The intimate piano format and cleanly-mixed vocals seem incredibly rare these days. Even the biggest pop ballads of recent years have had some kind of huge moment where drums crash and a choir joins the process. Rafael Montecruz keeps things refreshingly genuine though, and the song is so well written and performed, that really, nothing else is needed to communicate its intentions.
Songwriter
Beautifully intoxicating purely on the surface of this dreamy and reverb-drenched arena of contemplation, Dance With Darkness is impossible to ignore, yet it’s also impressively modest and calm in its confrontational realism.
Canadian songwriter and artist Lola Balter masters the acoustic pop space at just seventeen years old. I wish you knew me is a vocally sublime and rhythmically uplifting single, with a quirky groove and long-form lyrics that feel decidedly mature in their storytelling and personal revelations combined.
Heartfelt poetic songwriting and raspy vocals lead us through a finely crafted Americana soundscape of organic guitars, slide, bass and drums – Kelly Collins brings the passion and melody, with the evocative and intense Sanctuary Land.
Essentially addressing the topic of loving the idea or illusion of someone (or something), Vine Song is a complex lyrical venture that’s melodically alluring and somehow feels like it was written purely for the listener.
The desperation and search for connection is profound and powerful, making this a boldly unique and impactful new single, from an artist whose next step is forever impossible to predict.
Modern pop punk with an anthemic rock backdrop lights up a series of deeply personal songs – Tipperary’s Pat Donnelly blends the upbeat and intimate, for his powerful new album Reading You Closely.
Essentially fusing genres with fearless commitment to the artistry of its idea, Drop depicts an electro-pop softness at first, but with a clear sense of rising anticipation. On occasion, the vocal passion rises so high that it seems fit to peak as a pop-punk anthemic explosion.
Colourful keys and a classic indie verse vocal light up the space with nostalgia and catchy pop traits united. Greenbak delivers an unexpected anthem of summertime energy and creativity, with the bold and excitable Underground Love.
Bright and hopeful folk pop with an impressively genuine and uncommon story to its optimistic shine. Singer and songwriter Jake Diehl builds an organic and joyous single, with the ukulele rhythm to full-band warmth of Yes.
Brian Wooten, Darin Murphy and Jeff Clark – three superb musicians, a trio of diverse yet equally impressive backgrounds – present this boldly entertaining and conceptually provocative rock opera. The story is that of a famous musician, Max Million, briefly feeling a clear chemistry with a woman in a café, before taking to the stage and collapsing from apparent road fatigue…
Carefully uniting the heavy and the gentle, Checo Cadena leads with powerful distorted riffs and the live crash of drums, through harmonised, uplifting melodies, and lyrics of pure gratitude and hope.
Superstar is the poetic and effortlessly catchy new EP, and the title-track kicks off the collection as an absolute anthem of celebration and empowerment.