Jon Henri - Smile
Jon Henri has the power to zap you out of this world and into his own creation in Smile, his latest number.
Thickshake - Through the Daylight
- English (US)
Imagine having the perfect world described to you in a song—that’s what Through the Daylight by Thickshake is!
Arn-Identified Flying Objects Alien Friend - The Crow
- English (US)
Arn-Identified Flying Objects Alien Friend returns with The Crow, a song that leans confidently into classic rock tradition while adding an unexpected layer of choral charm. From the first moments, the track establishes a moody, slow-burning atmosphere that feels both familiar and freshly considered.
Alexia Vegas - Kiss Me Like You'll Really Miss Me
- English (US)
Groove to Alexia Vegas's captivating dance-pop track, ' Kiss Me Like You'll Really Miss Me'. Resist if you dare! The young, energetic pop star, Alexia Vegas, delivers a scintillating, seductive midnight synth-pop groove that recreates the magic of the moment! A stirring reminding us of what it means to love—wild, unbridled, and free. featuring cinematic, catchy, retro-powered synth harmonies and upbeat rhythmic pop grooves that are sure to excite. Along with Alexia's passionate, captivating vocals, which make her bold, confident intentions crystal clear!
Ben Arsenault-Turning Back
A bit James Taylor, sometimes Iron & Wine. Ben Arsenault has a wide range of influences. As his music shows, he dives into beautiful instrumental pockets of sound, with meaningful, poetic and heartfelt lyrics.
Charlotte Hall-Squeeze
Remember those glory years when Stevie Nicks continued as a solo artist? Yes, I miss them too. Not any more though, Charlotte Hall comes pretty close to channelling Stevie, while adding her own magic to the mix. Imposter syndrome might not allow Charlotte to compare herself to a legend, but we can Squeeze that confession out of her. Nailed it. Yes, that’s her single. With a funky bass line getting us underway, Charlotte gives us all parts of disco, funk and early pop. The years when it was good because there was so much room for experimentation. Her unadulterated vocals allow a real honesty to the lyrics, floating by as the breezy song keeps us hooked to it. The subtle bass beat is just enough, not taking away from the rhythm section and most importantly, not from Charlotte’s voice. The synths build for the chorus section, an interesting and fun number that has that stickiness factored into the DNA. Even though the song is every bit pop, I like how Charlotte Hall hasn’t layered away the strumming of the guitar or the natural twang of the bass that helps the live instruments have some agency. The track is can contend on the best of her tracks list, Braid, I Feel Alive and Stratosphere being some that I really liked. So when you remember that raw chemistry from Love Actually or Perks of Being A Wallflower, this track is going to give that scene so much more momentum!
Blake Dagley-The Nashville Sessions
Similar to Chicago’s popular album with the same name, Blake Dagley is here to rediscover his sound. The Nashville Sessions is Blake’s latest album release, a triple A side of energetic, whole soul music. With a bit of folk, Americana and blues whirlpool that he entertains, Blake wants to really earmark a signature sound. Though his voice is instantly recognizable, these are his best compositions yet. Let’s get into it. It is important that you realize your strongest suit. Blake has a semi-husky warm voice that is inviting yet invigorating. Ain’t Going Down Like This uses this to his advantage, paired with simple instrumentals. His track entertains the possibility of really letting a progression marinate before exploding into something larger. As this paper plane unfolds, you start to put together Blake’s design, simple yet effective. The Nashville Sessions are underway with a great track. With a much softer opening, Paradox uses the dreamy, floating tone of the electric. Blake proceeds with his pipes on display, touching lyrics that make you pause for a while. It is a bare to the bones approach to watch someone discover themselves through their art. Not only does it chart your progress, but takes a while for honesty to seep through. The instruments do a 50/50 with the vocals, each lifting the other to an elevated state of thought in performance. A tribute to oneself, executed with truth. Songwriting and purpose Milly has another great simple melody and clean progression. We all love hearing a silky, fingerpicking pattern that dictates lot of the song. Milly shows Blake’s passion for reason, and turning infatuation and affection to something bigger to the best that humans can do. Create. The Nashville Sessions see Blake take an acoustic, often skimmed over part as one loses themselves in crafting instrumentals. It is true songwriting skill here. From Melodies: Vol 1, this is a nice step into the wild. It is something that teaches artists who chase complication or massive airtime the essence. Not only of music and songwriting, but drive. This is a three track Magna Carta from Blake Dagley, and he has foraged for his own sound. As you watch Into the Wild or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, you'll hear this perfectly fitting into the setting. So go ahead, and enjoy!
