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Blog Showcasing Singer Songwriter Talent

Surf the 60s with Sheykh Forever’s Dreamy Indie Pop Hit, Run for Cover ft. Louella JC & Daniela

Posted on 23 December 2024

You can practically hear the 60s swinging through Sheykh Forever’s new single, Run for Cover, featuring Louella JC & Daniela. The earworm practically brims kaleidoscopic doo-wop bliss, which complements the endlessly ascending layered vocal harmonies that drift across the surf pop aesthetics.

Far from your run-of-the-mill attempt at sonic antiquity revivalism, Run for Cover is a slice of resonance wrapped within the consolation of nostalgia; when you melt into the oceanic breeze of the single, you become more than susceptible to the lyrical messaging which reaches out to life’s archetypes always seeking sanctuary. With romanticism nestled into the polished progressions, Run for Cover hits on every conceivable level.

Sheykh Forever is a self-described factory for infectious earworms, stationed somewhere between yesteryear and the distant future. By fusing disco, heavy rock, and hypnagogic indie pop, all slathered with a fat dose of booty-bouncing funk in their eclectic discography, they offer a musical palette that stands distinct in the modern pop scene.

Run for Cover exemplifies the enigmatic artist’s knack for bridging retro elements with contemporary commercial appeal; it opens up a whole new realm of melodic synergy as it grooves across the intersection of accessible pop and dreamy indie vibes.

Run for Cover was officially released on November 29th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cohen’s Protégé, Perla Batalla, is One of the Last True Chanteuses in ‘Awakened’

Posted on 23 December 2024

Between Grammy nods and praise from Leonard Cohen himself, there’s little doubt why Perla Batalla commands such esteem in the industry. Her most recent seminal single, Awakened, from the LP A Letter to Leonard Cohen, which was released on what would have been Cohen’s 90th birthday, proves she needs no coattails to ride upon. Cloaked in a sublime sense of grace, every note carries a cinematic magnetism that draws you into her soul-baring homage to the revered Canadian poet.

Batalla earned her prestigious industry stripes by touring and recording with Cohen for over a decade. Inspired by her upbringing in an immigrant household—an Afro-Mexican mariachi father and an Argentine mother who ran a record store—she developed a genre-blurring palette. In Awakened, her commanding voice glides alongside stirring melodies, reflecting the resilience that fuelled her return to the studio after a catastrophic hard-drive disappearance in Barcelona.

This release follows her first tribute, Bird on the Wire, which Cohen personally supported by attending sessions and contributing ideas. Dedicated to the late producer Hal Willner—known for orchestrating unorthodox musical collaborations—A Letter to Leonard Cohen also features Batalla’s two original compositions and includes special appearances such as Broadway luminary Patrick Page on Democracy, produced by the multi-Grammy Award-winning Mike Elizondo.

From sharing stages with Nick Cave and Rufus Wainwright to hosting sold-out shows worldwide, Batalla remains an essential interpreter of Cohen’s legacy, and Awakened resonates as pure melodic poetry from one of the last true chanteuses.

A Letter to Leonard Cohen is available to stream and purchase on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Discover more about Perla Batalla via the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bruno Jauregui’s Traditional Mexican Single, Cómo Te Lo Digo, is A Stunning Release of Serotonin

Posted on 21 December 2024

Bruno Jauregui, an artist rooted in Michoacán’s heritage, has rewritten the potential of Regional Mexican music after only a few months in the spotlight. With over 100k streams across platforms—50k in the first month—he’s already proven that earnest storytelling and modern invention can coalesce in impactful ways.

His latest single, Cómo Te Lo Digo, became one of 2024’s most effervescently upbeat productions by freeing expressive inhibitions and weaving intricate layers of sound into every corner of its arrangement.

Expect more than just Spanish guitars strumming in well-worn patterns; this track embraces folk elements to break any lingering monocultural mould. Its meticulously vibrant construction creates a textural depth, while the iridescent vocal lines brim with soul. There’s an unmistakable sense of Bruno’s dedication as each note reverberates with both tradition and fresh perspective. He refuses to settle for the expected, choosing instead to let these diverse influences flourish until they feel as natural as sunlight.

If you want to serenade yourself with the sound of eternal summer, sink into Cómo Te Lo Digo, a stunning release of serotonin (literally and figuratively).

