With a voice that cuts like truth and a lyrical pen that leaves nothing unsaid, New Jersey native Sam MacPherson unveils his much-anticipated debut album, American Dream Trajectory – a deeply human, sonically rich collection of songs that explore the flawed promises, quiet disappointments, and resilient beauty of chasing love, meaning, and identity in modern America.
MacPherson, who has spent the past few years quietly carving out a space as a compelling new voice in alt-pop and Americana-leaning indie rock, has already released multiple gripping singles from the album, including the album titled track “American Dream Trajectory” and “Recover From”. The former is a meditation on unspoken truths and fractured communication in relationships, while the latter is a slow-burning anthem full of tenderness and restraint – the kind of heartbreak that happens in slow motion.
Where past releases earned him praise for his velvet vocals and raw lyricism, American Dream Trajectory expands the emotional and sonic palette. Guitars shimmer, drums hit with cinematic weight, and MacPherson’s voice threads each track with an aching sincerity. These aren’t just songs; they’re short stories. Fragments of lives lived in the suburbs, on highways, in dive bars, and under the weight of expectation.
Raised on everything from Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel to Frank Ocean, MacPherson blends classic songwriting sensibilities with modern emotional intelligence. His music has found a devoted online audience, landed on major editorial playlists, and taken him on tour across the country — but American Dream Trajectory marks a bold new chapter.
Whether you’re hearing him for the first time or following him since the start, this is the record that defines Sam MacPherson. Honest, layered, and impossible to ignore, American Dream Trajectory is a debut that feels like a conversation with an old friend — the kind that leaves you a little wrecked but better for it.
Musician and sci fi visionary – Robert Ratcliffe – is set to unveil a gripping debut single, ‘Escape from Port Fallen’: to be released on 23rd May 2025. It is an electrifying glimpse into the forthcoming, groundbreaking original concept album, ‘Chronicles of the Residuum: The Age of Destruction’, which lands on 15th August 2025. It is bold as it is epic: a mysterious warrior escorts a young child through the post-apocalyptic Residuum and becomes embroiled in a quest to save time and reality.
From humble beginnings to an epic creation: this remarkable project was crafted over ten years on a twelve-year-old laptop, fuelled by boundless imagination and passion. The brains behind the project, Robert Ratcliffe, has poured his love of music, art, science fiction, fantasy, and pop culture into ‘Chronicles of the Residuum: The Age of Destruction’. The result is no less than outstanding.
This groundbreaking albumis animmersive musical and narrative experience building on the legacy of epic concept albums like Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’ and Rick Wakeman’s ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’. Ratcliffe expertly combines these influences along with those from Hans Zimmer, The Prodigy, Leftfield, Orbital, Aphex Twin, and The Future Sound of London, to create a truly visionary world with an audacious soundscape.
This extraordinary multimedia project invites listeners into the ‘Residuum’, where war rages against the terrifying Ashe Moz, and a mysterious warrior, Anku, must protect Unagu while unravelling her own nightmarish past. The story spans ruined cathedrals, deserted underground cities, floating islands, and beyond, making ‘ The Age of Destruction’ not only an auditory experience but an epic tale of survival and hope.
New Orleans musician Sleep Habits, the moniker of Alan Howard, is excited to share his new reflective EP, Mourning Doves, via NOLA’s DIY scenemaker Kiln Recordings. Featuring the lead single “Antique Mall,” the EP is a melancholic folk and twangy collection of tracks with hazy, mellow acoustics, slow and daydreamy instrumentation, and sad, reflective lyrics.
“The original idea for this EP was inspired by the album ‘Killers and Stars’ by Patterson Hood. Specifically the way that album was recorded. I wanted to try evoking a similar sense of space to those recordings,” Howard said about Mourning Doves. “Hoping to record songs that hadn’t found a home on any official release, I reached out to my friend Tyler Scurlock about doing live recordings in his living room. ‘Mourning Doves’ was recorded as a live take with Tyler, Noa Jamir, Quinn Bankston, and myself with special care being taken to capture the sound of the space we were in (Mac’s fiddle was overdubbed later). This recording set the tone for the EP and the rest of the songs were recorded with that special sense of space in mind.”
