends Carl Craig and Mike Banks and Underground Resistance affiliate John Collins, DJ Holographic is a cornerstone of the newest wave of innovative dance music artists born and raised in the Motor City.
Released to mark the start of the Zodiac year, “Aries” exhibits the funky, futuristic sound of her hometown with a plucky bassline, stellar synths, and an immaculate groove. The track epitomizes Holographic’s spiritual approach to creation, using the Aries sign as a starting point for everything a new year promises.
“In this deeply personal musical endeavor, I am crafting authentic and spirited songs that resonate with the unique energy of the Zodiac as I embark on this creative and healing journey drawing upon my own personal experiences.
I am using the process of creating this song as a powerful healing tool for my soul. Join me on this healing journey that only music can bring us together.” — DJ Holographic
A celebrated DJ whose talents have taken her to Berlin’s Panorama Bar to Pitchfork Music Festival in Mexico City, Holographic is currently on tour with upcoming stops at Time Warp, Movement Festival, London’s fabric, and Red Rocks.
Musician Kevin Harrison shifts to an experimental, blues-infused synth-pop style on his new project, Sleepwalker, with his new single “When The Lights Go Down,” out April 25th. Known for his time on the folk-rock scene with bands Broken Compass Society and Kevin Harrison & True North, the Cranford, New Jersey singer-songwriter found a sense of freedom in leaving behind the constraints of the music industry and pursuing new artistic avenues with his latest creative ventures. Sleepwalker is a self-recorded and produced experimental collection of music that he crafted in his home studio with the barest of essentials. The result is a scorching amalgamation of The Black Keys and Imagine Dragons featuring molten blues riffs, fierce solos, and searing vocals that produce a refreshing and highly individualized version of who Kevin Harrison is as a musician.
Sleepwalker’s new single, “When The Lights Go Down,” takes a deeply personal experience and elevates it with a cacophony of atmospheric sound. Originally written over ten years ago, the track didn’t fit into the soundscapes of Harrisons’ previous projects. However, he revisited it during the Sleepwalker sessions and found these new sounds gave it a brand-new life. After stripping away the guitars and allowing an echo chamber of synths, drums, and layered vocals to fill the space, that track reverberated to the heart of the mistrust and emotional turmoil that permeated the lyrical storytelling. A personal songwriter by nature, Harrison taps into dark undertones with a sound that feels like walking down a dark alley with no light at the end. Check out Sleepwalker’s new single, “When The Lights Go Down,” out April 25th, 2024.
deegie’s emotional directness and empowering energy have inspired questions like, “What makes you so angry?” There’s something about a woman being raw, bold, and fierce that makes people uncomfortable, and deegie’s mission is to shine a klieg light on that truth. With the sound of Olivia Rodrigo’s older sister (or Avril Lavigne’s younger one), deegie is a pop-punk princess who loves an anthemic melody and a gut-punching lyric.
deegie was most recently one half of the indie pop duo Only Bricks, the moniker under which she and her husband Joseph Lewczak released music for five years (2018 – 2023). Upcoming single “Go Be with Becca (Zach)” was co-written with Joseph, Jamie Daniel Miller and Matt Richert. It was produced by Matt Richert.
Good things come in fives. Dropping his first rough cut as a high school freshman when he was just fourteen, Matthew Borley, couldn’t have known that five years later he’d be touring Europe, playing packed-out shows in the South of France. Initially sparked by his father during his teenage years, he was Introduced to select verses from ‘90s hip hop pioneers and most controversial rapper of his time, Eminem, Matt was profoundly impacted by his connection to the raw and unapologetic nature of the scene.
viisi (the Finnish word for “five”) represents past, present, and future. The young alternative/hip-hop phenom is determined to push the boundaries of what it means to be an artist in the modern era. Through his powerful and raw storytelling (inspired by his love of 90’s hip-hop legends), his music transcends the unique and universal human experiences that have shaped him. With a lyrical honesty and unwavering dedication to his craft, viisi is unafraid to delve into his personal experiences pulling from family conflicts, fallouts, reality checks, and struggles with self-worth. Writing prose with messages of life and dreams and of merit and substance, his visceral, yet familiar approach will surely leave fans moved and stunned.
SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES (@itsviisi):
Nigerian producer and artist SPINALL arrives today with a brand new single, “Psalm 23,” featuring singer-songwriter Teni also of Nigerian descent. The multihyphenate SPINALL is preparing to make history this April, when he becomes the first Afrobeat DJ to ever play a set at the legendary Coachella Festival in California, and with his new record, he continues to gain momentum.
Stream “Psalm 23,” which is available now.
Clarence James makes music infused with profound authenticity – a sentiment often lost in today’s world. Many artists are trying to calculate & explore the infinite possibilities afforded by the modern artistic landscape, whereas Clarence’s music serves the intuitive purpose of providing cohesion despite striving for creative liberation. Although Clarence feels his most comfortable when it’s just him and his guitar – his music is by no means simple – straddling the lines between indie rock, jazz and hip-hop.
