Reli is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, she writes, produces, and performs her own music, blending emotional ballads with themes of mental health and personal growth. Reli plays guitar, piano, and bass and is hands-on in every step of the production process. Throughout her career, Reli has prioritized maintaining a balance between her music and mental well-being, believing that mental health is a vital part of her creative journey. She values collaboration and has worked with various musicians to bring fresh perspectives to her music. Reli’s music is available on all major streaming platforms, and she continues to write, record, and release new material.
Richmond, Virginia’s, Rikki Rakki share their new EP Sing, Cicadas!. Drawing on elements of alt country, dream folk and indie rock, the five songs within are a celebration of life and nature amongst the chaos of adversity. A nostalgic Virginian summer soundscape – the swelling chorus of frogs, the buzz of cicadas and the rush of river noise – swirls throughout the record, exploring the fragile ecosystem that we are intrinsically a part of, our impact on earth and the subsequent eco-anxiety felt in the face of climate change.
Sing, Cicadas! was announced in April alongside the release of the single “Snaggletooth.” This song deftly unveiled the EP’s overarching theme with crunchy guitar-driven indie twang, delivering a tribute to the emotional healing power offered by joyous moments spent outdoors. Tying into this celebration of nature, Rikki Rakki’s songwriter/lead singer Erika Blatnik describes her strong connection to the “James River,” which flows from the Appalachian mountains, past her childhood home in Southwestern Virginia, and through Richmond. Perhaps the song that best encapsulates both the beauty of a Virginian summer and the underlying anxiety of the times is “Walk On” which Blatnik explains “has become a mantra in my daily life, both figuratively and literally, as walking has become a sort of therapy for me.”
Sarah Banker is a heartfelt singer/songwriter based in the mountains of Colorado. Drawing inspiration from her childhood experiences performing in theatrical productions, Sarah found her true voice through songwriting after learning guitar, following her degree in Cultural Anthropology. After only three months of playing, she had her first guitar performance. Instantly hooked, 18 months later, she sold most of her belongings and set out on the road with just a backpack and her guitar. Her journey of exploration and curiosity has taken her from the jungles of Hawaii to the forests of the Pacific Northwest, down to the deserts of southern Utah, and up to the peaks of Colorado—each place influencing her musical releases and touching others along the way.
Her new EP, Into the Heart, is a collection of authentic and transformative songs centered around resilience. The vibrant four-song folk-pop EP was recorded and produced by Jeff Franca (Thievery Corporation) in his studio, at 9,000′ feet elevation in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. The result is a musical journey that is touching, sonically playful, and organic.
Sarah Banker’s ability to capture the complexity of emotions in simple yet expressive lyrics is a consistent strength across her music. Her songs feel both universal and deeply personal, inviting listeners to reflect, heal, and embrace what’s to come.
Ultimately, her musical intention is to be a source of light and love through sound. She also hopes her music inspires others to be the best version of themselves, sharing, “You are the ONE, the one who has the potential to make the changes that lead to a fulfilling life experience. You have everything you need within you to take charge of your life.”
Emily Haber has spent her life immersed in music, from her earliest days growing up in an award-winning family band to becoming a sought-after songwriter in Los Angeles. Known for her evocative lyricism and profound storytelling, Emily’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love for music.
Born to two musical parents who had paused their careers to focus on their family, Emily’s arrival marked the beginning of a new chapter. When she was six, her parents started a children’s band called Laughing Pizza, bringing Emily front and center. Signed to Sony/Epic Records, Laughing Pizza toured the United States for ten years, performing on PBS Kids and on stages nationwide. From age 7 to 17, Emily lived on the road, creating lifelong memories and building the foundation for her future in music.
In 2015, she lost her mother to stage 4 ovarian cancer—a loss that profoundly influenced her life and art. With a decade of experience working solely with her family, Emily’s loss began her solo music journey, shaped by both triumph and heartbreak.
