Tag Archives: new single

On ‘Pretending to Read,’ Amelia Ray Interprets our Everyday Struggles

With nothing more than some jazz-influenced guitar chords and her own stellar powers of observation, Amelia Ray has given us plenty to ponder about the human condition with her new single, “Pretending to Read.”

The new single — released in conjunction with the start of The Interpreter’s Soulveillance Tour — helps us connect and empathize with those spending life’s journey alongside us. Amelia assumes the role of a train passenger who, despite having an open book in front of her, is much more in tune with the plight of her fellow passengers. Smoky vocals and clean, simplistic guitar work help us float thoughtfully between characters and observations, before we come full circle to realize that all of these external distractions are preventing us from truly going inward.

If you want to learn more about Amelia Ray — and see if the Soulveillance Tour is coming to your city — head over here.

If you want to listen to “Pretending to Read” — and we’re sure you do — you can do that below!

Bailey Cole Doesn’t Want Fear to Hold You Back ‘Anymore’

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!

LISTEN: With ‘cross that line,’ Brooke Martin Addresses the Elephant in the Room

What do we do when love begins to fade?

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…

Not Sure Where to Go Next? Listen to This Song from Jon Worthy

Nashville-based indie alt rock artist Jon Worthy has given all he has to music. He’s toured across the nation, consistently released music, and has been featured in 150 popular media outlets. He’s even been to the Lehigh Valley’s very own Musikfest in Bethlehem, where I’m from! To many aspiring artists, he has certainly made a successful music career.

After the pandemic, his music career went in a different direction. He began focusing on studio sessions, songwriting, and production, while answering the COVID-era question on every creative’s mind…

“Where do I go from here?”

Jon’s new tune, “I’ve Been Up, I’ve Been Down,” reminds you that you aren’t alone if you don’t know where to go. The dreamy, wayward tune details how his own journey changed direction, leaving him feeling like he didn’t know what to do next.

“It’s about living day by day, and just trying to enjoy life as it came to me,” he said. “It speaks to all the highs and lows of life, but being complacent and, at the same time, hoping something will really change for the better.”

I am most fascinated by the fact that Jon found healing in music, even as his path in the industry became uncertain. It’s almost like entering down the path of being lost is inevitable in order to find where to go next. It’s also inevitable for artists to create, because its apart of who we are. Expressing the confusion of feeling lost allows us to find our way. This is inspiring to me as an up-and-coming artist, and helps tame the questions and doubts in my own mind. It’s a reminder that it’s OK to not have it all figured out, all the time — just keep going and letting the music take you.

Stay on the lookout for Jon Worthy’s next collaborations, to be released in coming months. And remember: even if you don’t know where to go, have the hope one day you’ll make it

-Matt Schmoyer

LISTEN: YEARB4 Roars Back with ‘Rebel Without A Cause’

Have you ever gone carelessly into a relationship, too distracted by the dopamine rush to recognize the abundance of red flags waving all around?

If that sounds like you — and if you like hard-driving, guitar-heavy rock and roll — you’re going to dig the latest single from YEARB4.

Titled “Rebel Without A Cause,” the scorching new summer anthem takes us from love bomb to discard in less than 3 1/2 minutes, leaving us breathless like the fling that ends without warning. The single was produced at Nashville’s East Iris Studios, and is the band’s first new offering since 2024’s “On My Own.”

“Rebel Without A Cause” kicks off a busy summer for YEARB4, who will perform in Nashville this Thursday, May 22 at Vinyl Lounge. After that, they’re hitting the road with our pal ARREIS, performing at Musica in Akron, OH on Sunday, June 15.

With ‘Loser,’ Lips Speak Louder Inspires Us to Get Back Up, Even in Defeat

“It evokes that familiar, deflative feeling we’ve all experienced before.” -Angie Lese, drummer for Lips Speak Louder

Lips Speak Louder’s sixth single release, “Loser,” is the UnderDog anthem you want to blast at full volume on a rainy day, when you’re fed up with life dealing continuous blows (despite your many attempts to keep your head up).

The song begins with building harmonic anticipation on a melodic guitar. The verse comes in, reminding us of the innocence of youth and all the expectations we had for life when we grew up. Then, chorus busts in with an admission: “I’m tired of proving, I’m so good at losing,” before telling us to stay tuned, to see if the band makes it out of “the same black hole.”

“It’s a song about burnout and frustration that comes with growing up, and realizing that you can  try your hardest and it won’t always be enough,” the band told us.

