Tag Archives: single review

LISTEN: With ‘be kind & rewind,’ znels Lets Us Re-live the Good Parts

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No matter how red the flags become, our minds like to reflect on our past relationships with a fondness that can seem downright delusional.

Ohio-based alt-pop artist znels offers us this view through rose-colored glasses on his latest single, “be kind & rewind.” Supported by an airy, pastel soundscape — think along the lines of 5 Seconds of Summer, with a dash of Owl City — we get to fall in love with our exes all over again.

Or, at least the things about them we actually liked…

“Have you ever wanted to jump back to a moment in time and just stay there? ‘be kind & rewind’ is a nostalgic daydream for when everything felt perfect,” znels said. “It’s a breakup song for when things turn out to be so much different than you wanted, but you stay a little bit delulu by living in your head and replaying the good parts.”

It may be brand new (released May 10), but the release “be kind & rewind” has been a long time coming. In fact, it’s the song that inspired znels to begin releasing music under his current project.

“It took two years to get to this point of feeling like it was ready to be released. I spent so much time with the song to get things like the lyrics, word choices, key, and BPM right,” znels said. “I produced and released my first two singles independently, but for this one, I was lucky to work with producer Connor Daniel (Iann Dior, The Veronicas, Demi Lovato), who really helped take it where I wanted to go.”

Ready to hear where it went? We can oblige!

LISTEN: Is the Grass Greener on the ‘Normal’ Side?

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The creative journey holds a multitude of rigorous tests for those brave enough to stay the course. At one point or another, we all think of what would be like, if only we could be “normal.”

But… it’s fair to wonder if the grass would, in fact, be greener behind the white picket fence.

In other words: would “normal” actually be any better?

Matt Sahadi explores this alternate reality on his latest single, “Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” An energetic alt-rock anthem hallmarked by thunderous drums and signature harmonica solos, the single paints a vivid image of a man who settled for a life away from his dreams.

“This ballad comes from a personal frustration with my own reality of having to work, day-in and day-out, while pushing forward on my dreams as an artist. I constantly wonder what life would be like if I wasn’t pursuing this path anymore,” Sahadi said. “This song is the ballad of that alternate reality; a life of working to barely get by, while being haunted by the thoughts of what I gave up and where I went wrong. I felt I needed to add a broken-family element to the story, with the idea of paying alimony to a separated spouse and no longer seeing a son anymore. All of this (is) to paint a picture that I believe many can strongly relate to — whether its verbatim someone’s life, or there a little bit of them to this character, I share those same emotions.”

“Am I Living What I Always Dreamed Of?” is just the beginning of a new journey for Sahadi; it’s the first single from his forthcoming EP, slated for release this July. The release will be supported by live performances across the U.S., with details soon to come.

In the meantime, this will get you excited for what’s ahead — and it may even make you ponder your own existential questions.

Is the Destination More Important, or the Journey?

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As you begin another week of pursuing your dreams, please remember that the journey is often more important and valuable than the destination itself.

Our friend Carlos Barata is back to reinforce that idea with “Please Know This For Sure.” This upbeat folk offering sways with positivity, as Barata (accompanied by special guest mandolinist Ryan Guillen) offers us perspective through the rigors of the creative grind.

“‘Please Know This For Sure’ is just a simple and sweet self-affirmation of those relentless pursuits of fulfillment, meaning, and connection we all have – despite the inevitable hardships, judgement, and rejection that might come along the way,” Barata said. “In my own experiences, a lot of beauty has come from trying, falling short, and going for it anyway. I hope this song resonates with whatever pursuits you’re facing now.”

Musically, “Please Know This For Sure” is well-crafted, both in its intricacy and in the way the sonic landscape supports the song’s message. The tune was tracked independently at The Music District in Fort Collins, CO, and mixed and mastered by Brooklyn-based engineers Kory Burrell and Jesse Morvan.

“On percussion, Brett Ross throws down an unexpected, Pleña-like latin rhythm on a pretty basic folk song that really drives the momentum and gives the tune a different flare that I just love,” Barata notes. “The Hammond organ in the second verse is intended to represent those moments of uplifting clarity we’ll get through the trials we face — the “a-ha” light-bulb moments.”

Give this one a chance to inspire you!

