Category Archives: 2024

Rock On!: November 2024

We’ve said it before, we’ve said it again, and we’ll always say it: contrary to what you may have heard, rock is alive and well.

We’ve seen and heard this simple truth through the years, as artists near and far have made clear through their art. And, for as diverse as our musical world has become, there’s still nothing quite as organic as a bunch of friends bringing their instruments into a room to make some noise.

This playlist is a result of that raw energy and spirit, 20 times over. If you’ve been wondering where all the guitars are on the modern music landscape, look no further. They’re right here for you.

Track listing
The Mad Sugars – New York Girls
Bobby Mahoney – Empty Passenger Seats
Leah Burns – WUT R U WAITING 4
Brother People – Total Vibe
The Trampoline Delay – Little Lucy
Theos Wall – COSMONAUT CASTAWAY
Hot4Robot – Your Chemical (Unplugged Live)
Lonely Little Kitsch – Vices
Harley Olivia – You’re Not Ready
Fortunate Losers – Taste
Lips Speak Louder – Dog Days of Summer
Feral Minks – My Escapade
General Mojo’s ft. Marshall Law Band – change will come
f1oater. – Half-Life
Doc. Henry – Babyface
The Manic Boys and Girls Club – Last Train
horsebread – ontherun
The Hollow Party – Medicine
KJ Wild – Red Hot Magazine Girl
ROM COM ft. Eliza Harrison Smith – Call You Mine

Beats & Verses: November 2024

So many incredible hip hop and R&B artists have graced our pages and stages over the years, and the story continues today, with the unveiling of our first-ever Beats & Verses playlist!

We have fresh cuts from artists we’ve recently discovered, as well as a few favorites from those we’ve known for a while. One thing that is for certain: we’ve got an excellent sample of the versatility taking place across the hip hop and R&B landscape — and it keeps getting better!

How do we know? For one thing, UMC Spotlight Artist Da’ Healerz are set to release their debut record, Heal Talk, next week. So, you can count on that making its way onto the December edition of Beats & Verses. We’ve also got old friends Heru Heru — another Foundation Mecca project — dropping Heruglyphics later this month.

As we give you all of that to look forward to, let’s enjoy the present. Beats & Verses is here to stay!

Track listing
Brett Will – Dominoes
Lord Goldie – On da Line
KNEX, Foundation Mecca, and Black Cash – Amazing
E.T. ft. Therese – You’re A Star
Emory Jaymz – Sonshine
Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise – High Vibrationz
Symbasyd ft. Kelly2face & Adonis – Heyyy
Big Fav ft. Cupid – My Luv
Ah-Deli ft. THC – Good Time
Spence Brown – Indecisive
Numoon – I Hate The Sun
Malcolm DeWayne – Amethyst Nights
BEZ – Lie Detector
Intellect ft. Dave East – Too Many Losses
Usual Suspektz ft. Asun Eastwood – Tower
pher, – moon
Miles Squiers – 24 Hours
Ekelle ft. Ervin Mitchell – Games
2Four – Freak This
Gr3ys0n – Won The Game

All-Americana: November 2024

We’re one playlist in, and already, we can tell this is going to be a blast!

Let’s kick things off with All-Americana. Straight from the heartland, this playlist features the best emerging country, roots, blues, folk, and bluegrass, and will be updated reliably on the first Monday of every month going forward.

As it turns out, Americana itself paints from a vast and varied sonic palette. You’ll hear anything here from radio-ready country, to ambient folk, to stomp-along roots music — and there’s even more where that came from, including even a little bit of folk-punk!

Start The Playlists’ party with us, and stick around all week long for the rest of the musical spectrum!

Track listing
Dylan Gerard – Need a Little Downtime
David Tucker – Fighting Over Sheets
The Rebel Eves – Shake the Ground
Mikki Zip – Somethin’ To Write About
Brittany Bishop – Welcome Home
Meghan VK – Deal with the Devil
Chelsey Stallings – Give Him the Reins
Andi Jane ft. Billy Contreras – Charlotte’s Web
Jacob Shipley – Death of Me
Matthew Ryan Jacobs – Where Are You Now?
falllift – Questions I Can’t Ask
Ryan Thomas Smelle – Sad Song
Max McNown – Hotel Bible
Bjorn – You Got the Power In You
Regan Ashton – 6 1/2 Billion Hearts
Cox County Clappers ft. Lightning Jenny – Government Man
Dave Robertson & The Kiss List – The Green Light
Jaden Wright – East Kentucky Lady
Gray Hector – Waitin’ Around To Go Viral
William Harries Graham – Philadelphia

The Playlists Release Week: What You Need to Know

This Monday, we’ll begin to roll out The Playlists, a series of UMC-curated compilations on Spotify. The Playlists will feature independent artists across a variety of genre subsets, and we’ve even recently added a sixth one, in collaboration with our friends at Circle Back Entertainment Group!

