The Spikes, the artistic alter ego of multidisciplinary creator Iago Haussman, has released his gripping new single, “Guns for the Children,” now available to shock your system on all streaming platforms. Accompanied by a stark, black-and-white music video—nalw live on YouTube. The track delivers a chilling reflection on violence, lost innocence, and the cry for help falling on deaf ears. It’s the dark societal patterns that pass down death sentences to future generations.
Based in the U.S., Iago’s work is shaped by both his European roots and his firsthand experiences living in America. “Guns for the Children” doesn’t come from a place of judgment—it’s born from heartbreak, disbelief, and the desire to spark reflection in a country he calls home. “When I moved to the U.S., I was stunned by how normalized gun violence had become—especially school shootings,” says Iago. “One day I was in Walmart and noticed the toy aisle was literally two feet from the gun section. That moment stayed with me. This song came from a place of disbelief, sarcasm, and frustration—because what else do you do when something so dark becomes part of the everyday?”
Singaporean dreampop group Blush today announce their signing to Kanine Records and share the single/video “X My Heart”. The track is a slice of undeniably sunny guitar pop that subverts the melancholy message encapsulated in the line “cross my heart and I hope to die in this sick sad world that’s never mine.”
“X My Heart” is accompanied by a vibrant visual that takes a macabre spiral from wistful lovesickness into dark romantic delusion.
Olie Beckett is a 15-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer carving out his place in the next generation of pop. Inspired early on by Marshmello and raised in a musical household, Olie quickly found his voice through vocal lessons, choir, and production tools like Logic Pro X. Mentored by a musical theater vocal coach and a composition teacher, he developed a style that blends emotional storytelling with sleek, self-produced pop.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Harry Styles, SZA, and Rosalía, Olie handles every part of his music—from lyrics and melodies to instrumentation and vocals. His songs explore coming-of-age themes with a sound that’s both polished and personal. For Olie, songwriting is a sensory experience driven by passion, and that spark is present in every track he creates.
If nerditude had a formal name, it would be Grace Morrison.
She’s a little bit of everything—pianist, accordion player, Renaissance Faire performer, cranberry grower, reader of historical nonfiction, coffee devotee (she sells her own coffee blend), and an unapologetic expert on all things New England. And somehow, all these quirks weave seamlessly into the fabric of her music, making her one of the most unique and endearing songwriters around.
Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace Morrison has trademarked a sound she calls Saltwater Country. “I was always too pop for folk and too folk for country. Eventually, I started peeling back the layers of my music to find out what truly made it mine. At the heart of it all was my deep, undeniable connection to the Cape Cod coastline—it’s in my blood, in my voice, in every lyric I write. My music carries the storytelling of country, the twang, but also the raw, unshakable spirit of a Swamp Yankee. That’s Saltwater Country.”
Proudly unconventional, she’s never held what some would call a “real job”, She says “it’s always been music and how lucky am I that music has given me this wild, unpredictable journey through the human experience. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Her career started when she was in high school playing at coffee shops, where she sang for tips—one of which came from none other than actor James Spader. “I still have the $20 he left me,” she laughs.
Not long after, she hit the road with Rock 4 Xmas, sharing the stage with legends like Eddie Money, Joey Molland (Badfinger), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, writer of Da Ya Think I’m Sexy), and Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band, co-writer of Jungle Love).
“I was 17, on a tour bus with rock icons. You can’t ask for a better crash course in rock ‘n’ roll than that. I could tell you some stories,” she says with a knowing grin. “It was Spinal Tap in real life—literally, someone from that movie was on the tour. But for me, the biggest thing was realizing that this life—touring, performing—was possible. All I’ve wanted since then was to get back on that bus.”
In those early years, she struggled to define her own sound. “My dad was convinced I should be a blues singer—like he hadn’t even heard my voice,” she jokes. “It took time, but I finally figured out who I am as an artist. And that’s Saltwater Country.”
Chorus of Courage is many things. It is a space created to hold and honour the voices and stories of survivors of violence (our storytellers). We came together as a group and became friends and allies – a supportive family. We created a home to explore some of the most difficult experiences one can imagine – a retreat – and we did it with love, music, silence, acceptance, guidance, connection, and movement, hand in hand. This project explores the entire spectrum of emotions that are felt through the unique experiences of the ones we are here to honour – our storytellers.
