“Cam Pendley takes a reflective look at his relationship history in this smooth soulful track. The emotion of his regrets and fears come through in both the performance and the songwriting and it is in this that the single finds it heart. The track has hints of an Electro Pop beat and melody with the vocal vibe of a singer/songwriter style.”
“There is a fun funky groove to the melody here, and coupled with the engaging vocal flow, ‘All I Want’ is a quietly energetic track that delivers hints of Elton John and John Mayer. An engaging set of lyrics holds you with the genuine emotion of their words and the build and progression offers enough variation to keep you guessing. Though not so much ... that you can’t fall in line and sing along. ”
“There is something dark and sinister growing here in this sound, but trust me when I say ‘Bad Apple’ is far from rotten. Coming with a melody that at times feels like it is straight from an old Spaghetti western, and at others feels like like a modern, emotional Pop ballad, Bad Flamingo pairs this unique musical vibe with vocals that feel both haunting, and alluring.”
“Quarantine submissions have been flooding my inbox and most fail to capture the true thoughts and feelings, but Jared Minnix has written one that truly captures the vibe of these troubling times.
Soft Pop vocals and a calm, yet energetic melody back these lyrics which feel true and genuine. No one can predict what’s coming next, but perhaps Minnix has created the soundtrack for these odd days where time has very little meaning.”
“Blending a singer/songwriter vibe with an engaging Hip-Hop vibe, Peaceful James gives us a melancholy ode to lost love. A smooth chill flow tinged with sadness and emotion unfurls the lyrics of this track. The pain and suffering is there and this track is a bit like having a conversation with a heart-broken friend. ”
“Dylan, Guthrie, Petty, Isbell. Elements of these great songwriters, and others, come through in the vulnerable raw lyrics of Ryan Cassata. The melody too has been created to covey the inner thoughts of this talented artist.
Sure the masters of the craft have influenced Cassata, but I would be remiss not to proclaim the individuality as well. ‘Catcher in the Rye’ is a song about falling in love after a traumatic past filled with violent hate crimes and bullying in Cassata’s conservative hometown on Long Island. Cassatta explained more by saying ‘In this music video, I go back to my hometown (Bay Shore, NY) and visit some of the places that hurt me the most as a young queer/trans person.’
The video is bleak in the gray tones, but in the words there is a hope, a spirit that is part defiant and part relief, a sense of I’ve survived and now it is my time to thrive.
This recording was done live, without embellishments or retakes and this fact only adds to artistry as we listen to a true songwriter bare their soul. ”
“This is a songwriter’s track through and through. The emotion is real and raw and while the vocal performance shows some breaks with a flat note or two, it is these same imperfections where the track shines with genuine emotion. This track about coping and dealing with loss and like that emotion the single often feels exposed and vulnerable. Because of this, you can truly connect with these well-written lyrics.”
“Sometimes it is best to defer to the artist when trying to talk about the origins of a song. And UPSAHL says it best when she wrote about her thoughts behind ‘12345SEX’ ... ‘fuck it, I’m going to make a song simply about being horny and living your best life with no apologies.’
Evocative and alluring, ‘12345SEX’ lures you like a siren’s song with its sexy beat and tantalizing vocals. This is pure hedonist Pop that works because it is sultry and seductive in all the best ways. ”
“Growing up in South Africa, Katie Windt had to adjust to harsh Canadian winters after moving to Calgary. That struggle helped fueled this track about relationships and how they can be tested by the cold and so much more. Windt’s vocal are powerful and varied in emotion, but rather than the track feeling jumbled, the overall arrangement pulls us along as she runs the gamut of thoughts. There is a bluesy element to the guitar early on, but the track soon settles into a high-energy Pop vibe.”
“Bethany Ferrie has one of those voices that just feels warm and inviting right from the start. This fact, along with the emotion of the lyrics gives ‘Stayed’ a timeless quality and also makes it tough to categorize in an easy to pigeon hole kind of way..
The tempo and delivery gives you time to think and reflect on the well-written words, and that is a bonus because this is the kind of song that will mean something different for each of us”
“The overwhelming sense of loss is a tricky little thing that can hit you long after the fact, and from the most innocuous angles. This track is about a lost love, and the emotions that hit you out of the blue as a result. The writing here make your realize how close the grief over a relationship’s end, is very similar to the grieving loss of a departed love one. Expect, there is an added bit of awkward hurt when you are left to wonder what that person is doing at any given moment. Re they thinking of you? Do they ever think of you? And they are right there at hand, often only blocks away, or perhaps on the other side of town.