Jewelia-The Best We Can
Jewelia expertly draws the line between surreal poetry and stark reality. It is a balance difficult to approach, and master. Her songs do both, with the plain, sparkly background of live instruments, creating something rich and detailed for each story she pens. This is her latest single, called The Best We Can. With the instrumental highlights an expert way of navigating emotions, Jewelia knows exactly what a song needs. The chimes and creative pathways she takes make for a maudlin and enriching listen. The bridge to the chorus is one of my favourites in the year, trying to make the chorus unique but create a sequitur of cosmic proportions for the song. The strumming is still something that stays in the back of your mind, as the piano chords accent each line. For such a short song, it is incredible what her songwriting is able to achieve without compromising meaning and essence. The love song changes the way you look at the image, much more picturesque towards the end. A film this instantly reminded me of was Blue Valentine & The Ides of March. It displays an attempt at a relationship, the affection growing and waning-while the couple brings whatever their emotional spectrum is on the table. Jewelia has the talent for keeping these ideas real and with purpose-the messages ringing true but still arranged soulfully. You can hear more of these kinds of songs with her original No Lover, her cover of Sting’s Fields of Gold and even Second Best. Listen to her catalogue here:
Joey Paradis-MABY
Joey Paradis is an experienced deep house DJ and music producer. When he delves into his ocean of sound, he is usually creating paradise with what he finds. His experience as audience, translating to someone who makes music, might be the prime reason everyone loves what he makes. This is his latest single, MABY. Collaborating with Otto Palmborg, this is a tale of new love. Complete with enveloping beats and synth sounds that rush in like tidal waves, Joey Paradis reigns in the emotions with his brilliant production and beat work. He lays down the background as a wholesome entity in itself, creating these chunks of sounds that transition beautifully. The creative vessel that is his composition is eve-evolving, creating memorable vocal parts with banging choruses. So that the vocals aren’t drowned out, Joey indulges in soft percussion. This interacts & plays with the synth sounds without compromising the message of the song in itself. This song would be perfect in montages of new love, in films like Meet Cute and Entergalactic. There is a charisma and electricity within the song itself, memories and scenes ca stitch together perfectly with the kind of sound that has been produced and engineered with soul. Joey Paradis is no stranger to these stories, his songs like Karma, Coming Through and N8ive have been popular and enjoyable tracks that are soaked with the sound of the season. Be prepared to swing and dance with the environment he creates. Listen to his brilliant music and ability to alter moods with his single here:
Thrillkiller-Dirty Diana
Delivering a cover of a classic can be risky business. That is if you’re not as suave as Thrillkiller. They are true Michael Jackson fans with the way they detail the sound. Creating the perfect sound environment, these guys have a promise in their songs not many artists can give. This is a cover of the MJ classic, Dirty Diana. The King of Pop would be proud is an understatement. They make a devilishly detailed intro to precise vocal output that has been furnished. The synth slowly soaks up the silence, while the vocals have pitch precision to another degree. The chorus is what will blow you away, the ethereal mix of guitar and synth bringing the house down. The vocals by Thrillkiller are crystal perfection here as well, not compromising on any eye for detail that MJ used to have in his songs. If you’re wondering whether these kids can bring in the atmosphere which the King could for his live shows, you better bet in their favour. Thrillkiller and their fusion of rock and synth creates a dreamy, explosive atmosphere that has an organic and fresh build. This is one song I would have loved to see as a cover, on This is It, the MJ documentary. I have been a long time fan and usually sigh at covers that try to bring in a “twist”. Here, the hats are tipped off in honour, without trying excessive stunts that might diminish the message and tone of the song. Catch their other tracks like San Francisco Moto and Passion Killer to bring home the kind of sound you can only dream of!
Addy Faith-Ghost
Like many legendary artists of this century, Addy Faith started her music dream from her bedroom. Her music is a reflection of an introspective artist trying to figure out her way in the world. With relatively less, she creates music that means more. Chock-full of relative incidents and feelings, her songs appeal to the mass that explores songs. This is her single, Ghost. A relationship past lingers like a figment within reality. As an experience, the entity remains and retains, from experiences to emotions. Addy Faith creates a surreal experience while writing and performing this particular song. With an upbeat vibe, she picks up on an indie pop/rock core. Her vocals ring true, from the ghost of past she sings about. The purpose is resolution, salvaging a part of yourself from something that might have become a blur eventually. The bridge is especially meditative-using a lighter palette for the instrumentals. The transitions are a mature swarm of layers and lyrics, bringing her style to the foreground. This is the kind of song that could be the core to films like The Holiday, Midsommar and the likes. It is pivotal, where you identify yourself separate from the individual and find this unique part of yourself-where you dive into an ocean of comfort and acceptance. Check out Addy Faith in her other tracks like Crying Alone, Distance & With or Without You. She is an artist bonafide of experiences and a talent that will rise like a tide. Enjoy her single and explore more of her on Spotify!
Merrymount!-The State I'm In
The sound that Merrymount! has is unlike any other. They have found it through constant experimentation, or plain chemistry. This is a band that chases tone as much as it is deserved, to make this enthralling, unique, enveloping sound. After their 2018 album release, they are back with their latest single, The State I’m In. It is a brilliant scuba dive into a lagoon that is as personal as it is invigorating. A wave that is characterized by flowing guitar sounds pulls you out from the silence. The percussion rhythm section is unique, almost a gallop. As you traverse through this pastureland, it is evident that what is coming from this band is something special. The vocals float gently over these tidal flows of chord changes. The marching band kind of beat is something that is apt, yet feels experimental for when the bridge section comes in. One of those things where the thing you hear is what is concretized. The bridge section is a lovely departure from the usual choice that could have come as well. The balance and mix getting louder towards the 3-minute mark is the highlight, feels like the tide crash you’ve been waiting for. This song would have been perfect for Blue Valentine or new love, like The Big Sick. Though both are contrasting films, it is transparent, the emotion of love at the end of the film. This is a song that is rich in dynamic shifts and strays away from the norm. Check out Merrymount! in their 2018 album Heart of Universe as well, to enjoy a band that is always growing!