Tag Archives: single review

On ‘What We Can’t Say,’ Ty Warner Observes a Love Disconnected

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Our friend and fellow UnderDog Ty Warner has been on a hot streak so far in 2026. It wasn’t too long ago that we told you about “Connor’s Crawl,” the instrumental, jazz-influenced single released in honor of Warner’s precocious young grandson, Connor.

This time, the Air Force veteran-turned-full-time musician adds his voice back into the mix with “What We Can’t Say,” a mid-tempo Americana ballad which explores the ways our minds can interfere with love.

“Romance is an illogical concept,” Warner said in a video posted to social media. “It’s not like balancing a checkbook or knowing when your car payment is due. It’s based on emotion.”

The story of “What We Can’t Say” positions Warner as an observer of two lovers struggling to work through communication issues and find common ground through the love they share. The tune’s beautifully layered Americana soundscape — produced by Jim Thacker of Kazen Music Group — adds a wistful tone to support the narrative. A listener might imagine “What We Can’t Say” weaving into the post-breakup montage of an indie film, as two individuals pause, reflect, and realize that they’re stronger as a pair.

“What We Can’t Say” features Warner on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, with Thacker performing electric and bass guitar duties. Asha Sun provided backing vocals, and GRAMMY-winner Robin Ruddy added a classic country touch with her work on the dobro. Elements of the single were tracked both in Nashville by Scott Griffin, as well as by Vante Anderson at Wyoming Wave Studios in Cheyenne, WY.

As for the artwork? The tradition of artwork designed by the Warner grandchildren continues, as the cover art for “What We Can’t Say” was designed by Warner’s granddaughter, Nora Jo.

Who will be the first to say, “I love you?”

Ty Warner’s ‘Connor’s Crawl’ Instrumental a Family Affair

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Ty Warner — songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Air Force veteran, and one of our most loyal UnderDogs — is in the flow of releasing music, with several singles and a full EP on tap for 2026.

Warner’s first offering of the year, “Connor’s Crawl,” was released on March 24. The tune marks previously uncharted territory for Warner, as it is the first song he’s released that is entirely instrumental.

“I find instrumental music in general to be incredibly inspiring and emotional in and of itself,” Warner told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle (Cheyenne, WY). “That’s the journey I’m on right now … I’m going to move towards (releasing) instrumentals.”

Inspired by the jazz artist Earl Klugh, Warner composed and recorded “Connor’s Crawl” on two nylon string guitars. Additional instrumentation was added by esteemed New York-based producer Bryan Crook, who mixed and mastered the track after it was recorded by Vante Anderson at Wyoming Wave Studios. The song does feature some vocal instrumentation, as well, with background vocals performed by Asha Sun.

As for the inspiration behind the name? Warner named “Connor’s Crawl” after his precocious young grandson, Connor, who also created the artwork for the release.

Those looking for more new music won’t have to wait long. This week, Warner announced a follow-up single titled “What We Can’t Say,” set for release on Tuesday, May 19. From there, more singles are coming down the pipeline in the lead-up to My Songbook — Volume 1, set for release later this summer.

LISTEN: Billy Bauer Returns with “Queen of Her Town”

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For the first time since before the pandemic, a new, original studio release has emerged from the world of Billy Bauer Band.

This time, it’s the band’s namesake himself with a solo effort. Billy Bauer released the raw, acoustic cut, “Queen of Her Town,” on March 31. Produced by fellow artist and dear friend Bobby Siegfried of Chasing Daylight Productions, the tune was written more than a decade ago, on the road back to the band’s hometown of Bethlehem, PA from a gig in Milwaukee, WI.

“Queen of Her Town” features a tender vocal and the warm tones of Billy’s Martin Guitar, as he sings of a small-town girl with big dreams. One particularly exciting moment happens around four-and-a-half minutes in, when the last chorus gives way to a rollicking outro, showcasing Bauer’s signature scat vocals.

“After rehearsal, everyone cleared out—except me and former bassist Steve Zalalas,” Bauer noted. “What started as a jam became a one-take live recording, raw and mostly untouched. It was too special not to share.”

The song is available on all major streaming platforms — but that’s not the only way you can get it. The band has made “Queen of Her Town” available for downloadable purchase on Bandcamp for just $1, giving you an easy way to show your support.

Be sure to stay tuned, because we have it on good authority that there’s more where this came from. In the meantime, go ahead and meet the “Queen of Her Town.”

With ‘Breathe,’ Intellect Finds Calm in the Chaos

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When the odds are against us and the walls are closing in, we must look within to find peace.

Intellect offers us a respite from the overstimulation of modern society with “Breathe,” a tense and unyielding new single that serves as “a declaration of space, voice, and release—one breath at a time.”

“Built on dense lyricism and relentless delivery, ‘Breathe’ blends spiritual imagery with street realism, exploring themes of survival, authorship, and inner conflict,” the DC-based hip hop artist states. “The repeated plea — ‘Just let me breathe’ — anchors the video as both a mantra and a warning.”

“Breathe” is accompanied by visuals directed and produced by Annaken Media, which illustrate calm in the chaos by portraying Intellect as he remains steadfast in an environment that is visually glitching around him. Intellect’s performance in the video is focused and direct — representative of the tunnel vision required to stay on the one’s true path in a world full of distractions.

“Breathe” will be included on Declaration of Independence Vol. 3, a robust compilation album featuring Intellect alongside a host of other others. Watch the video below!

LISTEN: Yonna Jones Plays ‘Cat & Mouse’

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Valentine’s Day is coming up. And what would Valentine’s Day be without turning up the HEAT?

