From the first, bluesy lines, you can tell this song is about to hit you in your feels. 18-year-old Zola captures the modern teenage social landscape perfectly, as it is rife with backstabbing “frenemies” and the like. (But we aren’t speaking from experience or anything like that.) Explains Zola:
“[‘Not Like Other Girls’ is about] finding the courage to stand up for one’s self in the face of a bullying or gaslighting ‘friend.’ The phrase is inherently misogynistic, labeling other girls as inferior. The irony is that this girl who thinks herself superior is actually the opposite.”
What a deeply layered and gorgeous song. But it is the rhythm and standout vocals that really tell the story here, and we are stoked to see what direction Zola takes us in 2021. Allow yourself to melt into the music below.
Have you ever let out a deep sigh, close to tears that you have to hold back? Do you maybe feel that way right now? Pop songstress Amsi gets it, and her new track gives you permission to let go and let it all out.
There were many instances where I was told I was too sensitive or too emotional, but now especially in this past year, I realized that crying doesn’t mean I am weak, it means that I am processing & growing. I hope people find comfort in knowing that it’s okay to cry too.
Amsi’s vocal depth is put on full display, as she impresses with high, boisterous notes as this song slowly spins into ballad territory. Check it out below.
As someone with an acute appreciation for ABBA (thanks, Mom), my heart absolutely melts anytime I get a cover of one of their quintessential tracks in my inbox. And, honestly, if you’re looking for an injection of absolute MAGIC – I’m talking goosebump-inducing, light-as-a-feather instrumentals with an angelic voice taking the forefront witchcraft – then this is the song you want to melt into. Yes, it’s a cover. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a feeling we have all been craving, something comforting and pure.
Check it out below, and don’t forget to share your thoughts over on Facebook!
Jazz folk artist Queen Bonobo is releasing her new single “Throw Me In” this Friday. A song that teeters a line between theatrical and folk music, the lead single from her forthcoming EP draws obvious inspiration from the Irish countryside she resided in while studying the music of her ancestors. This song was born from her time abroad while feeling disconnected and lonely on her new journey. The lyrics hold a powerful message, something to enjoy as we head into the tail end of the week.
Leading up to the release, we actually have your very first listen below. Check it out, and let us know what you think over on Facebook!
Pop-rock talent Jillian Riscoe was gracious enough to share her new track “People in The Real World” with us to premiere during our Women’s Month Instagram Live series this week. A songstress out of Kansas City, Riscoe has found a way to balance the fine line between intense ballad and soulful anthem, while bringing in futuristic sounds to really play with our ability to classify it. Endearing work, to say the least, and the track is available to enjoy now!
Right now, nostalgia comes in waves. Enjoying a song from our past, Re-discovering a snack we used to love. Engaging in re-releases with new traits, flipping through memory books, and digging through the past. Memories can be healing, especially in today’s health and political climate, and the memory of a live performance can be fleeting.
Singer-songwriter Jen Grinels plays on our nostalgic hearts with the release of her Live Volume 1 full-length, recorded over three nights in early 2019 at The Music Box in Cleveland, OH, Rams Head Onstage in Annapolis, MD, and Avalon Theater in Easton, MD. The live music experience, something we haven’t been able to indulge in for an entire year, encapsulated in one gorgeous collection.
The light echoes from the sound bouncing off the walls of each venue, the magical eccentricities that live music brings with it. From the first mellow track “I Know Your Heart” through the soulful “Don’t Wanna Be Happy” and “Misery,” to the slow ballad-like presentation of “The Feeling,” Grinels powerfully champions multi-genre entertainment. And she doesn’t stop there, as “Can’t Stay Here” has roots in country with a little grunge flare. The sheer feeling (ha!) that rushes over you while playing this album gives you chills, as you imagine being at a live event in the future, singing into the open night air on a gorgeous evening.
That’s what this collection feels like. Live Volume 1 provides a little bit of hope at the end of this crazy pandemic tunnel. And doesn’t that just feel good right now?
Prince on repeat. This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating women every weeknight over on our Instagram page with our friends over at Cat Call. And right here? We’re continuing to celebrate our favorite new music, with a whole new lineup for March. Check out our playlist below, updated at least weekly throughout the month of March. Re-visit all month for new additions, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for SXSW coverage!
Oregon-based folk-pop outfit Fox and Bones have curated the cutest collection of clips to create the music video for their single “A Changing of The Guard.” A song that is upbeat in nature and encouraging, the video directly reflects that.
“We wanted to find a way to bring together all of our friends, fans, and family in a way that would be fun and socially distanced. We put out the call to submit videos holding up lyrics or acting out what the lyrics meant to them. We were overwhelmed by the inflowing of videos and the level of creativity we saw from the submissions. We’ve always felt indebted to our fans for their love and support and this video felt like a great way to give back and showcase them, all without them having to leave their homes.”
Get your daily dose of happiness below. (We all need it.)
Our favorite botanist Mike McFadden (vocals) and his incredible bandmates are releasing their full-length in three parts. Of the project, he admitted: “We had this patchwork of songs that had never quite fit on other projects and when we looked at them all together, we realized that the songs told a story.” This is Part One of An Album Called Animal Years is the first installment, and was just released.
Comprised of five tracks, it truly ignites magic in the air as it picks up pace, McFadden’s vocal control and manipulation something otherworldly from the very first notes, 7 seconds into the first track “What I’m Fighting For.” And relatable from that very moment as well, with the first line “I’ve been so lost in the world that I used to know” something that pretty much anyone can understand, especially post-pandemic life. This song has the energy of an anthem, and that feels right for now.
“Let You In” is definitely a low-key country ballad that teeters on theatrical in a captivating way, while “Talkin’ To You” is a more hard-hitting love song. There is a bit of an attitude to the instrumentation in the track, the true twine holding each piece together residing in the soulful vocals provided by three-part harmony and admirable vocal range. So much talent in one collection of music, it’s almost not fair.
“Haines St. Station” slows everything down to the most bluesy, beautiful pace we have heard in quite a while. A song that discusses boundaries, insecurities, and doubts in an open environment, it feels a bit cathartic to enjoy this track in particular. And then the trio brings it home with a very inspiring track, upbeat and quite sticky sweet “Nobody Can Stop Me.” We’re fans, and we’re going to keep that one in our back pocket for the strange moments when we stumble. The energy is invigorating.