Stream Cómo Te Lo Digo on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a detour to ‘the suburbs of jersey’ with Natalee Gallo’s latest indie vignette of vulnerability

Posted on 19 December 2024

Natalee Gallo’s latest release, The Suburbs of Jersey, weaves a delicate yet unyielding balance between introspection and melodic sophistication. With her sophomore single, the Pittsburgh-based indie singer-songwriter invites listeners into the emotional architecture of her experiences, building bridges between past uncertainty and present clarity through her Americana-tinged indie pop.

A master of subtle dynamism, Gallo’s layered approach to songwriting breathes life into her narratives. The slide guitar’s soft curiosity melds seamlessly with the driving acoustic backbone, creating a soundscape that pulses with restrained intensity. The production evolves in waves, mirroring the emotional intricacies of its subject matter: the insecurities that stem from navigating perception and expectation at the genesis of a relationship.

Born from a journal entry penned in 2018, the track feels as confessional as it does cinematic. Gallo’s tender yet resolute vocal delivery conveys the vulnerability of her lyrics with an evocative timbre that paints panoramic emotional vistas. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what follows from the organically absorbing artist who can stir the coldest souls into feeling whole.

the suburbs of jersey is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rumination refracts through the emotive visceralism of Ricky’s alt-electro release, Dreaming

Posted on 18 December 2024

In his latest release, Dreaming, the artist and producer Ricky reached far beyond the reverberations of the moody electronic trend, entrenching his release in piercingly plaintive soul. As one of the most melancholic leftfield electronica tracks to permeate the airwaves in recent years, Dreaming transcends self-indulgence to deliver a raw visceral experience.

As the frenetically syncopated backbeat sonically visualises the tumult of the external world, the dual vocals from Ricky and an arcane-timbered female guest vocalist reflect rumination in the cultivated track, which reaches the epitome of affecting, Every note in Dreaming is a tender extension of vulnerability which entrances you into the emotion as light radiates from the progressions, refracting a sense of salvation that the lyrics yearn for.

Ricky’s roots trace back to Nottingham, where he cut his teeth with the electro-punk indie rave duo Battlecat! between 2007 and 2010, touring extensively and sharing stages with the likes of Hadouken!, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Two Door Cinema Club, Future Islands, and many more. He hit prestigious stages before pausing his output due to family commitments.

Eventually returning to music, he released ‘Pushing Buttons’ in 2021, drawing inspiration from Burial, Bicep, Boards of Canada, and The xx. Early singles caught the attention of BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson, earning airplay and solid feedback. After grappling with depression and a ten-month hiatus, Ricky has re-emerged with a new EP in the works and plans to bring his live sound to the UK and Europe in early 2025. I know I will be the first in line for a ticket for the live rendition of Dreaming.

Dreaming was officially released on December 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Saasil on earth – 5:30: A Cosmic Neo-Soul Embodiment of Empowerment

Posted on 13 December 2024

Saasil on earth, the North West London neo-soul artist renowned for their otherworldly introspection-infused grooves, delivered a sonic salve for fractured hearts with her latest single, 5:30.

From the opening slick-with-remorse apologetic voicemail, she draws listeners into a narrative charged with unresolved tension. The track’s dual perspective, intimately painted by Saasil’s silky vocals and the tempting honeyed tones of a lothario, takes you straight into the discordance of a relationship that’s well past its breaking point. The seductive contemporary grooves, laced with organic textures and an empowering arcane quality, build a backdrop that is as evocative as it is rhythmically refined.

As the narrative unfolds, you’re caught in a vice-like grip of curiosity, aching for some sense of resolution. All too often, artists fail to paint in strokes as messy as reality, yet Saasil on earth captured the often chaotic nature of love in one of the most original RnB tracks of 2024.

With a flair for weaving cerebral emotional depth into ethereally luxe neo-soul aesthetics, the conduit of soul orchestrated a track that’s equal parts relatable and transcendent with her sensuously silky harmonies which resound as though they belong outside of our material world.

Stream 5:30 on Spotify now, and connect with Saasil on earth via Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Indie Pop Meets Folk Symphony: The Dynamic Contrasts of Woodstone’s ‘Touch of Adrenaline’

Posted on 13 December 2024
Woodstone

Woodstone, a rising indie pop singer-songwriter from New Jersey, offers an emotive glimpse into his forthcoming fourth LP with the release of ‘Touch of Adrenaline.’ The track captures the essence of early 2000s indie pop while throwing back a little further to 90s Britpop, evoking memories of Plain White T’s and stoking the nostalgia of Oasis while infusing his own raw, heartfelt style.

