15-year-old pop songwriter Siena Fantini introduces herself into the music scene with her first single, “wanna know her name.” Her music sparkles with vibrant immediacy, a prelude to the promise of a remarkable artistic journey. The debut single finds the narrator struck with jealousy when she sees a photo of another girl on an ex’s Instagram post. “The songs that make the most sense and feel the most honest are straight out of my diary,” Fantini shares. “wanna know her name” is now available to stream and download worldwide.
With “wanna know her name,” the emerging teen-pop artist creates a modern sound with earthier undertones. Recorded at Altamira Sound and written by Siena Fantini, this highly reflective song came together with the help of industry heavy hitters like Grammy Award-winning engineer and mixer Darrell Thorp (Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Pink) and producer and bassist Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Lana Del Ray). Propelled by an accomplished cast of musicians, the well-balanced, sonically pop instrumentation can be attributed to pianist Taylor Mackall (Lizzy McAlpine, Marcus Mumford, Joni Mitchell), guitarist Harrison Whitford (Phoebe Bridgers, Noah Gundersen), and drummer Kiel Feher (Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor, Lauv). This track suggests that love is complex and comes with lingering feelings when the past is brought back to life, especially through a social media post. Through Fantini’s honest lyrics, she paints a story of the mindset that comes along with just wanting to know her name. “I was on the phone with one of my good friends a few days after Halloween. I was scrolling through Instagram, when I stumbled across my ex-boyfriend’s Halloween post. Obviously, I had to look through it,” Fantini explains. “I went into it with an open mind because we had decided to stay friends, and we were doing a pretty good job of maintaining that promise, which I was really happy about. But then I got to the 17th slide…”
A native of Los Angeles, Siena Fantini grew up surrounded by music. “It was always a part of who I was,” she remembers.” With voice training, an affinity for musical theater, and piano lessons, she propelled her artistic journey by studying guitar and beginning to write songs. Gravitating to the music of Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, and Role Model, their influence is on display in Fantini’s vulnerable lyrics, appealing hooks, and eminently singable choruses that define her sonic soundscape. Fantini has found solace through music and songwriting, where audiences can expect newer pop anthems about nostalgia, growing up, insecurities, and the many facets of firsts that come with teenage love. Her debut is a formidable introduction to a committed artist with deep empathy, something real to convey, and a devotion to emotional authenticity.
“wanna know her name” is a captivating track that features a soothingly catchy beat, Fantini’s buoyant voice, and relatable lyrics. Seeing a former partner soft launch a new romantic relationship through a social media post can make you feel uneasy, and the natural urge that comes with wanting to know more about that new individual is unbearable. Siena Fantini is here to get you through it with this pop anthem. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok @sienafantini to get all the latest updates on what is to come from this upcoming force in pop music and stream “wanna know her name” on all digital music platforms.
It was during the Eighties, when Bill Adler was the director of publicity at Def Jam Recordings, that he first began working with a number of talented photographers who were then documenting hip-hop in all its forms. “Something about the culture’s astonishing vitality and visual appeal began catching the eyes of these photographers in the Seventies, even before anybody began making rap records,” he says. “And the quality of those images ultimately played a huge role in the promotion of hip-hop globally.”
In 2003, Bill doubled down on his longstanding appreciation of that work by establishing the Eyejammie Fine Arts Gallery, which was devoted to hip-hop photography. And in 2015, some eight years after the closing of the gallery, The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture acquired 400 Eyejammie photo prints by 59 different photographers.
Beginning on March 22, 2025, The Art of Hip Hop in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District will be bringing a selection of these photographs back to the light in a new immersive and interactive way that has never been done before. “We need to teach the next generation about history in a way they want to learn it – in an environment that authentically conveys important cultural information that also looks cool on their TikTok page,” said Allison Freidin, co-founder of The Art of Hip Hop. Immersive elements to the show include rare ephemera such as a white 1986 Mercedes, reminiscent of rapper Rakim’s iconic “Benzeeto” that he posed with in 1988 during a photoshoot with Michael Benabib in the heart of New York City’s Bleeker Street.