Lone Kodiak has burst forth with “Reptilian”, an intense sonic journey that blurs the lines between chaos and melody, plunging listeners into a world of eerie tension and raw energy. The track arrives as the first taste of the band’s upcoming EP “No Receiver,” produced by longtime collaborator Rob Daiker, and follows their debut album “If We Have a Future, lauded for its emotional weight and fearless vulnerability. The EP, set for release on June 20th, will be pressed in an extremely limited run of just 200 7” vinyls. A physical artifact for those who want to hold this era in their hands before it disappears. Pre-orders are available now.
Beginning with an enticing synth line that lulls the listener into false comfort, the track detonates without warning, evoking a mood of creeping instability. There’s a frantic pulse beneath it all that is urgent, disoriented, and magnetic. Voices blur, truths distort, and the line between vision and delusion feels dangerously thin.
Alternating between hushed incantations, chanted refrains, and battle cries for verses, “Reptilian” reads like a dispatch from the edge of reason. The lyrics conjure visions of cryptid mutation, isolation, misread signals and false transmissions, where belief curdles into obsession, and certainty becomes a kind of madness. What’s revealed is never fully explained, leaving just enough shadow for listeners to find their own meaning in the flicker between fact and fiction.
About the single, vocalist and guitarist Dainéal Parker states “For the vocals I wanted to try something different and was weirdly inspired by Danish band Heilung, with their use of multiple vocalization styles, incorporating chants and whatnot. I’m sure it exists, but I had never heard whispers laid down over a punk beat, but it worked well when we tried it in the demo. Later, when we swapped out my voice with [our bassist] Alden’s for lines 1 and 3 of the verses, is when it really came together and became something special.”
Alt-pop provocateur Empara Mi returns with ‘On Call For You’, the latest instalment of her unraveling conceptual album ‘Monsters & Masochists’. This self-written, self-produced seductive track dives into the soft ache of obsession, blending shadowy R&B, ethereal pop and cinematic soundscapes. The track marks another genre-defying moment in a project unbound from anyone else’s rules.
Evoking the sensual fan-favourite track ‘Ditch’, the latest single is a trustworthy guarantee for longtime fans of Empara Mi, while continuing to progress her artistic development. ‘On Call For You’ arrives as the third chapter in the unique storytelling experience of her highly anticipated second album ‘Monsters & Masochists’. In this chapter, Empara explores themes of tender obsession and compulsive monogamy. It is Empara Mi at her most vulnerable and earnest. The darkness at the heart of ‘Monsters & Masochists’ lifts for a moment and gives way to a single that is as irresistibly catchy as it is unguarded and candid.
MaeThePirate utilizes “Bad Side” as a punchy anthem to ignite a spark in listeners to feel empowered to reject unwarranted disrespect, speaking-up about her personal experiences with friendships. With honestly candid lyricism alongside a conversationalist tone, MaeThePirate explains, “I left the city and moved to the desert only to find someone else who hates me because they want to be me. I think it is rough sometimes making friends in a new place because you’ll always be an outsider, and I’ve had a rough time fitting in the majority of my life. This song is about how when someone wrongs me I don’t forget, it becomes my mission to get back at them. People get jealous for no reason and it’s a warning and an anthem that if you get on my bad side you’ll regret it.”
Austin, TX-based alt-pop singer-songwriter Sophia Warren shares her resilient, raw sophomore EP, Adesso, the second in a series of three EPs, out now via Tigris 33/UMG. Along with the full project, Warren moves through her anxious fog as she attempts to quiet her mind on “Purple” and its matching visualizer, out now.
