There is great humility (and opportunity for personal growth) in the realization that you’ve messed up.
Stefan Heuer investigates his side of the conflict on “I’ve Done Wrong,” a slick, gorgeous piece of modern pop featuring a verse from UMC UnderDogFoundation Mecca.
Produced by Fabian Balz and Porter Hall, “I’ve Done Wrong” is a contrite mid-tempo tune which calls to mind the sleepless nights we’ve all spent, ruminating on things unsaid and the ways we’ve fallen short. Heuer — with an assist from the Heal Hop architect — provides us all with an opportunity to reflect, while acknowledging that accountability, self-reflection, and forgiveness are all necessary stops on the road to reconciliation.
At press time, “I’ve Done Wrong” has already accumulated nearly 10,000 total in just four days after its release. Once you listen, we have a feeling you’ll want to run those numbers up even more!
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!
TONIGHT! We’re going live from 7-9 p.m. for the first-ever UnderDogs Across Borders benefit concert. Join us as we present a genre-diverse interstate lineup featuring independent artists from within the Underground Music Collective community.
By supporting UnderDogs Across Borders, you are empowering UMC to open the gateway to even greater collaboration. Your support bolsters UMC’s presence at major conferences and festivals in North America and Europe, while helping us build a stronger, more sustainable music industry that is ripe with fresh opportunities for our artists.
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…
Following life’s storms, we all have a choice: let go of the pain and find oneself, or stay stuck where we are.
Mary Jennings explores this theme of resilience — even through catastrophe — on her latest single, “Drown in the Desert.”
Building on the socio-political themes of Jennings’ previous single, “Take A Number,” “Drown in the Desert” was inspired by Jennings’ experiences at Burning Man in 2023, which became infamous for the rare, torrential desert rain that caused mass evacuations and many stranded individuals at the festival. The single begins with a calm, ethereal electropop sensibility — meant to mirror the desert landscape’s typical tranquility — before tension builds and washes down on us. Jennings found the desert storm to be an apt metaphor for life’s more challenging moments, when we find ourselves overwhelmed by emotions, circumstances, or both.
“Drown in the Desert” was co-produced by Ryan Youmans, and is the second single from Jennings’ forthcoming EP, set to arrive this summer. Immerse yourself in this one below!
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
Of all the bangers you’ll find on the first-ever edition of our Poppin’ Off playlist — and there are plenty — we want to dig a little deeper into one that is definitely worth another listen.
Streamers The Band — the orchestral pop project founded by brothers Kie and Bee Kelly — hit streaming platforms back in August with “Don’t Look Back, Love.” A retro-inspired summer anthem, the refreshingly bright single stands out in any season, with shimmering keys and a spirited melody which capture the feeling of falling hard and fast, without a care in the world!
‘”Don’t Look Back, Love’ describes the feelings of first love, and how it separates someone you love from the crowd,” the band states.
The glistening tune is also the one that brought these Omaha, Nebraska natives to prominence. An original demo of the song has garnered more than 1.5 million Spotify streams to date, which let the Brothers Kelly know that they had an idea worth expanding upon.
“For our debut EP, we tracked an all-new version of the song, re-recorded with a 60-piece orchestra and full backing band,” they noted.
Don’t look back; new days are love and possibility are ahead. Let Streamers The Band show you the way!
We conclude our November rollout of The Playlists with the one that brings us closest to our true Underground roots.
Indie Darlings consists of the cuts that are ambient, experimental, and don’t quite fit into any one genre box. You’ll hear shades of pop, rock, and folk here — often at the same time — as you get lost in a diverse sea of sounds.
We phoned a friend for this one, too. Our friends at Circle Back Entertainment Group contributed roughly half of the selections here, because we believe in the power of teamwork! (Also, adding this playlist to the mix was actually their idea…)
Track listing BoyWithUke – Ghost Julia Kahn – Badlands Accidental Friend – Empty Love almost a.m. – Stand Still Nico Son – Let This Go Hunter West – Don’t Cry Hugs ft. Parking Lot Funeral and Karaoke Bar – hummin Post Meridiem – Love Chasing Tonya – Why Pierce Alexander – Doll Parts Sierra Carson – skeletons Davis Evanoff – Cranberries (2024) rakey – Everything Is Summer Adam Lamah – Even If Common Man – Vermont The Stremes – Got Myself Together Max Blansjaar – Burning In Our Name Unbelievable Truth – Roadside No. 2 Shawn Andrew – Valley of Hope book NOT brooke ft. Zina – Everything I Wanna Know
What better way to head into the weekend, than with the playlist that promises — and delivers — big sounds and even bigger hooks!
The boundaries of pop music have once again become blurred. Independent pop artists from all over the world are innovating, combining catchy melodies and slick production with subtle nuances that will excite even the most seasoned listener. Our debut edition of Poppin’ Off! captures many such moments, leaving you with an hour’s worth of musical memories, sure to stick in your mind long past the weekend.
Track listing CMAGIC5 – Rock Paper Scissors Alis Vibe – Body as a Vessel Sid Seth – Wave Emma Driver – Try Hard znels – future now Daniel Arci – In My Dreams Allison Leah – Meet Me in the Garden Harris Hills – HATE Alew – Loophole Brooke Martin – bad guy Lawrence D. – Runaway (virtues) – U. The Silent Room – Veins Mary Jennings ft. Fame & Fiction – Take a Number Streamers The Band – Don’t Look Back, Love Lo Fi Ho Hum – Boundaries Charity Bliss – joy algorithm TEHYA – trap door JULEZ – Hey There Linn Holmes – Baby Blue