This track delivers such complexities of the mind in soft Pop glory that at times reminded me of vintage Joni Mitchel, with a modern vibe to make it feel all the more relevant.”
“Riding in on a Pop Jazz infused melody, Link Lewis, drops a vocal track that starts on the melancholy side before evolving into an uptempo deliver. The changes do not stop there as a Hip-Hi flow hits halfway through. The variety of styles transition well and compliment the lyrics of this track. ‘I.N.V.U’ is a track abut envying the often false, or at least limited narratives we see of others on social media. It is easy to fall into that trap and even worry that you are dull or uninteresting by comparison and this track’s varied style sort of mirrors the complex thoughts that can get in our head at such situations. ”
“Flo Chase gives us a hopeful and energetic vocal performance on ‘Spinning Wheel,’ a track that feels at times like a cross between Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.
The lyrics plays off of the fact our world, and thereby our lives, are taking a turn on this planet this making it all one big spinning wheel of chance and hope. Sometimes the wheel lands on a happy place that we world like hell to land on again. This song does a great job of capturing those magic feelings.”
“Kate Dinsmore has the kind of voice that makes you lean in and listen. ‘That Ain’t Me’ is the kind of song that defies genre and pulls people in, because of the emotional resonance. That feeling that love brings things you never bargained for is one that hits us all at time point.
Dinsmore’s delivery is soulful and folksy and big and bold. Sometimes all at once. This is a song to feel, as much as hear.”
“Fluttering in on the wings of a beautiful guitar melody, ‘Butterflies’ is a soft and delicate love song that captures that flight of fancy our emotions and stomach goes on when we are near that special person.
Alexis Roussiaux delivers a tender, Mayer esque, performance that couples can easily dance to, and/or add to their playlists dedicated to each other. Perhaps the song is made all the more romantic in that it comes from the French, Roussiaux.”
“Brooks Dixon gives us a chill, Soft Contemporary Rock vibe with ‘Let Go.’ There are some jazz elements to the melody and the song has a calm mood setting aura of reflection and introspection. The vocals are engaging and carry enough emotion to pull you in. Genre wise the track is tough to pin down but for comparison it falls somewhere between Jimmy Buffett, Ed Sheeran, and Zac Brown. ”
“Jillian Steele has a voice that pulls you in immediately, and her single ‘No Expectations’ is one that has more to offer than an engaging performance and intriguing melody.
Co-written by Michel Heyaca and James Shelley (American Authors), the track was written during a period of uncertainty and confusion to narrate how things happens for a reason. in discussing the song, Steele reveals, ‘Life was happening around me and I was just in it without any control and through this song I gained insight that I do deserve things and I should have expectations of what I want.’
Taking control of emotions is what many artists hope to do with their work and Steele show that with her talent on this track.”
“Nya Crea honors the 60’s soul singers that inspired her with this track inspired the idea of unconditional and everlasting love.
The track certainly feels like a throwback early on, though the chorus delivers a decidedly contemporary feel that lends the track a modern spin along with the Pop-Soul sound of yesteryear.
This is the kind of song that will be played for years to come at wedding receptions as a first dance for happy couples beginning their lifetime together, but is just at home on your personal playlist when you want to think about the one that speaks to your heart.”
“When its over, it is rarely truly over, because relationships are so deeply ingrained in us that there are many different layers we must peel back. Lisa Heller delivers those complexities with her latest single, ‘Closure,’ which is an intimate look at the feelings behind trying to get to that goodbye emotionally, while also desperately searching for something, anything to make it easier.
Heller’s haunting’s beautiful vocals brings out the strength of the songwriting, giving this single far more power than any of us feel in the vulnerable moments she sings about here.”
“A thumping bass line leads the charge on this bluesy track from Caleb Mills. From Robert Johnson onward the lure of selling your soul to achieve your dreams has been tossed about, but this track puts a nice little groove pop rhythm with that refrain. Here the lyrics are more about sacrificing all else for a shot than they are a true deal with the devil.”