The stories shared and held at our retreat were given a voice and expression through our songwriters. These songs were captured, recorded, and then sent to our allies. Our allies echoed these songs and stories with another song, written in solidarity, creating a powerful musical conversation – a call and response through music and emotion that we look forward to sharing with you all – Chorus of Courage is a fluid conversation that holds the beauty and the horrors of lived experiences– it is an attempt to find some words and meaning, together, as a collective.
By sharing these songs of resilience and hope, we seek to inspire empathy, ignite conversations, and catalyze positive change. We aim to create a ripple effect that elevates awareness, breaks down barriers, and fosters a culture of respect and support. Together, we stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of all voices and advocate for a world where voices are heard, honoured, and empowered.
Beamsville, Ontario’s Riley Michaels is stepping out of the present and into a dream of the past with his shimmering new single, “Waiting For You.” Known for his soulful voice, guitar prowess, and genre-blending style, Michaels now leans deep into retro-pop with a lush, synth-laced track that pays loving tribute to the music of the 1980s.
Michaels wrote “Waiting For You” not from a personal event, but from a feeling shaped by neon-lit nights, boombox serenades, and rain-soaked movie moments. The track oozes nostalgia with shimmering synths, a LinnDrum beat, and vintage tones that effortlessly conjure memories of a decade he never lived through but somehow belongs to.
Created in collaboration with bandmate and synth specialist Vincent Petrunti, the song was primarily recorded in Petrunti‘s condo and Michaels‘ home studio. The production breaks new ground for Michaels: it’s the first release in his catalogue that forgoes a live drummer entirely, instead embracing the era’s iconic drum machine sound to reinforce the song’s throwback aesthetic.
Virginia Beach-born artist Verna Margaret bridges the gap between modern country and its traditional roots, blending classic instrumentation with sincere, selfless storytelling. Her love for music began early—she wrote her first song at age three, inspired by a baby bird leaving its nest. By eight, she was captivated by the world of country music, finding comfort in watching CMT and absorbing everything she could about the genre. From ages 14 to 22, Verna Margaret honed her craft as part of a rock band, gaining invaluable experience and shaping her artistic voice. In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles and has since reconnected with her roots, writing and developing her sound, and chasing the dreams that first formed in front of a TV screen. Verna Margaret draws lyrical inspiration from songwriting legends like John Prine and Lucinda Williams, channels the musical spirit of Jerry Jeff Walker and Emmylou Harris, and evokes the timeless vocals of Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt. These influences have helped her forge a sound that’s both personal and universal, deeply emotional yet refreshingly individual. Often retreating to Joshua Tree to write, she embraces her genre-spanning background while staying true to herself, resisting the urge to conform. Beyond redefining the sound of country, Verna Margaret uses her platform to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and speak out on issues of social justice, including the dismantling of racist systems. In doing so, she not only claims her place in the evolving country music landscape but also proves that authenticity and activism can go hand in hand.
Evalyn has spent over a decade transforming personal turbulence into pop catharsis. The Los Angeles-based artist, whose work has amassed over 130 million streams on Spotify, returns with her most ambitious project yet—A Quiet Life, an album that captures the existential unraveling of modern consciousness through the lens of impending motherhood.
Known for wrapping raw emotional intensity in irresistible melodies, Evalyn first captivated audiences as the voice behind Louis the Child’s breakout track “Fire,” before establishing herself as both a sought-after collaborator and formidable solo artist. Her 2018 psychedelic pop opus Salvation cultivated a devoted following, exploring themes of self-rescue that would become her artistic calling card. The album’s 2024 vinyl re-release, featuring new material, proved her enduring resonance with fans seeking depth beneath the dance floor.
A Quiet Life pushes further into conceptual territory, drawing production inspiration from the dissonant frequencies of Aphex Twin, ARCA, and Grimes. Written and recorded almost entirely during her first pregnancy, the 13-track collection mirrors the physical and psychological chaos of transformation—the nausea of anxiety, the noise of endless scrolling, the vertigo of losing oneself while creating new life. It’s her most visceral work yet, co-created with some of Los Angeles’ most innovative producers to weave a sonic narrative of consciousness, tension, and surrender.