With the exception of the work of Janette Beckman, The Art of Hip Hop’s lead curator Alan Ket selected images from photographers whose works have never been exhibited in Miami or the exhibition’s other pop ups in Austin, TX and Seoul, Korea. Iconic images will include vintage portraits of hip-hop immortals like Sylvia Robinson, Run-DMC, Flavor Flav, Bun B, Cypress Hill, Eazy E, Dondi White, Slick Rick, T.I., Pitbull, Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, and David Banner, as well some of the reggae greats whose work preceded and was influential to hip-hoppers, starting with Lee “Scratch” Perry. The celebrated photographers who created these portraits include Harry Allen, Michael Benabib, Adrian Boot, Julia Beverly, Brian Cross, Al Pereira, Sebastian Piras, Ricky Powell, Peter Rickards, Jack Thompson, Val Wilmer, and, as noted, Ms. Beckman.
The exhibition is exclusively made possible through Monster Energy’s longstanding commitment to further music, art, and culture. The 1986 Koenig Widebody Mercedes 560 sec is on loan courtesy of The Bunker, Miami’s only Hurricane-proof automotive storage facility.
Star2 is an Asian-American artist whose life is a true testament to resilience and perseverance. A true survivor, Star2 was born into a Ka-ren refugee camp in Thailand and endured a childhood marked by loss, hardship, and poverty. Star2 has created a dynamic global sound of pop and hip hop while standing as a beacon for the Ka-ren music community, using his platform to elevate other Asian artists. His impressive collaborations include Soulja Boy, Mozzy, Lil Poppa, Luh Kel, HoodTrophy Bino, $tupid Young and Sprite. Star2’s new project spotlights his fellow Ka-ren brothers from the refugee camps – Chinatown Runner, Ler Mu Dex, Eh La, Tae Tae, Gee Kade, and M Bless.
exceptional songwriter & producer Giift unveils her sleek and sophisticated 6-track EP titled “Desires” The record meshes traditional and contemporary R&B styles to paint her inner thoughts as beautiful stories. The record also comes just a few days ahead of her next London performance at Soho Calling on February 26th.
Listen to Desires now: https://open.spotify.com/album/5a8vdQ9RT5KvGmwGqWy3jD?si=Rvok_2SbQGa2CLOANDivgQ
When walking through this six-track you’ll quickly learn there’s something relatable for everybody. There is energetic track The Light which is a timely reminder to listeners to just be themselves whilst being happy and letting all that wasted energy go. The focus shifts on track ‘Clear Your Name pt. 2’ as it’s completely open to interpretation, as Giift explains “It can be a love song, it can be about god, it can be a break-up song. I just wanted it to feel like you’re floating when you listen to it. It’s something everybody can feel and relate to.” Last month, Giift shared track “Pussy,” also on this EP, which saw the newcomer channel an unapologetic celebration of self-expression, sexuality, and identity.
Giift’s empowering signature blend of raw, explicit lyrics and mesmerizing melodies are proudly on display across the entire EP, and she is once again pushing the boundaries of R&B and neo-soul that results in something that sounds both modern & traditional. Speaking about the track, Giift explains “I wanted my sound to feel more grown. It needs to represent where I am as a young adult. The song is explicit but beautiful, and I’ve always loved songs like that,”
London’s hottest viral star, Stepz, explodes into 2025 with “Whistle” – released via Broke.
Laced with infectious percussion and a melodious flute cutting through the tension, “Whistle” emerges as another unshakable scene anthem from the South London rapper and creative dominating international spaces. Flexing his sleek lyrical prowess while rejecting trap life and embodying genuine ambition, Stepz instantly carves out pockets to inspire the next generation to grind with focus. His vision for progression and infrastructure beyond music remains crystal clear, backed by his city as the young hitmaker continues to rise as a leading voice inspiring youth culture in London and beyond. Stepz’s new single follows on from his highly acclaimed release “Rock” (watch) – a viral moment which collected 50M+ streams on Spotify alone, and serious co-signs
from Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed to Headie One and Krept & Konan. Following critical tastemaker love across HYPEBEAST, COMPLEX, CLASH and WONDERLAND, the record officially hit #1 on the BILLBOARD Viral Charts, beating international superstars like Tyler The Creator, Aphex Twin, and GloRilla. Capping off another breakthrough run with an incendiary ON THE RADAR performance, Stepz once again asserts his place as one of the most influential figures in the digital music scene.
SALPA unveils his much anticipated debut album What You Do Alone under casa nueve, following a wave of momentum and growing anticipation since the release of its first single in early 2024. Led by the glowing, mellow yet expansive focus track First Blush, the album’s tone is set with its warm, introspective energy – a theme that runs throughout the entire project.