LISTEN: Ren Richards Honors Her Grandmother on ‘Paper Moons’

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“I’ll stay with you
Right here in the picture that your memory drew
Charcoal skies and glitter stars, and paper moons
I’ll stay with you”

-Ren Richards, “Paper Moons”

This one is for anybody who has ever struggled to let go.

This past Friday, Nashville-based songstress Ren Richards gave us “Paper Moons,” a melancholic indie rock offering written as “a poignant tribute to her grandmother’s fight with dementia.”

The track begins with the distant sound of children’s laughter, representative of the innocence lost as our memories fade from view. Nostalgic, 90s alternative-influenced guitar tones chime in gently atop a somber, steadfast acoustic progression, working together with Richards’ sad, yet soothing melody to illustrate the bittersweet divide between the opportunity to cherish the moments we’ve shared, and the anguish of longing for days gone by.

“Paper Moons” was produced by Blake Mohler (Happy Landing) and Wes Harllee (Ruthie Collins), and it’s right here for you.

LISTEN: Run Away to ‘Utah’ with Travis Feutz

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When love is all you have, you’ll do anything to keep it alive — even if it kills you in the process.

Travis Feutz reminds us what it’s like to feel like outlaws on “Utah.” This traditional country tune — right down to its melodic fiddle and sweet boy-girl harmonies — is a quintessential cowboy song which examines the plight of two young lovers.

“The beauty of this song is that it’s told from a first-person narrative. You feel like you are a fly on the wall. It’s a Bonnie and Clyde tale about two young lovers fighting for a life they want, turning to a life of crime to achieve it, because they won’t let anything stand in the way of their love,” Feutz said. “As the song unfolds, you can actually feel the walls closing in on our two young outlaws. But yet, you never give up hope that they can make it out alive, and maybe, just maybe, disappear among the pines.”

“Utah” is the first single from Feutz’ upcoming EP, set for release in June. Another single will arrive in May, and promises to continue in this timeless sonic direction.

“This release is a new direction sonically that I would like to pursue for the foreseeable future,” Feutz said. “Not the only direction I will lean into, but something I would like to continue through the years. I love the tradition of story cowboy songs; the type of songs you can sit around a campfire and sing for the rest of one’s life.”

Feeling Like a Victim? The Minimum Wage Offers Perspective on ‘Everyone Is’

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It’s one thing to have baggage. It’s another thing to choose to live in the suitcase.

Hailing from Southern Ontario, indie rockers The Minimum Wage are here to challenge your victim mentality with “Everyone Is,” a high-powered, guitar-driven anthem about making the conscious choice to push past our traumas.

“We all consider ourselves victims of something — past traumas, the system, perception of reality. It’s how we deal with being ‘victimized’ that defines us,” the band states. “Do you run to social media and desperately seek validation? Do you put your head down and slog out, day after day? Do you use it as a tool to better yourself?”

“Everyone Is” is the first of six new songs coming from The Minimum Wage, all of which were recorded late last year at Unified Recorders Studio in St. Catharines, Ontario. Enjoy it for yourself below!

LISTEN: Cardiac Half Makes a Comeback with ‘Gloom’

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The brothers of Cardiac Half have taken a long, uncertain road on their way to their first new, original release since 2021’s self-titled album.

The duo — comprised of real-life brothers Drew and Dylan Miller — have returned with “Gloom,” an atmospheric and contemplative electropop instrumental which serves as a sonic representation of the doubt brought forth by challenging times.

“It’s been nearly three years since Cardiac Half released a new song. Fighting for what’s important, fighting for sanity, and even fighting for the health and wellness of ourselves and our families,” Dylan Miller said. “This is why music was put on hold for a season.”

The track begins with an emotive piano dirge, as searing synth tones begin to bubble up from the surface. A electronic dance beat moves us along — ready or not — like the passage of time, inspiring the listener to collect their thoughts and uncover the best way forward amid life’s ambiguity.

“I was about to move across state lines for the birth of my son, relocating to find treatment for my unborn son’s rare medical condition,” Dylan Miller said. “Drew was dealing with the most mental health issues he had ever faced. There was no guarantee where the band and the dream of music was going, and this song was formed.”

“Gloom” was written and produced by Drew Miller, who then passed it along to mix engineer Ryan Wilson for some additional studio magic. Have a listen below!