As a live performer, Evalyn commands stages from intimate venues to festival main stages. She’s graced Coachella’s Sahara tent with Jai Wolf, performed at The Greek Theater, and captivated crowds at SXSW and CRSSD. Her collaborations read like a who’s who of electronic music’s vanguard: Dillon Francis, San Holo, Tritonal, It’s Murph and RAC have all tapped into her singular ability to inject humanity into the digital realm.
With music featured everywhere from HBO to Spotify’s most coveted playlists (New Music Friday, Young & Free, Metropolis), and support from major publications such as Billboard, Paper and Nylon, Evalyn continues to blur the lines between pop accessibility and artistic ambition. A Quiet Life sees her at her most fearless, inviting listeners to piece together their own meaning from the wreckage. True to form, she offers no easy answers—only the permission to feel everything, loudly.
Tristan Tritt is a storyteller of the American experience, a believer in the power of simplicity, and an artist who never stops moving forward. The musician and singer-songwriter is embracing who he truly is, along with the influences that shaped him. A proud Southerner, the Georgia native is unleashing his own exploration and blend of different styles including Southern rock, country, blues and alternative. This blurring the lines of genre recalls the spirit of his musical heroes, The Black Crows, Koe Wetzel, Colter Wall, and Tom Petty but with a fresh and modern edge. “I really hate the thought of being locked into a category,” he confides.
Born with music in his blood, his father is Grammy-winning country artist Travis Tritt, a young Tristan picked up his first Fender Stratocaster at age 11 and never put it down. He mastered grunge and alt rock staples like Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” and Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench”, soon turning that passion into writing original songs. Farthing his craft, he learned recording engineering in a school in Arizona and surrounded himself with other creatives in California. He devoted every spare moment to the recording studio and performing live, through countless shows, growing a dedicated fanbase.
In 2022, he released his first batch of singles “Oblivion” and “Right On Time”, introducing his hard-hitting rock sound to the masses. His contemplation on the obsessiveness of social media with “No Filter”, led to praise from American Songwriter among others, while his 2024 single “Sick of It” has racked up nearly two hundred thousand plays.
Now, Tristan Tritt is entering a new chapter—a musical rebirth. “For years I had fully immersed myself in Alternative rock (Specifically from the 90’s), but there had always been something missing for me. I am a proud southerner and grew up listening to bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke, and now incredible, new talents, such as treaty, Oak, revival, Dexter and the Moon Rocks. I love their blend of rock and southern / Texas style, and wanted to start my 2025 journey by paying homage to the rebels of old and new.”
Teaming up with collaborators Chris Ayer and Jerry Fuentes, Tristan is now leaving his own unique stamp on rock music. With tight musicianship, a whiskey-soaked voice that’s both gritty and soulful, and storytelling that cuts deep, his newest material is his most authentic yet.
His 2025 single “Stop the Ride” is an autobiographical track chronicling the grind of chasing a dream- the repetitive hard work, the constant tug-of-war between doubt and determination, and the emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. Melancholic soundscapes and country-western undertones culminate into an explosive, arena-worthy chorus.
Singer-songwriter Ross Flora releases his deeply personal new single, “Cornerstone,” a reflection on overcoming spiritual aimlessness and finding purpose through the support of those around him. Drawing inspiration from both personal experiences and the timeless biblical parable to “build your house on the rock,” Flora offers a song that speaks to the power of faith, community, and the unwavering love that provides a solid foundation in times of uncertainty.
In his own words, Flora shares: “I wrote “Cornerstone” as a testament to a phase when I felt aimless and adrift in life. The plans I had laid out for myself, sacrificed and worked so hard for seemed to be leading nowhere, and I was spiraling spiritually. Thanks to the people and support that entered my life during that time, I was given a solid foundation to refocus my faith and purpose.”
With its evocative lyrics and poignant imagery, “Cornerstone” explores the metaphor of building one’s life on a firm foundation amidst life’s trials and tribulations. In the song, Flora paints a picture of personal transformation, moving from a place of despair to rediscovering faith and stability:
“I was traveling further down a dead-end road
I blew into town having less than what I owed
Speeding faster towards a point of no return
Til you gave my soul a place that felt like home…”
The song’s chorus captures the essence of the message:
“But the way you love is like I’ve never known
So when the storm rolls in, you’ll be my cornerstone.”
- Email: neill@outloudculture.com
- Socials: @frazer.live
- @neill.outloud
