Diana McGrane is a songwriter based in the Los Angeles area. Daughter of a Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight Boxing champion on her father’s side and a Mexican poet, singer, and guitarist on her mother’s, she felt she had inherited both the love for the wri;en word and the willingness to fight for her dreams. After graduating from college, working as a professional, and becoming a wife and mother, she realized that she had indeed accomplished her dreams in life, except for the one she’d had as a little girl of five years old, when she memorized all the lyrics for Harry Nilsson’s “Without You” and played it a hundred times because the lyrics were so cleverly written, or the little girl that would write a new song every time she visited Zuma beach and sang along the shallow edge of the ocean expecting the waves to sing along with her. It was the dream that had been hiding inside of her the whole time: songwriting.
Soon after recognizing her need to express herself in music, she revisited her old guitar and began strumming the chords that she’d been hearing all along, as she likes to quote, “The songs just came pouring out!”
Now she has released an EP wondering. The four song collection features folk-infused pop rock tracks all about desire, connection, hope, reawakening and more. Diana partnered with classically trained vocalist CJ Wallace, Emmy-winning sound editor Michael Baber, producer Rob Campanella, and Craig Lauinger from MixCave Mastering for the new EP. Beginning with the title track “wondering”, Diana takes a reflective mood, enunciated by the sounds of the bass and drums Then there is the bright and mood-drenched love song “the waiting game” . The electric guitar helps create a retro upbeat sound. The highlight of the EP is “wholesome”, an emotional tribute to the discovery of love and relationships. “the morning after” concludes the listen with dreamy lush acoustic guitars, and warmly rich basslines.
In the end, Diana McGrane hopes her music inspires others to be a better version of themselves. She shares, “Recognizing the good qualities of a person really helps reshift your focus in life. The inspiration from another human being presents a marvelous opportunity to grow. I wrote the music as an ode to love as I went through these experiences.”
London-based indie-pop artist Dalia is back with her latest single, CUT IT OFF!, a raw, magnetic single that transforms unexpected rejection into a cathartic anthem. Following the success of her second EP, girl’s insane, Dalia continues to carve out her place in the indie scene with her signature blend of vulnerability and biting lyricism.
CUT IT OFF! is out now on your streaming service of choice, via APOLLO Distribution.
The Hails release “Different Guy,” the first single since their 2023 debut album What’s Your Motive. With the five band members geographically spread out across Miami, DC and Brooklyn, the new track came to life across numerous home studios as well as Fraser Sound Studios in New York. Albeit an untraditional approach, The Hails have found their pocket in not allowing their music to be bound to any one style or location. This is closely mirrored in the song’s air of premeditated haphazardness and the freedom that comes with ignoring fear — Stream.
Co-produced by the band’s Franco Solari and Dylan McCue alongside GRAMMY Award-winning recording and mix engineer Phil Joly (Daft Punk, The Strokes, Nile Rodgers, Lana Del Rey), “Different Guy” is danceable and careless. Vocalist Robbie Kingsley’s signature falsetto takes moments to dip down low as his tongue-in-cheek lyrics swerve across lanes. With the once looming pressure of the debut album lifted, The Hails can take swings without any fear to restrain them.
“I’m trying to be bolder than I’ve been before,” shares Kingsley. “‘Different Guy’ was born out of a week-long jam in a Jacksonville, FL, rental house where we embraced our roots as a band that embodies the spirit of wide-eyed kids in a garage ready to grab life and run.”
He continues, “The boldness of bands like The Police and Bloc Party took over my mind as we crafted this song. Pushing through feelings of fatigue and living life unabashedly is a theme for us as we enter a new era of music after our first album — we’re not afraid to die, as the song drives home.”
Look no farther! Your prayers have been answered! The Wild High are here!
The sound is a mash up of roots rock, country, rock n roll, and a whole lot of good times ready to liven up any location.