Working professionally in her younger years, Emily faced unique challenges. Born with severe hearing loss in both ears, she wore hearing aids from the age of four. For a decade, Emily performed by relying on instinct and muscle memory. Her hearing aids frequently failed mid-performance, leaving her to navigate live shows in near silence. It wasn’t until advancements in hearing aid technology at 13 that Emily truly heard her own voice, and by 17, she experienced intricate layers of music for the first time thanks to the Starkey Foundation. Emily finally was able to combine her unique feel for music with the reality of how most people understand sound – giving her a 6th sense that is palpable when listening to her recordings.
At 19, Emily moved to Nashville, determined to carve her own path. She kept her history with Laughing Pizza private, building her career from the ground up. She briefly attended Belmont University before diving headfirst into the city’s vibrant songwriting community. Emily worked at the iconic Bluebird Cafe and co-wrote tirelessly, honing her craft and immersing herself in music. A chance meeting with Grammy-winning songwriter Liz Rose at Eddie’s Attic proved pivotal. Liz invited Emily to her house to write, introduced her to Nashville’s tight-knit songwriting circle, and encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
In October 2017, Emily signed with Prescription Songs, marking the start of a prolific professional songwriting career. Her collaborations span a wide range of artists, including Andy Grammer, Joy Oladokun, Anna Clendening, Gryffin, Abby Anderson, carobae, Miki Ratsula, Devon Gabriella, and Erika Jayne. Her work has also resonated across television and film, with placements on CNN, The Sex Lives of College Girls, The L Word, The Hills, Batwoman, and Teen Mom.
In March 2023, Emily met her co-producer, Daniel Dávila, when they were both asked to speak on a panel for a songwriting class at USC. Together, they created her debut EP, Nostalgia. For the first time, Emily felt there were stories only she could tell, and this collection reflects her unique voice as a storyteller. Nostalgia is a testament to Emily’s growth and artistic vision. The title track is a tribute to the childhood she longed for but never truly had, blending wistful dreams with the heartbreak of growing up. The heartfelt single “Next Time” captures the aching simplicity of missing someone in the everyday — the phone calls, the movie nights, the casual presence that lingers long after they’re gone. The song imagines a softer ending, a next life where nothing is rushed and reunion is possible. Writing it helped her process the kind of grief that doesn’t go away, but also the kind of love that never does either. Her new EP Nostalgia is out now worldwide.
Australian Alt-Rock band Sly Withers release a brand-new single on 17th April entitled ‘Restless’. ‘Restless’ was recorded and produced by Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, RedHook), mixed by James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Underoath) and mastered by Grant Berry (Boston Manor, All Time Low). Following this release the band will be touring the UK from 4th – 17th May that includes three shows at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton.
Sly Withers are Jono Mata (guitar and vocals), Sam Blitvich (guitar and vocals), Shea Moriarty (bass) and Fraser Cringle (drums).
Sly Withers are an emotive alt-rock band swinging for the fences. With over 20 million Spotify streams, 2 ARIA Top 10 albums, multiple triple j Hottest 100 entries, and a string of sell-out Australian tours, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Known for their heartfelt lyricism and huge live energy, they’ve supported acts like Amy Shark and Tones & I and headlined massive theatre shows of their own.
An urgent, emotionally-charged anthem pairing raw feeling with polished, powerful sound, ‘Restless’ pulses with the frustration of not being the version of yourself you want to be – in relationships, in life, and in the way you show up for the people you love. As the band explain:
“’Restless’ is a reflection on the frustrations of not giving your all in relationships and feeling stuck in a cycle of self-doubt. The song captures the tension of wanting to do better but struggling to get yourself together enough to really show up for the people who matter. With punchy, emo-punk energy, the song pairs intense emotion with a more polished sound, for anyone who’s been caught between knowing they need to change and the frustration of not being able to”.
Scottish indie artist Theo Bleak shares her latest single with a stunning official visualizer, “Said Like A Poet,” offers another look into her forthcoming EP, Bad Luck Is Two Yellow Flowers, arriving May 15, 2025 via Polymoon. A sharp and introspective track, “Said Like A Poet” explores the tension between intellect and emotion, questioning the way ideas can be beautifully articulated yet still fall short of true meaning.