Below, you’ll find information about each playlist’s release date. Please note that these playlists will be updated on a monthly basis, in the order in which they were originally released.

(For example, our All-Americana playlist is coming your way on Monday, November 4, and will be updated on the first Monday of every month going forward.)

Anyway, here’s the full release schedule:

Monday, 11/4: All-Americana: Straight from the heartland, this playlist features the best emerging country, roots, blues, folk, and bluegrass
Tuesday, 11/5: Beats and Verses: Our best discoveries from the world of hip hop and R&B.
Wednesday, 11/6: Rock On: A compilation for all things rock & roll — indie, alternative, hard rock, and more!
Thursday, 11/7: From the Soul: Soul, funk, jazz, and R&B to make us sing, dance, and feel all the feelings.
Friday, 11/8: Poppin’ Off: Fresh pop finds, full of big sounds and even bigger hooks.
Saturday, 11/9: Indie Darlings: Selections that are so eclectic, experimental, and quirky that they don’t quite fit anywhere else!

There’s still time to submit, for these and future editions of The Playlists. Click the button to show us what you’ve got!

With “Body as a Vessel,” Alis Vibe Reframes Death as the Next Phase of Our Spiritual Journey

Modern society has come to view death as an absolute end; a tragic event met with grief and, in sudden cases, a seemingly futile search for closure.

Alis Vibe (IG | Spotify)– the intentional and international singer-songwriter from Milan, Italy – invites us to reframe death as the continuation of our spiritual journey with her new single, “Body as a Vessel” (out Nov. 8, 2024).

“‘Body as a Vessel’ is inspired by the transformative nature of life and death. This song embodies the uplifting message that our bodies are merely vessels for our spirit and soul,” Alis said. “While death is often viewed with sorrow, I wanted to create a narrative that celebrates it as a powerful transformation; a continuation of our essence, rather than an end.”

Written by Alis Vibe and produced by Dillon Pace, “Body as a Vessel” is heavily influenced by the electronic dance pop of Alis’ home continent. The empowering anthem invites us to release fear and judgment, as we come to understand that our finite physical existence represents a mere snapshot of our soul’s connection to the universe.

“Overall, the song captures a transformative journey toward self-acceptance, mindfulness, and the realization of one’s inherent worth,” Alis said.

“Body as a Vessel” also marks an important point in Alis’ musical journey, as she transitions toward the next phase of her artistry. The Nashville-based pop songstress is preparing to offer new music, fresh perspectives, and exciting live experiences throughout 2025.

“‘Body as a Vessel’ is not only a song that deals with the concept of death, but it’s the end of an era for me,” Alis said. “We’re working on the next chapter of my music journey.”

Mixing, mastering, and sound design performed by Simone “Unsaid” Saparacino.

LISTEN: On ‘Where Are You Now,’ Matthew Ryan Jacobs Captures Life’s Bittersweet Journey

Life doesn’t always wait until we’re ready to make changes.

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario-based songwriter Matthew Ryan Jacobs has experienced plenty of growth over the past few years, and he captures its essence on “Where Are You Now.” This bluesy waltz is passed through a gritty alt-rock filter, as Jacobs helps us reflect on the pivotal moments that comprise life’s bittersweet journey.

“’Where Are you Now’ is mostly about making changes in your life, whether you want to or not,” Jacobs said. “A lot of my writing over the last few years has had a lot to do with getting older or growth; and the struggle of leaving certain things or people in your past. It’s not intended to be a negative narrative, just honest. Even if you know you’re making the right — or at least, better — decision, you still second guess yourself along the way.”

“At least I do.”

Produced by Ben Kempel, Jacobs describes “Where Are You Now” as a song that “just kind of happened” — much like the reality that inspired its narrative.

“I didn’t overthink anything in the process. It felt right, so we went with it,” Jacobs said. “I had a pretty clear vision for the production, and Ben did a great job as usual making it happen.“

LISTEN: Sid Seth Invites Us to Ride a Different ‘Wave’

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Spooky Season, it’s that it can be fun to put on a mask and pretend to be somebody else.

That makes this the perfect opportunity to share “Wave,” the latest single from accomplished New York-based songsmith Sid Seth. Produced by the renowned Al Carlson (Lady Gaga, Slaters, Roy Blair, Jessica Pratt), this breezy pop tune features clean guitars, a Caribbean-inspired beat, and silky-smooth vocals, as Seth sings of joys of finding temporary refuge from who we’re “supposed to be.”

“(‘Wave’) is about putting on an alter ego for a night and letting that persona take over,” Seth said.

“Wave” is making waves across multiple media outlets in the U.S. and abroad, including Galore Magazine, Ones to Watch, ASCAP NMF, Future Hits Radio UK, and WFUV 90.7fm. Meanwhile, Seth is currently in the midst of a coast-to-coast U.S. tour, with planned stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and New York.

Go on — let yourself ride a different “Wave” for a change. Listen below!

LISTEN: On ‘Call You Mine,’ ROM COM Watches Summer Love Fade

Artwork credit: Aron Rosing

As the summer sun fades, so does summer love.

In the dramatic, cinematic fashion we’ve come to know and love, ROM COM captures the essence of that moment brilliantly on their latest single, “Call You Mine.” A collaboration with songwriter/vocalist Eliza Harrison Smith, the dreamy new alt-pop single encapsulates our collective struggle to realize that nothing gold can stay.

“‘Call You Mine” is a song about a relationship that is fading away, but still trying to hold on,” said ROM COM vocalist Aron Rosing. “It is the first release with Eliza, with several more collaborations planned over the next few months.”

Imagine the late September sun shining, though not as bright as it did just a couple months prior. Imagine the sweet, warm air growing colder with the winds of change, as the first leaves turn yellow and we’re left to face the inevitable. That is the essence of “Call You Mine.”

Hold onto the moment before it’s gone, and check it out below!

LISTEN: KJ Wild Critiques Your Social Media ‘Highlight Reel’

Welcome to 2024, where real life is never quite as perfect as the images we portray.

KJ Wild are here with a timely (and timeless) reminder to look behind the filter on “Red Hot Magazine Girl.” The alt-pop duo — comprised of powerhouse indie artists Kiki Halliday and Jon Worthy — wrote this song as a critique on the tendency of modern society and its influencers to post only about life’s good parts, painting an unrealistic picture of life, love, success, and happiness.

“We always see smiles, celebrations, amazing achievements, and pictures displaying a sense that nothing is ever wrong in a person’s life — but truly, that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Worthy said. “Nothing is as glamorous as it seems, and a lot of people in modern society feel the need to make everything seem perfect. So, this song is us calling out those people that live for the picture and not the moment; the people that always have to share that smiling picture in front of the beautiful sunset, even though minutes before, they were potentially scrolling on their phone, comparing themselves to their peers.”

“Red Hot Magazine Girl” was built on an acoustic foundation, and was written and produced entirely by the band. The song’s structure and infectious melody offer a nostalgic nod to rock and roll’s early days, while its hazy indie rock ambiance lends a modern, youthful energy to the final product.

If you’re in Nashville, come out to The 5 Spot on Sunday, November 3 to hear KJ Wild perform this one live (and while you wait, treat yourself to a preview…)

LISTEN: On ‘Hotel Bible,’ Max McNown Defeats Self-Doubt

Photo credit: Benjamin Edwards

We all experience moments of self-doubt. Yes, even if you’re Max McNown, last week’s #1 artist on the Billboard Emerging Artists chart, and the current CMT Next Up Now artist of the month.

For those moments, Max gives us “Hotel Bible,” a rollicking Americana anthem that inspires us to find the light in our darkest hours.

“Even the most confident among us doubt themselves at times,” McNown said. “‘Hotel Bible’ follows a loved one who’s lost their ability to trust and love themselves. But as the lyrics illustrate, even in the darkness of self doubt, there can also be light. The song is meant to serve as a reminder of the best times of our lives, when we inevitably endure the worst, to see value in the times we feel cheapest.”

The feel-good tune is the latest triumphant moment for McNown, who was named as CMT’s Next Up Now artist earlier this week. The honor included CMT premiering McNown’s new music video for “Snowman,” from his recent EP, Willfully Blind. The video will receive extra airplay on CMT’s 24-hour TV channel all month long, and has been added to CMT’s “Country Music Videos On Repeat Playlist.”

Strike a match, light a candle, and curse the darkness. Check out “Hotel Bible” below!

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