Tag Archives: single review

LISTEN: Evan Kreutz Watches Love Drift Away Like a ‘Dandelion’ in the Wind

Posted on by Leave a comment

Remember that time you were in love, and it just didn’t work out?

Evan Kreutz does, and he filters that nostalgia through a 2000s pop rock-tinted lens on his new single, “Dandelion.”

Those who find resonance with the emotive alt-rock stylings of bands like Guster and Fountains of Wayne will enjoy diving into this one. From the opening line, “she’s all out of patience,” we can feel a deep sense of longing and regret. With each somber chord, Kreutz wistfully comes to terms with the fact that the love he once held so dear — which provided him with so many beautiful moments and memories — is gone with the wind.

“Dandelion” was produced by Doug Grama and mixed by Ray Martell at Westfall Recording, with Griff McCarthy on drums. Get ready to get into your feelings with this one!

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

Posted on by Leave a comment

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

Posted on by Leave a comment

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!

LISTEN: David Tucker Has a Hard Time ‘Forgetting Her’

Posted on by Leave a comment

Missing somebody means missing all of them — even the little things that make us crazy.

David Tucker explores the difficulties of moving on with “Forgetting Her,” a spacious pop-country waltz that makes us consider whether walking away is really the right move…

“I’m tired of getting eight hours cause she isn’t keeping me up
I’m tired of not being late cause her hair don’t look good enough
I wish I could still see the face that she makes
When something I did isn’t going her way
If you’re ever thinking that loving her is too much for you to take
Try forgetting her.”

-David Tucker, “Forgetting Her”

Co-written alongside longtime collaborator Jake Saghi and seasoned Nashville artist Qvint, “Forgetting Her” has been making waves on the musical landscape. The single was exclusively premiered by PEOPLE Magazine last month — and, with its heartfelt subject matter and absolutely gorgeous vocal harmonies, it’s easy to understand why this one has gained traction — with listeners and media outlets alike!

LISTEN: On “Charlotte’s Web,” Andi Jane Walks the Thin Line Between Love and Obsession

Posted on by Leave a comment

What happens when love is taken too far?

Andi Jane explores the moments when love turns to obsession on “Charlotte’s Web,” a lush, haunting masterpiece just in time for spooky season.

Co-written alongside her partner at the time, Craig Anderson, the gothic folk single was crafted with inspiration from chilling real-life events.

“I wrote the song shortly after being physically threatened by my partner’s admirer; a woman who admitted to stalking him in order to become his friend,” Andi said. “After the incident, I met my first brown recluse spider, and I couldn’t close my eyes without thinking of spiders and stalkers. We ended stayed up all night to write this song.”

Representing the “battle between longing and harm, desire and destruction,” “Charlotte’s Web” features the one-man string section of Billy Contreras, who added depth to the sonic landscape by performing each the song’s five — yes, five — distinct violin parts.

“Watching him layer part after part, with each violin having its own unique name, was like watching a mad scientist at work,” Andi said.

LISTEN: The Trampoline Delay’s Wake-Up Call

Posted on by Leave a comment

We’ve all had that loved one whose destructive decisions are becoming worrisome. The Trampoline Delay is here to help us sound the alarm.

The band’s new single, “Little Lucy,” comes in with a thunderous urgency. The fast-paced alt-rock offering — which clocks in at just under two minutes — is written from the perspective of a friend who sees the crash coming, but feels powerless to stop it.

“‘Little Lucy’ is about watching someone self-destruct and trying to snap them out of it. Lucy’s caught up with the wrong crowd, doing things that drag her down—whether it’s drinking, drugs, whatever,” said frontman Pete Marino. “It’s that downward spiral you can’t always pull people out of. The first chorus is a wake-up call, like, ‘Get it together,’ but by the end, it’s more desperate, like, ‘Please wake up,’ after it’s too late.”

The scorching new tune was created out of a fun creative competition between Marino and other musician friends, where they pick a theme, select an existing song, and make it their own. “Little Lucy” started as an indie rock makeover of the Everly Brothers classic, “Wake Up Little Susie.”

From there, it found new life.

“I think it took about 30 minutes to program drums, record the guitars, bass, vocal. In this case, I loved the version I made so much, and it was completely different than the original, I didn’t want it to go to waste,” Marino recalled. “So, I wrote new lyrics, while still keeping that iconic chorus line of “wake up little…” but definitely took the song in a darker direction. Then, I went back to it, and added real drums and new vocals.”

“Runaway” to the 80s with Lawrence D.