“Said Like A Poet is a scathing look at how much I idealize intellect, even though I’m entirely emotionally driven,” Theo Bleak shares. “I think ideas can be beautifully written between people, but ultimately, there are concepts that lack properness—regardless of how pretentiously you write them out. I wrote this song about very human things, things I wish I knew how to ask for.”
NYC-based band Pry, the project of Simeon Beardsley and Amara Bush, is excited to announce their debut album, Wrapped in Plastic, arriving next month on May 29, 2025. Off the heels of their last single, “Tether You,” they are revealing the daydream-inducing track, “Heaven.” Today’s release starts slow and melodic, with rhythmic synthesizers, slow yet booming percussion, and soft harmonies. Comprised of powerful guitar licks, the track takes a turn halfway through with upbeat yet delicate instrumentation that builds up to a bombastic breakdown of chaos as they sing, “Feels like heaven to me.”
“This is the first song we rehearsed with a live band. It is a favorite part of the album for its simplicity, structure, and juxtaposition to the other tracks, and even to itself, from beginning to end,” say Pry. “The lyrics are reflective of living in a routine that feels like it necessitates yet simultaneously limits your access to ‘escape’ in any meaningful way. So we take what we can get.”
Biracial queer alt-folk artist Kristen Ford today shares a rejuvenated interpretation of her rally cry single “White Man’s Dream”. This remixed version takes the patriarchy-busting message of the original release and brings a new grit to the track thanks to cranked up electric guitars, punchy drums and, not least of all, the addition of Houston raptivist Genesis Blu.
Having recently relocated to Los Angeles from Nashville, Ford tapped fellow Angeleno Chris Rockaway to bring a little Cali flavor to this remix, and she explains the necessity to breathe a fresh life into the track, saying “in the two years since the original release of “White Man’s Dream”, division and suppression has intensified in our country and now, more than ever, we need to march to the beat of a different drum. This remix is intended to re-energize our will to fight; as liberties and rights are taken away as part of a white man’s dream, the revamped version of this protest song takes things to the next level.”
Epic Records and GRAMMY® Award-winning iconic producer, rapper, DJ, entrepreneur, and cultural connoisseur Swizz Beatz release the Godfather of Harlem Season 4 Original Series Soundtrack. Get it HERE. The 10-track project features stars and luminaries such as Pusha T, Jadakiss, Jay Electronica and Tobe Nwigwe. It notably marks the fourth consecutive soundtrack from the critically acclaimed MGM+ original series to be produced by Swizz Beatz, who has overseen the music since the series’ debut season in 2019.
The new soundtrack was first teased last week via “Pain,” the Sauce Walka and Tobe Nwigwe-featured song released just before the April 13th premiere of Season 4. The buzzworthy single, accentuated by its sample of DMX’s “Ruff Ryders Anthem” (also produced by Swizz Beatz), jumpstarted anticipation for another captivating body of work, which Swizz has become known for during his tenure as the soundtrack’s visionary.
True to form, Swizz is joined by a lengthy list of Hip-Hop heavyweights on the new project, including Jadakiss and Pusha T, who feature on the soundtrack’s new single, “Danger Danger,” which was first heard during the season premiere episode. Over a grimy, droning instrumental, Swizz, Pusha and Jadakiss deliver a street anthem as grim as the scenery from Godfather of Harlem that interpolate the song’s music video, a grayscale feature starring all three artists. Watch it HERE.
CLENNON shares his debut offering with No Pain, Kingston born, Toronto based artist CLENNON makes an immediate impression with this stellar cut. A proudly queer polymath, CLENNON marries a combination of dreamy vocals and atmospheric verses, crafting a summer ready blast of beach side dancehall. With Homosexuality still illegal in Jamaica, No Pain is as bold as messaging as it is in sound – a track about the beauty of queer love set against dancehall beats.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
