Author: James McQuiston

Posted on: August 17, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 1

Sitting Down with Zoey Tess

When and how did you discover your passion for music and songwriting? What made you want to pursue music as a career? I was around eleven years old. I was really into Broadway music and showtunes. I had such an admiration for composers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Schwartz, and Alan Menken. Broadway, Disney…really great songs with big orchestrations. My mom and I loved listening to Broadway soundtracks in…

Posted on: August 15, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

FIREROSE & Billy Ray Cyrus “Plans”

Plans is a touching track that feels destined for any sort of high school dance or wedding ceremony. The hopeful vocals of FIREROSE are matched perfectly by the dusty, wizened tenor of the master himself, Billy Ray Cyrus. The track captures the last forty years of country music perfectly, with FIREROSE building off the tradition of the Chicks and Mary Chapin Carpenter as well as early Taylor Swift. The guitar…

Posted on: August 15, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ghost Hounds “Last Train To Nowhere”

Last Train To Nowhere has a powerful bayou rock sound that starts off the track. Tremendously emotive guitars and vocals unite to immediately bring in fans, while there’s a booming, intense approach taken to keep fans out on the dance floor. The production of Ghost Hounds’ latest ensures that each element is able to shine singularly and as part of a greater whole. The chorus of Last Train To Nowhere…

Posted on: August 15, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

SAYNT JAYSN feat. Jônelle “Take You Home”

Take You Home has a hopeful, bright sound that blends R&B and rap music in a fashion that will bury iuts melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. The back and forth between SAYNT JAYSN and Jônelle keeps things interesting, as does the fascinating music video (attached) for the track. With a number of distinct scenes and intentional glithces included, fans will be on the edges of their…

Posted on: August 12, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Frankee Razor “Today I’m Gonna Friday”

Today I’m Gonna Friday is a song for the weekend, done up in an R&B style that will undoubtedly garner Frankee Razor considerable airplay. The song is an ode to being away from work and enjoying life, done in a style that fans of Sean Kingston or Akon will be able to appreciate. There’s a vocal-forward approach taken to Today I’m Gonna Friday that gives individuals ample opportunity to familiarize…

Posted on: August 12, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

SERIOUS VOICE “KILL THA KING” 

Serious Voice has made a splash with her new single Kill Tha King. The song shines with booming bass and some of the most assertive vox we’ve heard. The verbal pitter-patter does more than tell the story of the song, but adds mightily to the aforementioned backing instrumentation. It is this combination that transforms Kill Tha King from a simple single to something fantastic. While the song peaces out before…

Posted on: August 12, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Sheldon Universe “Poor Boy”

Poor Boy has an immediately-inviting sound that will ensure Sheldon Universe’s latest will garner serious attention on pop radio playlists. The passion and charisma exhibited here will remind fans of Iyaz and Jason Derulo, while the song’s inclusion of R&B and rock elements will bring over crossover fans. Crafting a chorus that stands out from the rest of the music currently garnering attention is a rare feat, but Sheldon Universe…

Posted on: August 12, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Anna Aya “Someone Else”

Anna Aya’s “Someone Else” is a delightful effort that is able to build off the pop music of the late 1990s and 2000s. This means that there are nods to performers like Vanessa Carleton, Jordin Sparks, and even bits of J-pop performers like Ayumi Hamasaki. Someone Else’s chorus is infectious as all get out, with Anna Aya’s rich vocals drawing fans in by the barrelful. This is one of the…

Posted on: August 12, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

SMILEZ “Open Ur Eyes”

“Open Ur Eyes” is a thoughtful composition that shows a window into SMILEZ’s psyche. The usage of repetition in this single will bury its melodies into fans’ brains. The guitar that builds up the backing instrumentation is perfect in that it is delicate enough to allow SMILEZ’s vocals ample highlighting. The vocal masks that gradually overwhelm the single’s final few seconds ensure that listeners will be eagerly anticipating the next…

Posted on: August 7, 2023 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Jojo Engelbert “Not A Real Blond”

On Not A Real Blond, Jojo Engelbert is able to create one of the catchiest pop songs we’ve heard in 2023. There’s a touch of Avril Lavigne, a hint of Ashlee Simpson, and just a touch of early T-Swift here. The sheer charisma that Engelbert brings to this track separates Not A Real Blond from the rest of the tracks bouncing around pop stations. While the song is solid throughout,…