The up-and-coming 23 year old standout grew up in the Texas countryside where he was introduced to classical piano at a young age. Although finances were tight and he wasn’t able to keep up with lessons, a musical instructor sold his mom a discount keyboard. This kind gesture led to a catalyst of self taught musical discovery and experimentation. Art quickly became a consistent safe haven throughout his inconsistent surroundings. Having an affinity for using his craft as an emotional outlet exasperated the amount of time he dedicated to refining his art . At the age of 16, Clarence picked up the guitar and began what he calls “recontextualizing” – or in other words the “borrowing [of] chord progressions from old jazz musicians.” He quickly began developing his own sound using unique fingerpicking styles. Clarence then purchased an old mac that came preloaded with a pirated audio workstation and immediately started recording tracks. Less than a year later he earned a cult internet following with his track “Ronson Princess” – which has since gone on to amass almost 12 million listens on Spotify alone. The success and quality of his initial singles – and the unique timbre of his voice – have led to collaborations with Fat Tony and The Irons and seen him open for touring bands like Joy Again, and Luna Luna.
Clarence’s next album, “WHY WOULD I MAKE PEACE WITH THIS DEMON?”, proves to show undeniable versatility. A complex array of perspectives that he is struggling to make clear within himself and the world around him. While staying genuine, an attempt is made to transcend his own personal subjectivity and bias. This project intends to convey unity and “one-ness” in a world of chaos, opposites, and duality. Single “Flake” is an autobiographical single detailing his own self destruction and introversion. Clarence confides, “I feel like the sentiment of the song is a popular one among my fellow neurotics. I’ve been struggling to navigate the mental systems that are keeping me from staying in touch with my loved ones. Personally and societally, strong community units are somewhat of a commodity. I personally tend to dwell on it and form bad habits centered around anxiety. These habits far too often lead to self destruction, and it’s important to understand the positive significance of relying on people.”
Born in South Korea, now living in San Francisco, 3kelves is Taewook Lucas Kang – DJ, producer, and songwriter. He broke onto the dance scene after winning Disclosure’s remix competition – twice, and has since released electronic music with top notch labels, (Kitsune, Nervous, True Romance), toured the world, and opened for his heroes (Purple Disco Machine, Duck Sauce, Leon Vynehall, SG Lewis).
His new EP, Lucas 루카스 is a departure from his prior work as he rediscovers his original love when moving from Korea to the US – indie pop. The collection of songs features music from his trips around the world to meet his fellow producers that he met during the pandemic from Discord Servers, where 3kelves is an active community member.
Rex and the Rhythm (Rex) is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and producer who spent his formative years hanging around the music studios of international superstar, Eddy Grant, on his historic plantation in Barbados.
Rex started playing the drums at nine. He later picked up the guitar and bass. At 15, his mother put him in the band she co-founded named Cover Drive, a Carib-pop band, which inked a deal with Polydor Records in the UK in 2010. The band, with Rex on drums and co-vocals, scored a number one hit,“Twilight,” on the UK Official Chart in 2012. That same year, Cover Drive went on to score a total of three UK top tens, multi-platinum and silver singles, and opened for Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson and Lauryn Hill.
After graduating from Full Sail University in 2020, Rex released his debut EP, #127 Solace in 2021. His solo sound had all the feel good elements of his previous band’s sonic with a bit less Caribbean and more alternative R&B vibes. In December 2022, Rex opened for Ashanti in Barbados at The Hennessy Artistry festival.
Then in February of 2023, Rex released his sophomore project, Secrets Behind Our Smiles. On the project, you can hear Rex’s artistry elements with a more urban contemporary sonic.
His recent single, “Highs & Grows” is a track inspired by 90s hip-hop legends including Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest. “Highs & Grows” strikes a distinctive mark between psychedelic soul, alt-pop, and hip-hop for a cosmic journey of inner-evolution, honoring both the pitfalls and peaks of being human.
The track explores an array of live percussion, sun-drenched electric guitar, and transcendental lyricism that is complemented by reverberating euphoric harmonies, resulting in a kaleidoscopic and uplifting sound. The music video for “Highs & Grows”, directed by DannyJFilms, pays homage to Outkast’s iconic single “Hey Ya!” and reflects an atmosphere of authenticity where Rex delves into the core essence of his creative process and sincerity as an artist.
His new track “Umbrella” is written about an unexpected end to a relationship, Rex captures the duality of our fluctuating emotions. He reveals, “I wanted the direct contrast to play on the emotions we all feel post break up. Angry but longing, sad but reaffirming yourself at the same time.” Sometimes a sunny day gets interrupted by a storm when we least expect it.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