Posted on by Leave a comment

The neon glow of a clear Nashville night has nothing on the shimmer of “Runaway,” the new, 80s-inspired track from Lawrence D.

“Runaway” combines clean, catchy guitar riffs with retro synth tones and Lawrence D.’s silky-smooth vocals, taking us on a dynamic thrill ride that would find itself at home among The Weeknd’s best work.

Seriously… put it up against any track on Dawn FM, and try telling us it doesn’t fit right in. We dare you!

“My producer and I were sitting in his studio in Nashville, TN and he created this nice 80’s track,” Lawrence D. said. “I wrote the record that night. It reminded me of a Red Ferrari drive on the roadside of the beach somewhere in Miami. My other producer added the bass line, and I had the idea to bring the live electric guitar into the fold to give it an electrifying rock feeling. I love everything about this record, and I hope whoever is listening will love it, as well.”

On ‘Crush’, Lips Speak Louder Describe the Rush of Falling in Love

Posted on by Leave a comment

Lips Speak Louder may have a busy fall on tap, touring with Emily Wolfe. However, that won’t stop them from continuing to crank out the tunes.

The most recent? The pop punk anthem, “Crush.” Written by Lips Speak Louder’s Rachel Brandsness and Angela Lese and produced by Wolfe, the new single reminds us what it’s like to be overcome with cautious optimism as we (maybe? possibly?) fall in love.

“(‘Crush’ is about) the incredible rush of emotions you get when you first start falling for someone, and how one unexpected encounter can change everything,” Brandsness said.

Don’t forget: you can see Lips Speak Louder perform “Crush” and plenty of other tunes from their upcoming full-length record on Saturday, October 19 at The Lipstick Lounge in Nashville. Learn more about that here, and check out the latest below!

LISTEN: Hot4Robot Tackles the Euphoria of Addiction on ‘Your Chemical’

Posted on by Leave a comment

It’s amazing how a creative spark from many moons ago can come back around, years later, and give way to something new.

That is the origin story of Hot4Robot’s tune, “Your Chemical.” The band just released an acoustic rendition on September 13, in advance of the band’s forthcoming unplugged album, recorded live at the legendary Godfrey Daniels listening room in Bethlehem, PA.

“The main groove of ‘Your Chemical’ was originally featured in a tune performed by The Foolz, a Lehigh Valley jam-band staple of the mid-aughts, whose lineup included 50 percent of Hot4Robot,” said frontman Alex Radus, who crafted the song’s prototype alongside guitarist Dave Cahill. “That tune is lost to the sands of time, but the groove was infectious enough to make its way into Hot4Robot’s songwriting toolkit. It was eventually refashioned into ‘Your Chemical’ – matched with completely different lyrics, melody and B-section.”

“Your Chemical” originally debuted on the band’s 2021 full-length, self-titled release. The pensive — some might say ominous — tune “chronicles the toxic and disorienting euphoria of addiction, especially to dopamine hits and external validation.”

Radus believes that this updated rendition gives the song’s message room to breathe, while keeping the structure and intricacies of the original intact.

“What was fascinating about reimagining this song unplugged, is that the acoustic format gave the tune an intimacy and vulnerability that conveyed the message just as well — or perhaps better? “Radus said. “It’s also pretty amazing how Dave recreates his intense and spectacular lead with no pedals or effects.”

Feel the intensity — check out “Your Chemical – Unplugged” below!

Believe the ‘Hype’: Lips Speak Louder are Here to Rock!

Posted on by Leave a comment

In case you’ve been under a rock for the past few years, turn-of-the-millennium rock influences are everywhere these days. It’s never long before we hear about another reunion tour — or entire festival — meant to appeal to our Gen X and Millennial tastes.

Of course, the late 90s and early 2000s are showing up in plenty of new music as well. Take Nashville-based duo Lips Speak Louder for example; their new single, “Hype,” draws its instrumentation and swagger from some of your favorite high-powered grunge tunes, while frontwoman Rachel Brandsness’ vocals remind us of Gwen Stefani — with just a wee bit more of a sullen edge.

“‘Hype’ unapologetically calls out and confronts the inauthenticity of those who sell themselves for their own gain, whether it’s social, financial or political,” Brandsness said.

If you want to hear more after listening to this — and we’re sure you will — Lips Speak Louder is about to embark on a fall tour across much of the US, both in support of their own project and as the backing band for Emily Wolfe, who produced “Hype” alongside the band’s forthcoming album. That tour includes an Oct. 19 date at Nashville’s Lipstick Lounge, beginning at 7 p.m.

For now, believe the “Hype” on this one — because it’s here, and it’s real!

« Older Entries Recent Entries »