WATCH: With ‘Take It Away’, Crow and Gazelle Offer Catharsis to Your Inner Child

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Photo credit: Carley Du Menil

Crow and Gazelle — the Texas-based Americana duo consisting of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Mike McClure, and his partner in music (and in life), Chrislyn Lawrence — offer healing for anyone still processing their childhood wounds with their new single, “Take It Away.”

The single — a tender ballad hallmarked by powerful two-part harmonies and heart-wrenching fiddle tones — is accompanied by a poignant music video inspired by Lawrence’s own healing journey. Lawrence leans upon her own memories to deliver an important message to anyone who has struggled to emerge on the other side of their own traumas.

The narrative for this video came from a very personal place. As a child I didn’t decide for myself that I was ‘unworthy’ and I didn’t make-believe scenes of death and overwhelming pain – in my world those messages and experiences came heavy and early and they were real. We all have childhood wounds. Whether it’s our own tragic experiences and losses, or someone else’s childhood trauma (a teacher or parent) that’s unhealed and spills over on us, we have them and they inform “who and what” we are.

My parents each carry something very deep and painful that happened when they were young. Thankfully, I know that now and have done the work to see how some things that happened in my life were trauma based responses, not done of or by free will. Most of the trauma I’ve carried has been transformed and released through mindful work, and lately a lot of that healing has happened in the presence of my parent’s healing their own wounds. Which has been an amazing gift.

The day before we filmed the opening scenes of this video, my mom shared details of something I had never known before that happened when I was four… it was very painful to hear, and brought back a flood of memories and feelings for us both. But it was also a revelation. And in that sense, it set us free because it was brought to the surface, into the light, where it could alchemize and be transformed. 

Trauma not transformed is transferred. Our hope is that this video, in some small way, moves someone else to lean into their own childhood wounds and to let that little one’s hurt be seen and heard. And that once it’s honored, hopefully it can be transformed and released. 

-Chrislyn Lawrence

Watch the video below, and stay tuned for Crow and Gazelle’s forthcoming album, As Above Now So Below, set for release on Friday, April 26.

LISTEN: On ‘Heart,’ The Atomic Age Cedes the Need for Control

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Moving forward in life can often mean learning to let go of all that we cannot control.

The Atomic Age offers an immersive soundtrack to that realization with his newest single, “Heart,” released on February 23.

“’Heart’ is a song about loosening my grip on my aspirations,” said The Atomic Age’s songsmith, JJ Schrick. “It’s so easy to white-knuckle goals like pursuing the things you love, but I’ve found that I’m most at peace when I’m not solely relying on my own abilities.”

“Heart” was constructed from the ground up, beginning with the drumbeat. The mellow rhythm guitar part was performed on a Bass VI, which combines with atmospheric elements to serve the track’s contemplative spirit.

If you’re looking for even more from The Atomic Age, you won’t have to wait long: “Heart” is the final single leading to an EP which is due out on March 20. For now, let this one resonate with you!

On ‘Letter to Myself,’ The Wandering Hearts Honor the Innocence of Youth

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The thrill and innocence of youth is fleeting. Before we know it, we’re looking back at those years wishing we had treasured them more.

That is the sentiment shared by British folk-rock trio The Wandering Hearts, whose new single, “Letter to Myself,” reaches back in time recalling missed opportunities and days gone by. Listeners will immediately be taken by gorgeous three-part harmonies, which help us remember a time with nothing but blue skies ahead. Timeless piano chords march us forward like the passage of time, while skillfully layered acoustic guitar and organ tones add a solid helping of nostalgia into the sonic landscape.

“I was talking about my sister-in-law,” said vocalist Tara Wilcox, “Every time I saw her, she’d be like, ‘I just turned 21, and I’m turning 22 next year’. She’s always inches away from the next big milestone.”

“Letter to Myself” is included on the band’s forthcoming full-length album, Mother, due out everywhere on March 3. The album is described as “an exploration of motherhood and personal growth, which captures the little moments that assume a much greater significance.”

“I was pregnant when we started making the record, and Tara was pregnant when we finished it,” said vocalist and mandolin player Francesca “Chess” Whiffin. “During the process, we really found ourselves as a band. Motherhood has helped us grow and find meaning. It brought our writing and performing to a different level.”

Here comes a taste of the record! Check out the lyric video for “Letter to Myself” below.

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