When you initially hear “Loser,” it gives the vibe of carefree life, spent cruising down the street on a skateboard before hanging with friends to catch a glorious sunset. Then, you feel the vulnerability of admitting that it’s tough to stay resilient when everything around you feels like it’s not working out.

Despite this sense of defeat, there is also a feeling of hope on “Loser” that things can and will be better on the other side of the struggle. The song provides a lonesome reminder that most of us are doing the best we can, even when the days constantly feel like an uphill battle. We remember not to bee too hard on ourselves and to keep pressing on, even at times when “doing our best” wasn’t good enough.

It’s important to keep getting back up. Then, just maybe, you’ll get a win every now and then.

LISTEN: On ‘Flowers (Party Version)’ Liv Greene Shows Us the Meaning of Self-Love

If your Valentine’s Day looked a little more like Singles Awareness Day this year, never fear. Liv Greene’s new Party Version of her song, “Flowers,” is here to give you the shot of self-love you need.

Tracked live-to-tape at Woodland Sound Studios during the sessions for Greene’s most recent album, Deep Feeler, the Party Version of “Flowers” was actually the first version cut for the record. That was before Greene and company re-imagined the song to fit the record’s more solemn tone.

“‘Flowers’ is one of the oldest songs on Deep Feeler, and was without a doubt the hardest to capture, requiring three tries in total. This outtake, ‘Flowers (Party Version)’ was our first attempt, and sort of my ode to country queens like Emmylou and Linda Ronstadt, with a Silver Threads-type intro and shuffly fiddle-heavy rhythm throughout,” Greene noted. “This original version, while undoubtedly the most fun to capture, never quite settled in with the rest of the record. The boisterous intro felt out of step and it slowly became clear there was a certain arc of grief and sadness to the song that felt under-emphasized as it stood.”

Described as “a vulnerable snapshot of hard-won self-acceptance,” Deep Feeler was produced by Greene alongside GRAMMY-Award winning engineer Matt Andrews (Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Trisha Yearwood). Coming on the heels of the full-length record, “Flowers (Party Version)” gives us another snapshot into Greene’s creative process — and perhaps, a feeling of triumph over heartbreak and self-doubt.

“The last lines of ‘Flowers’ have always felt a little aspirational,” Greene said. “‘I am giving myself space, a little love, a little grace, I am buying myself flowers these days,’ so it only felt right to give this song the amount of time and space that it took to get it right, and to love on myself through it all, except maybe instead of flowers, it was studio time. Worth it.”

LISTEN: Katie Mal Gets Us ‘Caught Up’ in Our Feelings

Have you ever experienced a heartbreak so real, that even the smallest reminder prevents you from moving on?

Katie Mal crafted her new single, “Caught Up,” 3-4 years ago, as she was trying her hardest to recover from her first “real, hard breakup.” The raw honesty of the lyrics, paired well with a steady-driving garage rock soundscape, give us all the room we need to process our own pain — even if we’re the ones choosing to hold on to the memories.

“’Caught Up’ came from a really personal place—those moments when even the smallest things, like rain on a window or a box of their stuff, can keep you from moving on,” Katie said. “It was one of those times where writing helped me process what I was feeling.”

The Toronto-based songwriter started with the lyrics, later refining the melody and guitar parts to develop the finished product we’re enjoying today.

“I really wanted to release this song, because I love how the final product turned out,” she said. “It feels raw and real, and I hope people can connect with it.”

LISTEN: On ‘Drown in the Desert,’ Mary Jennings Helps Us Weather the Storm

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!

LISTEN: Martyrs (UK) Release High-Powered ‘The View From A Memorial Bench’

At this point, 2025 is well underway. So, let’s take the training wheels off, and let’s rock!

Martyrs grace us with “The View From A Memorial Bench,” a turbo-powered alternative rock single inspired by a conversation the UK-based duo had with an older gentleman at Pegwell Bay, overlooking the sea in Kent, England. The tune touches on “grief, and the way memorials can hold so much meaning — both for those gone, and those left behind.”

“It’s about how we process loss by adhering to the mundane tasks of life, and how this can lead us to realizations and awakenings,” said Martyrs co-founder Michael Hall.

Those who have been following the band for a while might notice that “The View From A Memorial Bench” offers something different from the “fiercely independent” project, leaning on high-octane influences like Queens of the Stone Age and Faith No More.

“It is a huge departure for us, leaving synths and strings to one side and leaning into our formative loves of alternative rock and grunge,” Hall said.

« Older Entries Recent Entries »