The band started as the brainchild of Jon Harvey (former lead vocalist/songwriter for Canadian rockers Monster Truck), who recruited a tailor made cast of players from the Southern Ontario area, and formed a country rock juggernaut. A real “swamp thing” if I may.
The rest of the gang are Myke Penney (The Jailbirds) guitar and vocals, Pete Antoniou (Revive The Rose) banjo and vocals, Zander Lamothe (The Zilis) drums and vocals, and Ryan Ethier on bass guitar and vocals.
The music speaks for itself. It’s alive. Full of joy, passion, collaboration, and a vibe that is so contagious, it’s almost impossible not to sing along. When it comes The Wild High’s songs, the ballads are soulful, and the rockers would make even the meanest naysayer tap their feet.
Easy music without a care in the world.
The band’s first single “Luke And Lee” was released last year to much praise. It’s a down and dirty rocker about Jon’s childhood friends getting into trouble. It takes nods from the classic 70s productions we know and love but retains a modern element unique to today.
The second single “I Wanna Get Paid”, is a huge Leon Russell type tune about having hope even in the face of absolute disparity. It also utilizes a modern and vintage tonal palette to create something uniquely theirs. From the slide guitars to the massive chorus’, TWH has it covered.
So come along on the ride with The Wild High. I dare ya. It’s guaranteed to be a good one.
DANGER SPOON is a music producer and hyperpop artist who writes and produces as for other artists as well as their own project. DANGER SPOON’s music tackles personal themes: living with chronic illness such as Lupus, ADHD and anxiety; life on medication; imposter syndrome; poverty, and loss (of their father)- using aggressive, tongue-in-cheek and cringingly edgy yet honest lyrical tones.
Sonically, they combine hyperpop, emo, EDM, R&B, metalcore and pop influences, featuring pitched vocals, glitcy samples, distorted industrial percussion, and emo guitar which they produce in “pink ableton.”
singer-songwriter, dancer and actress Meg Donnelly unveils her fiercely empowering single “picky” via Range Music – Listen HERE and watch visualizer HERE. In collaboration with GRAMMY-nominated writer and producer Tenroc (Reneé Rapp, Jon Batiste, Jonas Brothers), Meg blends early millennium hiphop and pop influences to create a track encouraging listeners to confidently and unapologetically make themselves a priority.
Of the single, Meg states, “‘picky’ is a song for introverted extroverts, who are hypersensitive to the energies of people around them. The production is inspired by my love for 90/00’s hip hop and my Jersey roots, which represent my extroverted side. But the lyrics reflect what I feel every single day—constantly overthinking how others perceive me and how their words often don’t match their energy. I’m incredibly proud of ‘picky’. I think it truly represents the dichotomy of who I am.”
Teasing an upcoming project titled dying art, Meg Donnelly releases a series of audition tapes and confessionals chronicling a journey of auditioning several versions of herself throughout her early 20s. Blending satire and parody with absurdist comedic elements, the dying art Audition Tapes offer a playful yet sharp take on the grueling process Meg endured to break into the industry. Through this series of skits and performances, Meg acknowledges that the relentless dedication and rigorous training that were once essential to breaking into show business are now part of a fading reality. Watch the “picky” audition HERE.
Alt-pop sensation Caroline Romano unveils her highly-anticipated EP, How The Good Girls Die, out on all streaming platforms today. This 6-track collection is a rollercoaster of raw emotion and fearless storytelling, featuring fan-favorites “Body Bag,” “Pretty Boys,” “Born To Want More,” and “IDK These Days,” alongside two electrifying new tracks, “They Say” and the poignant title track, “How The Good Girls Die.”
How The Good Girls Die explores the universal struggle of chasing perfection. “This EP is about chasing pretty things and tripping over your own dress while trying to catch them,” Caroline shares. “It’s what I know about shapeshifting, parties, hunger, and vodka. It’s swimming pools, disco balls, bruises, and bar bathrooms. It’s feeling both young and old, breaking hearts, and having your own heart shattered into a thousand pieces. This EP is about how the good girls die.”
