Star 2’s “Give Me Your Heart” is a touching and compelling track that showcases the singing delivery of Star 2. There’s a bit of a 1990s/2000s sound to this composition, from the higher registered hit, the bit of booming bass drum, or the plinking of the keys. The presence of YSN Flow’s flow only Give Me Your Heart provides a bit of a different patois; the resulting track will have…
Wé McDonald will immediately impress listeners with her vocals during the opening minute of “Head up High”. Her voice does more than merely tell a story; it is vital in adding a considerable amount of depth and emotional gravitas to the instrumentation of the single. The dynamic sound of Head up High will interest fans of soul, country, and pop music equally. The sizzling guitar work that makes its way…
Feriano JX’s “Night Fall” is an interesting track. The track sails above genre constraints. There are hints of mid-oughts emo rock, rap, reggae, and EDM that can all be picked out here. What results is a song that is wholly unique when compared to the rest of popular music. It bodes well for Feriano JX. By putting such a strong foot out with Night Fall, I have no doubt in…
Queen and SLim is a beautifully rendered track. The song succeeds because of its constituent elements. There are nods to late-1990s R&B and gospel genres here, a bit of Jay-Z, and production that is inspired from the early days of Kanye’s production. There’s a narrative that is weaved through the entirety of the track that will have fans hanging onto every word, while the range that the vocals achieve here…
On “No Dey Lie”, Ugotaya is able to get listeners out on the dance floor. The catchy beat that comprises the backdrop for the song will immediately have fans’ toes tapping, while there’s a bit of hope that is presented in Ugotaya’s voice that will brighten one’s day. There’s a timeless flair that drips off No Dey Lie that ensures that fans of any era of popular music and of…
Drunk Mass has a video that really hammers home the titular state of the track. The song itself straddles the line between rap and pop. There’s nods to the mid-oughts Atlanta scene and the more dreamy, complex flow of performers like Kid Cudi and Chance the Rapper. Drunk Mess includes a feature with Young Thug that is a welcome boost to the momentum of the song’s second half. Listeners will…
On Break Mine, Kelsey Coleman is able to craft a catchy pop track that not only acts as an ode to any romance that has broken down but as some of the most emotionally intense music we’ve heard so far this year. The track benefits from multiple instrumental layers, from the snapping sound to sequenced drums and hints of distorted guitar work. The track whips into high gear with a…
Daydream iis a tender and touching track that is able to effortlessly move through new age, classical, and flamenco approaches with the greatest of ease. The arrangements that listeners will find during this track are able to ferry the single’s narrative in a way that few vocalists can. The gradual increase in the track’s tempo will have fans on the edges of their seats. Daydream’s percussive elements play at the…
My Friend Hip Hop is a love story to rap music. By going through the entirety of 1990s rap styles with quite a few stylistic nods to California, NYC, and Louisiana. I feel that the switching out of sounds throughout this song is a strong stylistic decision that ultimately makes the resulting song that much stronger. My Friend Hip Hop is infectious, with a backing beat that will bounce around…
The Brian Shapiro Band’s debut collection All That We See is one of the most individual music releases I’ve heard in a long time. The eight tracks including a bonus cut included are unique even in 2021 as the three-piece mashes up a soup of musical styles. “Three Things”, the first track, is impossible to describe. It is a jump blues, a punk-inspired romp, and even has singer/songwriter aspects that Shapiro steers…
Few songwriters embrace a sense of place like Sam Green. Green and the Time Machine are responsible for reeling off a series of outstanding full-length collections between 2013 and 2018 and several songs over that timeframe reflect the strong connection he maintains with his homeland Australia. He invokes that love without irony or, tellingly, rose-colored glasses, but there’s ample affection as well. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/samgreenmusic?lang=en Few songwriters, likewise, demonstrates such an…
With their cover of Mad World, Me And My nightmare are able to ramp up the pop approach while keeping the bleakness of the original. The vocals bring in hints of Madonna and Shirley Manson while the backing instrumentation adopt equal amounts of industrial and EDM. What results is a version of this modern classic that is purely Me And My Nightmare’s own. Ample synths and sequenced percussion sweep over…
Pierre Porter’s “Marry Me” is a wonderful call back to the pop and R&B music of the late-oughts. There’s a bit of Akon, some Trey Songz, and a whole heaping of Pierre Porter’s own approach that can be picked out here. Marry Me is an honest pitch to the other part of a relationship. The song’s got enough in the way of hooks to work well without context on pop…
FreeWorld’S “D-Up (Here’s To Diversity)” is one eclectic track that draws upon the corpus of music from 1960 until today. There are so many musicians that are contributing to the overall sound established in this sound. The true testament to their ability has to be how cohesive the finished work is. there’s a style that is crafted during this single that ties in funk, soul, jazz, and blues. The bit…
Fresh Da Zoe’s “No Sleep” is catchy as all get out. This track will immediately draw listeners in with haunting keys and Fresh Da Zoe’s beastly flow. Fresh Da Zoe is one of the raw rappers that is able to deliver line after line without taking a breath. This is Em’s Rap God meets a Twista level of intensity. The story that is told during No Sleep will be something…
Lemme Go Talk My Ish had Red Shaydez shooting out some serious fire. The rapid-pace approach that the rapper hits here is matched perfectly with acerbic synths and a booming bass beat that will shake windows. Red Shaydez is able to craft a track in Lemme Go Talk My Ish that is able to hang with the highest echelon of rap music while allowing her to infuse the track with…
Sparkle’s “Easy” is a laid-back R&B track that showcases the silken vocals and thick bass lines of the composition most prominently. While the song is grounded in the style of late-1990s and early-oughts pop, there’s a contemporary approach and modern production that ensures that the song is able to hang with what’s currently garnering attention. Sparkle’s track will bury itself deep into the hearts and minds of listeners, all while…
Cheri Moon’s “Ain’t I A Woman” will immediately draw attention. There’s a tremendous groove that is crafted at the onset of the song between the guitars, drums, and bass. Cheri’s vocals are able to spin the song in a bold new direction, with the vocal range that she hits here in the same vein as the virtuosic playing that preceded it. Ain’t I A Woman’s narrative will have fans going…
The Remedy (Feel Alright) is our first experience jumping into Xavier Toscano’s music in the last few years. I feel that the music coming from his camp is a bit more firm, a smidge more coherent, and as a result, is that much more ready for playlist placement. Xavier’s vocals are front and center here, hitting fans over the head with a message of “do whatever makes you happy”. Made…
WHATCHUGOT is an effort that is incredibly difficult to pin down. This means that the track is able to come forth with a special blend of 1980s new wave, modern EDM, and hints of indie music. Inzerra’s work here is impressive enough that listeners could easily imagine hearing this tune on 1980s radio stations. There’s the same vim and vigor of a Duran Duran or Peter Gabriel here, while the…