An indie gem for the long-time alternative rock and pop-punk / emo fans across the board. North Carolina solo songwriter and musician Violet Wish ignites the passion and power of the past, with the energising arrangement and deeply reflective emotional heartbreak of Thanksgiving.
Rebecca Cullen
Huge vocals and heartfelt songwriting, a clear sense of rising anticipation and emotion – an impassioned ode to a broken heart. Singer and songwriter Craig O’Keeffe masters the craft with meaning and power, for Without You.
Funky guitar rock, a strong groove and an upbeat jazz rhythm – globally renowned bass player Derek Frank paints a colourful audio tapestry, with the organic instrumental layers of Barker’s Boogie.
“They like it when I smile, not when I speak.”
Raina Wiles sets the mood beautifully for this project – an opening line and ambiance fit to captivate, for an EP that evocatively follows suit.
Glass Skin is divine, a lo-fi trip hop project with a soul-pop vocal lead, and lyrics that pierce through the noise as soulful reflections on life for a girl in the modern world.
Reflecting on the subject matter of survivor’s guilt, everything from the writing to the performance of Martyr breathes authenticity and meaning into the creative ambient space. The idea of being thought of as strong, when deep-down you feel devastation, and still haven’t healed from the trauma, is one that’s perhaps more common than expected, and yet it’s rarely – if ever – brought about in contemporary music and songwriting.
Ultimately a summer anthem of romantic connection, Ella se calienta follows Nitido’s uniquely smooth to powerful voice, through an addictive modern groove fusing elements of Cuban, Reggaton and Afrobeat, across a landscape built of organic and funky guitars and riffs.
A thoughtful earworm of a return – Storyteller and songwriter Litt Bueno, focused on intention and connection as a musician, showcases the very best of his heartfelt and engaging style, with the organic and melodically engaging single Yesterday.
Work ethic and passion, individuality and collaboration united – these are key traits for longevity within the ever-shifting music industry. Enter Matija, with a wealth of releases under his belt, and a level of consistency that refuses to falter.
Guitarist and composer Hear The Colors – an artist with a defiantly unique approach to crafting audio soundscapes and other-worldly ventures that consume audiences – delivers a profound and powerful instrumental album this year, with the magnetic and mighty Rebirth.
Van life encapsulated but with a twist of creative meandering through topics close to the heart. Nate Larson hosts the uniquely inspiring escapism that is the WonderBuzz Podcast – an original show that’s grown from strength to strength in a few short months.
Indie-pop songwriter and artist NIVIRA blends the dynamic and colourful backdrops of modern pop music, with confident and joyful vocals, and the juxtaposed depth of profoundly vulnerable but essentially hopeful lyrics.
‘A journey through betrayal and healing’ is precisely what we can experience with this song, and it suits the listener’s needs, thanks to the deeply personal but still poetically vague lyrics that can naturally be made your own.