Meet Sydney Jo Jackson, the Birmingham-born, London-based artist whose gritty, soulful voice cuts straight to the heart. Inspired by legends like Millie Jackson, Tina Turner, and Prince, Sydney fuses old-school soul, blues, and funk with a modern edge, crafting a sound that’s as fearless as it is addictive.
Her debut single, “You Should Be Here,” is a sultry slow burner that drips with smoky brass, hypnotic beats, and vocals that command attention. Written in one spontaneous take while vibing to a beat by Jonas Bauer in Bali, the track captures raw emotion and the kind of energy that can’t be faked. It’s a deep dive into confronting personal flaws, breaking cycles, and finally understanding accountability. Sydney’s music is born from life’s chaos. She’s lived through domestic abuse, a failed high-profile relationship, followed later by a painful divorce.
Instead of letting it define her, she’s turned it into art. “I can’t afford therapy,” she says, “so I write songs. My music is where I say everything I think out loud—it’s unfiltered and raw in every way.” This is more than music; it’s healing, powerful and a route for survival. Sydney Jo Jackson is for anyone who’s ever felt broken and fought their way back.
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Isabel Pless makes everyday life feel monumental with the release of her debut album Workhorse. The ten-song project spans mellow folk to headbanging pop, but her writing consistently honors each tone and notion. Isabel is your older sister reminding you of your self-worth, she is your best friend crying in your passenger seat about a breakup, and she is you wondering when things will finally start going your way — Stream.
Produced and co-written by Ariza, each song offers a new sound and a different perspective from the last: Workhorse’s charm stems from its range. There are no right or wrong emotions, and Isabel feels them all with humor to spare. And she invites you to feel them all alongside her.
“‘Workhorse’ is the debut album I’ve been dreaming about since I started writing songs in middle school and that makes me feel incredibly fulfilled,” shares Pless. “Creating these songs helped give me perspective on my life. I feel simultaneously nervous and hopeful that now this album will make its way into other people’s lives.”
Dirtybird is continuing its 20th anniversary celebration with a fiery collaborative single ‘2 My People’ from Toronto’s Chris Campos and Daniel Dubb out now.
‘2 My People’ sees newcomer Chris Campos team up with underground favorite Daniel Dubb to deliver a stirring floor filler for their Dirtybird debut. The hypnotic tech-house track is a stimulating blend of deep rhythms and steady percussion that will keep feet moving and bodies grooving into the late night hours. Primed to be heard throughout Dirtybird’s 20th Anniversary Tour, ‘2 My People’ is an infectious addition to the label’s ever-growing catalog.
Over the past two decades, Dirtybird has continuously inducted new artists into the flock, with Chris Campos and Daniel Dubb being the latest to land on the label. Both based in Toronto, Chris Campos is a rising talent with past releases on HoTL Records, Transmit Recordings, and ScentAir Records, while Daniel Dubb is an underground mainstay with tracks on Get Physical, Toolroom, Desert Hearts. Having spent recent years producing film scores, ‘2 My People’ also serves as Daniel Dubb’s first single release in two years.
Breakout Cleveland hip hop star Doe Boy has released his latest single, the vulnerable and heavily melodic “Hypocrite.”
Stream the new single HERE via Freebandz/Epic Records, and stay tuned for the official music video, coming soon.
Over a percolating beat, Doe Boy leans into his R&B side while reflecting on complexities of a relationship, perfectly encapsulating his knack for authentic storytelling with a modern edge.
Over the last few years, the Freebandz standout has enjoyed the best stretch of his career, including a blistering stretch of notable singles alongside the release of his most recent full-length project, Beezy. Doe’s “Way Too Long” single was synced into a widely popular Apple Music iPhone 15 promo, a lofty commercial placement for an artist at any level. (The commercial has surpassed five million views.) Since then, he’s teased fans with street singles like “Say It To My Face” “Huh,” and “Special” featuring Skilla Baby and Flo Milli. which have all generated significant buzz. Along the way in 2024, Doe Boy toured with GRAMMY-nominee YG on the Just Re’d Up Tour, which wrapped up in late November.
Doe Boy season is here, and with a new project on the horizon, 2025 looks to be his best year yet. Get “Hypocrite” now.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neill_frazer