Platinum-selling recording artist Lola Brooke opens 2025 entering a new era with her song “You The One” out today via Team Eighty Productions/Arista Records.
In her latest mesmerizing track, Lola masterfully delivers a euphoric melodic performance that blends the rhythmic feel of hip-hop with the smooth, soulful melodies characteristic of R&B. Revealing the incredible depths of her talents as more than a Rap sensation, she revels in thought about the way she’s loved.
On the new track, Lola states: “This is the month of love, and nothing compares to getting that undivided reassurance from someone that makes you feel like you’re the one. It’s freeing and an amazing feeling, and I wanted this track to really capture that vibe.”
The Ivy and Lyncs are joining forces for their captivating new single & video, “Don’t Fall Asleep To This.” This release marks an exciting prelude to their upcoming North America tour, kicking off on March 25th in Albuquerque, and hitting major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Nashville, before wrapping up in San Antonio on April 23rd.
The collaboration between The Ivy’s Wyatt Clem (vocals/guitar) and Shawn Abhari (synth/bass) and Lyncs’ Jacqueline Hynes (vocals/multi-instrumentalist) was born serendipitously during a writing trip in LA. “Don’t Fall Asleep To This” showcases the combined indie-pop brilliance of both acts, delivering a heartfelt ode to the challenges and hopes of long-distance relationships. With its blend of soothing melodies and a driving, pulsating beat, the track strikes a perfect balance—hypnotic in its intimacy yet bursting with energetic allure.
“Working with The Ivy on ‘Don’t Fall Asleep To This’ was an incredible experience,” Lyncs shares. “The song started with a mesmerizing, lullaby-like synthesizer. Initially, we leaned into that dreamy, slow vibe, but by the second day, we transformed it into something more upbeat and driving, which gave it that dynamic energy that matched both our sounds.” Reflecting on the collaboration, The Ivy adds, “The writing process felt so natural and seamless. We’re thrilled with what we created together.”
Sam Robbins’ third album, So Much I Still Don’t See is a testament to a singer songwriter’s journey through his 20’s, through his formative years of 45,000 miles per year touring and the beginning of a troubadour’s career. Most of all, it is the culmination of firsthand experiences gathered through hard travel and big adventures.
For the listener, these big adventures are heard through a soft, introspective soundscape, with sounds built sparingly around solo acoustic guitar and vocals, tracked live, just as they are performed live. Recorded in an old church in Springfield, MA, the sounds of So Much I Still Don’t See center around the humility that comes with traveling and experiencing a world much larger than yourself – looking inward and reveling in the quiet of the inner mind while facing an expansive landscape of life on the road. The storytelling in the songs is draped with touches of upright bass, keyboards, organ, and electric guitar, but the core of the album is one man and his worn out Martin guitar, bought new just a few years ago a week after moving to Nashville.
The sonic landscape of So Much I Still Don’t See was largely inspired by the recordings of James Taylor, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin and singer songwriters of the like. Growing up in New Hampshire, Robbins would frequently drive up to the white mountains for weekend hiking trips with his father, accompanied in the old truck by a 70’s singer songwriter CD box set. This music seeped into Robbins’ soul, and coupled with experiencing the mountain landscape of his childhood, this “old soul singer songwriter” was shaped by these recordings and the direct, soft and exacting songwriting voices that they exemplified. The storytelling in So Much I Still Don’t See is built through small moments.
After a brief stint on NBC’s The Voice in 2018, Robbins graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2019 and quickly made his move down to Nashville. After a tumultuous five years in Music City, So Much I Still Don’t See is the first recording made after moving back to the Boston area in early 2024. After trying his hand at co-writing country songs five days a week, Robbins found his way to a home on the road, now performing over 200 shows per year in listening rooms and festivals across the country.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neill_frazer