Our fellow UnderDog Yonna Jones is back with some sounds of the season, having dropped “Cat & Mouse” this past Friday, January 30. The new single — here to “get the girls warmed up for Valentine’s Day” — sees Jones lean into her R&B side, as she delivers a smooth and lightning-quick melody as exhilarating as the chase itself.

“Cat & Mouse” is Yonna’s first new release of 2026, with a full album on its way to us shortly. The track was engineered by W3BZ and produced by LacTrax here in Nashville, with artwork from (another fellow UnderDog) Nicolas Soul. Try it out below!

Hey You! Check Out The Band Palm’s Debut Single

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Any time music makes its way to us from the Jersey Shore, we can’t help but stand up and pay attention. There’s something so timeless and exciting about the unbridled energy of the region, and many of its acts have the talent to match our enthusiasm.

With that, we found a submission from Asbury Park’s The Band Palm in our backlog. After having a couple listens, it appears that our faith has been rewarded yet again!

The band’s debut single, “Doves (Hey You),” was released last July. Born from a spiritual awakening, the punchy alt-rock anthem reflects a moment of clarity shared by bandmates Brooke Riso (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Shayna Bay (bass/vocals) — and is credited by Bay as “the catalyst that allowed The Band Palm to come to life.”

“Brooke and I had a shared experience in which we felt under spiritual attack. We were confused, scared, and our only way to understand what was happening was to channel our feelings into music,” Bay recalls. “We rushed home and instantly got to work. The verse progression was one that Brooke had in her ‘unfinished/writers block’ collection. She knew right away to bring this progression to the forefront, but expressed to me that she was unable to continue it. Upon hearing, with inspiration in my mind, I instantly got pulled into the zone. I wrote the chorus progression almost instantly and, from there, The Band Palm was born.”

The duo then recruited lead guitarist Mike Ortlieb and drummer Matt Veiga to round out their lineup, which they’ve already begun taking on the road in advance of their forthcoming second single. The band performs across the tri-state area regularly, with a special date coming up at Musikfest — you know, that Bethlehem, PA-based festival that is at least indirectly responsible for UMC’s very existence — in early August.

There’s plenty of excitement to come. For now, immerse yourself in “Doves (Hey You)” by The Band Palm!

On ‘I’ve Done Wrong,’ Stefan Heuer Owns His Part

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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 UnderDog Foundation 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!

UnderDog Releases: Abundance, Keen Observations, and Whispers

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As the world has been turning, we’ve been celebrating this incredible year, and getting ready for what’s next, the UnderDogs have been hard at work churning out new material here in Q4.

Let’s check out what some of the members of our community have been up to lately…

Artist: Amelia Ray
Video: Pretending to Read
Released: December 4, 2025
What you should know: The visual companion to Amelia’s July single, ‘Pretending to Read’ was filmed and recorded at San Francisco’s Women’s Audio Mission. Ever-attentive to detail — this song recalls all of her observations from behind a book during a train ride — Amelia has us attempting to decode the symbolism behind the stack of books In addition, her expressive performance behind the microphone has us hanging on every lyric — making us believers that, aside from what’s taking place in front of her eyes, our protagonist has a lot to process.

Artist: Kelsey Muse
Song: Whispers
Released: November 14, 2025
What you should know: As promoted on The Quinn Spinn (and released as a direct purchase-only single last month prior to hitting streaming platforms), “Whispers” is about letting the people keep talking as you carry about your business. Society might make a lot of noise, but moving with purpose holds the key to drowning it out.

Artist: Yonna Jones
Song: ABUNDANCE
Released: October 17, 2025
What you should know: As ‘SUNRISE’ greeted us with the promise of a new day earlier this year, ‘ABUNDANCE’ represents high noon in the realm of new opportunities. Jones’ delivery is lightning-quick on the track, and her confidence shines as she makes it clear that her success is not just possible; it’s inevitable.

OUT NOW: Yonna Jones Greets the ‘SUNRISE’

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A brand-new era of Yonna Jones’ artistry begins with the bright promise of a new day.

“SUNRISE” is an affirming anthem that encourages us toward seeing a life full of possibility. The new single is the first of a new batch of “movement music” from the Chicago native (and NEXT2RISE artist), who aims to motivate and inspire with messages of perseverance.

And, with empowering lyrics like these, it’s safe to say that Yonna has hit the intended target with this one:

“Everything that you need is right in front of you.
I know you don’t want to lose. We chase the ‘W’.
I was sitting, wondering what my life was coming to
Until I chose to open up and let the light shine through.”

Sonically, “SUNRISE” spreads its golden light upon us with a blend of pop and hip hop, complete with clean, jangly guitars and shimmering melodies. Let it brighten up your day!

LISTEN: The Peterkin Project’s ‘Power of Life’ Offers a Touching Tribute

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“Last summer, you inspired me to sing.”

John Peterkin pays homage to his late cousin on “Power of Life,” the latest single from The Peterkin Project.

“This heartfelt song was co-created with my late cousin Mark, who fought a brave battle against cancer and inspired me to pursue music,” Peterkin said on the band’s official Facebook page.

The steady rocking new single features a warm acoustic sensibility, which underscores some hopeful, U2-inspired licks from lead guitarist Shawn Andrew. Peterkin’s lyrics paint a picture of those who leave indelible imprints on our hearts and minds — even after they transition from this Earthly plane.

For more about “Power of Life” and all things The Peterkin Project, John is one of several guests who join us on The Quinn Spinn this coming Monday, September 15 as part of our series taped live at Gussapolooza 2025, which took place last month in Cookstown, Ontario, Canada. Be sure to tune in!

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