Cinematic and atmospheric, Adesso, meaning “now” in Italian, is a defiant declaration of independence–meeting Warren where she is today, unbound to anything or anyone. Produced by Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Slowdive), each track is its own intimate sonic portrait of Warren’s inner-most struggles, fears and hopes as she sets off on a path towards healing and deeper self-discovery. Looking for peace within this present moment, Warren says the project allows her to finally be herself, not defined by love or loss, sharing, “The EP asks, who am I without them? What do I truly want? These songs are about me peeling back the layers of uncertainty and learning to trust my own voice. It’s scary, it’s raw, but it’s real.” Adesso serves as the second installment in a three part series of EPs that trace Warren’s experiences of growing up.
The steady, rolling groove, “Purple,” also out today, sees Warren confront a bout of anxiety as she learns to live alongside it rather than control it. Warren shares the track is, “the sound of me facing my anxiety, of standing still in the chaos of my own mind and choosing to embrace every part of myself even when it wasn’t easy, even when I wanted to run from it.” Its title comes from the concoction of emotions blended throughout–red being fiery anger and self-destruction, blue being the quiet sadness and weight of the past and purple is where they meet as Warren learns to sit with each without shame.
New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Eric Sleeper carries a unique, dreamy, and tangible vibe that sets him apart from his peers. Taking pride in bending multiple genres, he encapsulates indie, acoustic rock, and folk all to create his own distinctive sound. Directing focus toward his lyrical mind frame, Eric writes his songs to be captivating, riveting, and relatable. Taking inspiration from the likes of Nirvana, Tom Waits, Nine Inch Nails, and The Cure, he values their minimalistic approach to songwriting. “I am homegrown, literally recording everything on my own in my no-frills bedroom studio,” Eric explains.
Strumming the strings to his first guitar at age 14, Eric Sleeper has been making music ever since. After guitar, he immediately began writing his own songs and later picked up the MIDI keyboard. He quickly took to expressing his thoughts and feelings through lyricism, writing about his personal struggles, ambition, and tales of the underdog.
With his unique writing style, and a dreamlike ambiance that adds an element of nostalgia, alongside his edgy and rebellious attitude, Eric Sleeper is setting off on a musical journey of his own. With several successful singles, including “Killer Eyes,” “White Fences,” and “Lotto,” already under his belt and more on the way, Eric is the breath of fresh air the grunge scene needs.
Sophia Kaloustian is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter known for her emotive performances and original music. A dynamic singer-songwriter with a unique voice and powerful storytelling ability, Sophia draws inspiration from her diverse musical influences. Sophia crafts emotionally resonant songs that explore themes of love, personal growth, and self-reflection. Her sound blends elements of pop, rock, indie-pop, and musical theater, creating a style that’s both contemporary and timeless.
Sophia’s musical journey began at a young age, and she honed her craft through years of dedication to both performance and songwriting. As a performer, Sophia’s stage presence captivates audiences, whether she’s singing in an intimate setting or a larger venue. She has developed her craft through well over a decade of live performances, constantly refining her artistry and expanding her musical range. In 2023, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance. Since then, she has been capturing the hearts of listeners through her original music, with her captivating vocals and honest lyrics.
In 2024, she released her singles “best intentions” and “slow dancing, slow destruction” offering a glimpse of her growth as both an artist and songwriter. Her dedication to authenticity and her unwavering commitment to her craft set her apart in the ever-changing music industry. As she looks ahead, Sophia Kaloustian is poised to become a defining voice in music, inspiring others through her journey of creativity, vulnerability, and passion.
Beyond her performance career, Sophia is dedicated to teaching and mentoring aspiring vocalists through her private vocal coaching studio and music directing, sharing her expertise and passion for music with the next generation.
Originally from South Carolina and now based in Nashville, Kat Velasco is carving out her place in country-pop with edgy songwriting and a background in musical theater. Her breakout single “Leave Me Wild” landed on Spotify’s New Music Weekly and Fresh Finds Country, followed by buzzworthy singles “Call Me,” “Paper Boy,” and “Name on My Phone,” which received support from Wide Open Country, Holler, Ones to Watch, and CMT. She’s opened for artists like BRELAND, Love and Theft, David Nail, and Tierra Kennedy, and continues to build a devoted following with her fearless storytelling and charm.
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