This intricately crafted track intertwines folk elements with chamber pop strings, allowing contrasting layers of ornate orchestration and winding folk guitar lines to showcase Woodstone’s skill in bending and blending texture and tone into affecting aural contours. Reflecting on the ephemeral nature of intense feelings, Woodstone demonstrates a sophisticated approach to scintillating the senses of his growing fanbase.

Woodstone Said:

“Touch of Adrenaline is about a relationship with an end date, with both parties knowing it will end, and the last fleeting moments being marked by intensified emotion. 

The single explores what it really means to truly feel and be present with someone you love for the last time while conveying an image of romance in the midst of a dystopian world. 

Like all songs on the upcoming concept album, it was inspired by a relationship that could have worked but wasn’t the right time, and life forced us to drift apart.”

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Touch of Adrenaline will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from December 13th, with Woodstone’s fourth album, Glass Skin, set to follow in early 2025.

Follow Woodstone on Instagram to stay up to date with all of his latest releases and news.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ben Joyner’s ‘Audrey (Nice Name)’ is a love letter scrawled in indie folk blues threads

Posted on 12 December 2024

With Audrey (Nice Name), Los Angeles-based filmmaker and musician Ben Joyner twanged his Southern roots into an indie-folk soundscape laced with bluesy undertones. Joyner’s North Carolina upbringing whispers through the raw, weathered production, evoking the nostalgic warmth of back-porch serenades. Yet, there’s a cinematic depth to his storytelling—unsurprising from someone who knows his way around both a melody and a narrative arc.

The single feels like the love child of Elliott Smith’s emotional vulnerability and Bob Dylan’s effortless breeziness, with a rugged charm that never veers into self-indulgence. The simplicity of the arrangement amplifies its emotional punch, striking listeners with the same visceral authenticity that made Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips cult favourites in indie circles.

While the track humbly avoids overwrought polish, allowing the magic to permeate through the endearing imperfections. Like a page torn straight from Joyner’s diary, the lyrics unashamedly bare the heart of a diehard romantic, exuding an effortless intimacy that many polished productions fail to capture.

It’s rare to encounter a track so uncontrived in its affections, yet refined enough to avoid straying into cliché, but sure enough, with Audrey (Nice Name), Joyner more than lives up to his name.

Stream Audrey (Nice Name) on Spotify now, and connect with the artist via Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sharpen your sense of self-worth in the groove pockets of TAZ’s latest RnB Funk release, tunnel vision

Posted on 10 December 2024

With her latest single, Tunnel Vision, TAZ claims her place as the goddess of groove, delivering a funk-wrapped celebration of self-love and empowerment. Hailing from Surrey, the rising star built on the acclaim of her debut, Summertime x, with an up-tempo Neo-Soul release that bursts with vibrant energy and candid lyrical storytelling.

The lush harmonies in Tunnel Vision pop with radiant colour, intertwining seamlessly with staccato guitar chops that electrify the track’s rhythmic pulse. As the song unfolds, the emotive intensity crescendos, with TAZ’s soulful vocals becoming a clarion call for romantic empowerment.

For anyone who suffered fools in the name of love, Tunnel Vision has what it takes to convince the new generation of RnB fans to take every fragment of their self-worth into the battleground, otherwise known as the modern dating scene. The live feel of the production amplifies the authenticity of her message, with each lyric cutting straight to the listener.

Inspired by legends such as Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill, and Alicia Keys, TAZ fuses Neo-Soul, Jazz, and Pop influences to scribe an arrestingly unique sonic signature into her critically acclaimed hits.

Stream tunnel vision on major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Thalia Jailene spun emotion into rhythmic gold with her standout single, Sueñitos

Posted on 9 December 2024

Thalia Jailene’s latest single, Sueñitos, weaves hypnotic rhythms straight into the soul. From the opening notes, choppy staccato reggae guitars tease the senses, making way for warm flamenco licks that unravel through the vibrant sonic fabric. Thalia’s smooth, serotonin-laced vocals glide effortlessly over the textured layers, delivering an exotic and arcane soundscape that feels as seraphic as it is unique.

The Latina singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and music educator, now based in North Carolina, demonstrates her ability to blend her eclectic influences—from Paramore and No Doubt to Amy Winehouse and Bob Marley—into a sound that transcends genres. Her self-described “music alchemy” transforms raw emotions into an intoxicating mix of pop, rock, and reggae, with Sueñitos embodying her commitment to organic euphoria while the rest of her discography attests to how she never shies away from darker themes.

Hi play and prepare for full immersion as your senses are flooded with colour.

Sueñitos is available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast