When we last checked in with our fellow UnderDog and UMC NEXT2RISE artist Kelsey Muse, she was putting the finishing touches on “Whispers,” her new single produced by MidDay.
The moody pop-R&B single — a celebration of one’s own individuality, even in the face of outside criticism and expectations — is officially out in the world. However, you won’t find it on streaming platforms just yet.
Kelsey has the single available for purchase at her official website in two bundles. The first bundle includes two versions of “Whispers” — the full version, and the radio edit — and a Kelsey Muse “Strike the Heart” t-shirt. The second bundle includes both versions of the song, as well as her previous single, “Sunglasses.”
So many times in my life, I have sat on a New York City subway, off to a show or a restaurant. I’ve often sat back and wondered what it would be like to have a lived experience in New York, with all the love, joy, and heartbreak.
Haley Ganis is an artist who has lived and performed in New York City, and has experienced the city’s culture. Her single, “NNYC,” is the perfect kind of tasteful pop song that only someone who had a life in New York could write.
“Don’t wanna take the 6 train home Window reflections swear I see your ghost I can’t avoid our inside jokes Eight million people and I’m still alone.”
With those lyrics, Ganis perfectly sets the tone, illustrating all of those routines you develop with another person — the car and train rides, always going to the same destinations. In an instant, these memories can be tainted by a breakup. You can hear that pain in Ganis’ vocals, over the backdrop of synths and a strummed guitar before the band comes in.
On the song, Ganis says “The day I wrote this, I was really missing New York City, but was also reminded of a major breakup I went through while living there. During the writing process, I loved sorting through my feelings and having New York as the backdrop of it all. My co-writer and producer, Dylan Maloney, helped finish the song with me, and I hope listeners enjoy what we did.”
Music this good doesn’t just happen. Ganis is a skilled songwriter, and has such musical capacity that you can hear the years of work she has spent on her craft. This might best be exemplified when the song is just her and a piano, which I will let the listener experience for themselves.
“‘Cause you got to keep the good things East side, Goodnight Sonny Apartment and the grocery store But New York isn’t yours.”
(Perhaps, in another timeline, I too am walking around New York City post-breakup, dodging bright city lights while walking past bodegas, trying to find a path to my new home in a new side of town…)
Haley Ganis wrote a stellar piece of music with “NNYC,” and I will be playing it on repeat. The tune is a part of a number of singles she will release before dropping her album in October. Keep an eye out for it!
There are moments in life that call for us to push past our fears and limitations.
For these moments, we have “Anymore” — the smoldering new cinematic pop single from Bailey Cole. The contemplative new tune — described by Cole as “a declaration of self-worth and a reminder that growth means letting go of the fear that used to define you” — features Cole’s smoky vocals calling to us over a thoughtfully layered, atmospheric soundscape. The lyrics float through the ether with a palpable tension, not unlike the inner conflict that arises in us all before a major breakthrough.
“’Anymore’ is a personal reckoning—a song about the moment you realize you’re finally getting somewhere in life, and that quiet fear creeps in,” Cole said. “What if I lose it all again? It’s about refusing to let the past steal joy from your present.”
“Anymore” was produced by Adam Clark, mixed by Grammy-winner Mikaelin “Blue” Bluespruce (Solange, Nas), and mastered by Idania Valencia at Sterling Sound. It is the latest installment of Chapter 1, a series of singles that is set for a full project re-release later this year. Listen to it below, as you sttep away from your fears and into your power!
Brooke Martin confronts that question on “cross that line,” a groovy, upbeat new tune with melancholy undertones. Produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Chris Penny, the single’s shimmering pop soundscape juxtaposes adeptly with the sobering reality of a spark between two people that now struggles to ignite.
“To me, “cross that line” is such a fun, upbeat song—but the lyrics are quite sad when you really listen,” Martin said. “It’s about two people who love each other but are starting to realize they might not be right for each other anymore. There’s still hope—they’re trying to find their way back to the happiness they once had.”
“cross that line” was the first song written for Martin’s forthcoming EP, which is expected to drop later this September.
For now… go on. Cross that line. But once you do, there’s no turning back…
Summer is the time to lose track of time, forget your inhibitions, and fall in love.
Evan Kreutz captured the celestial spontaneity of discovering a new connection with his latest single, “last call.” What begins as a slow burning, acoustic rock daydream progresses with intensity toward alt-pop hyperspace, providing us with a proper interpretation of what it’s like to lose yourself in the excitement of exploring someone new.
“A breezy, feel-good ride built on impulse and connection, ‘last call’ is the sonic equivalent of taking the long way home with someone who makes you forget your worries,” Kreutz said. “It’s less about thinking and more about feeling—spontaneous, sweet, and exactly what you needed.”
Finally, a breakup song for those who are done with the fairytales…
CMAGIC5 — rising pop superstar and the 2024 Gussapolooza Heroes of Sound winner for Best Performance — makes a statement to begin 2025 with “Happy Never After,” an angsty pop punk anthem which shatters the love illusions we’ve all convinced ourselves were real.
“I wanted to flip that fairytale ending on its head in a playful, angsty way. Instead of the traditional ‘happily ever after,’ I thought, ‘why not embrace the disaster ending and accept it as part of life? No sugarcoating needed,'” CMAGIC5 said. “So, I created a track that’s a celebratory anthem for moving on from toxic ex-lovers, friends, or bosses—those people who play the role of ‘Prince Charming’ or ‘Romeo,’ but you can foresee the signs and know exactly how that last chapter of the story will end. It’s all about empowering yourself and others to avoid getting hurt again, and walking away before it’s too late.”
“Happy Never After” takes the power back for those left in the wake of a toxic relationship (or situationship. It is 2025, after all). The liberating new single fits well within the landscape of the Canadian artist’s catalog.
“I’d say it’s all about self-empowerment and authenticity,” she said. “I want my music to encourage listeners to embrace their true selves, let go of toxic relationships, and feel confident in moving forward, no matter how messy things might get. There’s always a sense of strength and self-love in everything I write, even when the subject matter is about heartbreak or facing challenges.”
“Happy Never After” was crafted with Juno Award-winning and Grammy-nominated producers/songwriters Ryan Worsley (Dear Rouge, Monowhales), Tavish Crowe (co-writer Carly Rae Jepsen’s Grammy-nominated, Juno Award-winning smash hit, “Call Me Maybe”), and Ryan Stewart (Carly Rae Jepsen, Victoria Duffield, Shawn Desman, Jocelyn Alice, Hedley). Check it out!
We love it when you push musical boundaries. It makes our world more interesting and colorful.
That’s why we love rolling out the Indie Darlings playlist, in conjunction with Circle Back Entertainment Group. This is where we throw out convention and blur the lines between genres, giving you a unique compilation of tunes that you won’t find anywhere else.
This month, we give you an opportunity to immerse yourself in new sounds, and appreciate the experimentation taking place across the world, from high-end studios to home setups. Step into the experience!
Track listing: The Stremes – Got Myself Together Nico Son – Let This Go The Ivy – Every Little Ladder CIAO MALZ – Two Feet Tall Orland Sunset – Bullshit Alyssa Joseph – Another Year Julia Kahn – Badlands BoyWithUke – Gaslight Accidental Friend – Empty Love almost a.m. – Stand Still Hunter West – Don’t Cry Hugs, Parking Lot Funeral, & Karaoke Bar – hummin Post Meridiem – Love Pierce Alexander – Doll Parts Sierra Carson – skeletons Davis Evanoff – Cranberries (2024) rakey – Everything Is Summer Adam Lamah – Even If Common Man – Vermont Noorani – oceans
Your first weekend of December has its official playlist.
Let’s be real: the same goes for all of your other weekends.
This month’s Poppin’ Off playlist presents you with plenty of opportunities to dance your cares away. Once you return to those cares, never fear: there are some reflective tunes here, as well. We also snuck a holiday selection in, and look out for a super-slick synth pop section nestled into the middle.
“Pop” can mean a variety of things, and as always, all of those things have a home right here!
Track listing: Streamers The Band – Gone In A Flash Daniel Arci – Cold as ICE Mara Liddle – hush hush CMAGIC5 – Rock Paper Scissors Alis Vibe – Body as a Vessel Natisa Gogol – Heavens create Sid Seth – Wave Emma Driver – I Don’t Hate It, It’s Just Different Caroline Romano – Born to Want More znels – future now Alison Leah -Meet Me in the Garden Lawrence D. – Runaway virtues – U. Moody Joody – El Camino High The Silent Room – Veins Lo Fi Ho Hum – Boundaries Charity Bliss – joy algorithm Arya Phenyx – Please 2.0 Stranger Cat – Come My Darlin To The Sea Lily Lane – Blue on Christmas
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…)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever ignored the red flags in a relationship.
If you put your hand up, Nashville-based pop artist Brooke Martin has something fresh for you. Her new single, “Bad Guy,” is a mellow cautionary tale about what it means to ignore the warning signs.
The project began when Australian-based producer Mark “New Haven” Benedicto (Imagine Dragons) reached out to Martin via TikTok. After they connected, Martin teamed up with co-writers Colleen Francis, Tom Pino, and John Frank to bring the idea to life.
“I’m very excited about this song,” Martin said. “It’s my first release with Mark, so when messaged me and wanted to work with me, I jumped at the chance. He’s an amazing producer. And his timing was perfect, because I had a song idea I thought would resonate with every girl who ignores the red flags in relationships.”
If you’re looking for more where this came from, you won’t have to wait long. Martin is working on a forthcoming EP Billboard-charting producer and artist Andrew Kirk and Grammy-winning producer Chris Penny, set for release in 2025.
