New Jersey-based singer/songwriter Christina Nicole is not afraid to bare her soul to an audience if her music will linger as an emotional spark to others. Sculpting her vocal skills in school talent shows and academic programs from middle school to college, Nicole turned to songwriting as a special gift for her artistry.
Her sophomore single “Drifting” captures a range of different emotions washing over herself as if she’s going through a therapeutic experience shocking her system. The sparse instrumentation, with shades of Lorde’s minimalist ambient sonics, is eventually rocked by choppy spurts of synths and drums jabbing towards the back half of the track. This production choice induces a sense of disturbance of one’s moment of peace. Nicole’s pained contemplation, especially “Your oceans they took me, Your oceans they broke me/Your oceans they hurt me, Your oceans they’re too deep”, brings the song to life as an inner sensation of drowning when a special connection of love shifts from a fun ride to a turbulent one. Nicole explains:
This song is about an ocean ruining a person as they sink into it. I chose to use an ocean to represent this story using an ocean for specific reasons. Oceans appear absolutely stunning and entrancing when looking at them from a distance. But as you go in, deeper and deeper, you can no longer keep your head above the ruthless water. Something that appeared so beautiful could easily take everything from a person. This theme can apply to so many scenarios in a person’s life.”
“Drifting” by Christina Nicole is out on all streaming platforms.
It’s hard to function after being in an unhealthy situation, but it’s even harder to overcome and embrace your emotions so you can become a better person at the end of the day. Miami-born Spanish singer-songwriter Jacqueline Loor takes listeners through this laborious yet rewarding journey on her debut album, Show Them, due to release this Friday. In response to seeing her sister endure a toxic relationship and eventually gaining the courage to leave her partner, the mother of two wrote this collection of empowering songs to inspire others to thrive and do the same.
At the beginning of the album, Loor recognizes how her relationship is in shambles and reminisces how it used to be. Over time, she realizes how her significant other is only a distant echo of who they once were until she cuts them off from her life and finally gets the opportunity to exhale without them breathing down her back. This alone time allows her to find her footing and take the reigns of her life back, so she can show the world how she can soar and carry on without her former lover.
Although she just started singing several years ago, at the age of 36, Loor’s commanding vocals and intricate, vulnerable lyricism shine throughout, ultimately sounding like an intriguing blend of the cinematic melancholia of Lana Del Rey and the ecstatic optimism of Sara Bareilles. With that in mind, if someone told me that some of these songs were from a musical on Broadway, I’d probably take their word for it.
All in all, this project is remarkable, as it aims to empower listeners worldwide to escape the darkness and discover the light inside themselves.
Loors’ passion for performing is ever-increasing, as seen by how the singer-songwriter self-produced one song on the album, “I Broke My Heart,” and has been releasing a variety of songs sung entirely in Spanish as well.
If this is her first comprehensive venture into the music industry, I’m excited to see what she has in store for the years to come.
Alternative rock band Keep It a Secret returns with their new single “Middle with My Thumbs Up”, as catharsis for listeners. With its mix of soul-piercing screams and whisper-esque vocals over a bombastic guitar-laden instrumental, the band captures the feeling of an emotional roller coaster as they lament over heartbreak and loves that were never quite meant to be. Over a chorus of “Left for dead, it takes time to get away”, the band reluctantly accepts a withdrawal from romance to escape a self-destructive cycle that could claim their sanity and any hope of starting anew. The opening line “I’ve been watching you destroy me” is a sign of infatuation morphing into a ticking time bomb of dependence. The band describes:
‘Middle with my Thumbs Up’ is a dichotic look back on the melancholy of lost love. Although seemingly separate emotions, anger and sadness are often a self-destructive loop that many people experience from heartbreak in all its forms. This song incorporates both intimate, almost whispered vocals and cathartic gritty yells to illustrate these feelings.
The video shows a masked couple in separate colors attempting to embrace within a decrepit household, which captures the realization of disconnect and blindness clouding a relationship. It’s as if one’s own love can end up haunting them and living inside as an unwanted guest for some time.
Check out the video for “Middle with my Thumbs Up” and be on the lookout for Keep It a Secret’s next project.
Looking for a quirky new track that is also highly relatable? (At least, in the music world it is.) Sean Padilla – or, in this case, The Cocker Spaniels – is releasing snippets of his upcoming album The Cocker Spaniels Are Still Alive And So Are You, and the new release, titled “Nobody Wants To Play Last,” is just that. The logistics around a concert and the lineup can get really dicey, so anyone who has found themselves in stage performance will feel for this one. We’re particular fans of the percussion.
Padilla was, admittedly, feeling lots of emotions during the pandemic-long creation of this impressive 20-track album, due out August 13th. Of the “brand new song,” Padilla explains:
From the spring of 2014 to the beginning of the pandemic, I supplemented my household’s income by working as a booking agent for touring artists of various genres. This song was directly inspired by my experiences as a booking agent, and the lyrics summarize most of my grievances about the live music industry.
This was one of the last songs that I recorded for the album. The drums were recorded in one take, while my toddlers were in the room with me. I sat them on the opposite side of the music room, then gave them art supplies to occupy themselves with while I played.
While I was practicing the lead guitar part, Layne texted me the news that Derek Chauvin had been found guilty of murdering George Floyd. I took a few minutes to cry, then recorded the part in two takes.
Funk rock outfit Slam Band & Sam is revving up to release their latest single “Don’t Know Why” this Friday. Through a web of well-produced instrumentals and harmonizing brass, lead singer Adam Vasko’s raspy vocals explore desire in a whole new light. While Vasko and his cohorts can certainly provide quite the ambiance for a night of dancing, you must want to participate. Your emotions and your wants are paramount in how the evening goes, and no one else can provide you with what you want the way you can.
So relax, perhaps loosen up a little bit, and get your exclusive first listen to the track right now!
One of our favorite singer/songwriter extraordinaires – alt-folk artist EVVAN – has released a dreamy new 5-track EP, Home, and we’re certain it warrants a listen from music lovers of all genres. Never have we felt so much attitude without a hard blues influence in a folk track as we did with the initial track “Wolf.” (Wolf tracks are our favorite though. ;))
Second track “I’m Not Done Yet” is delivered with the fervor you expect from someone who is fully prepared for the next chapter of their lives. “So many times in my life I’ve heard the exact phrases I wrote in the song from friends who’ve experienced the same, from people who I thought were friends and didn’t accept me, from absolute strangers on the street who noticed I was different,” says EVVAN. “It is exhausting, and while there are times I feel beaten down and without hope, I remember this is who I am, and I should be proud of that.”
A track born from the emotions around wanting to come out, Evvan carries intense emotion with each word delivered, creating a beautiful ballad that feels like a torch held by and for all of those who feel other at times. If nothing else, this track is a testament to the artful soul of its creator.
“Hurricane” comes at a more steady clip, as EVVAN details a tumultuous relationship situation. “Falling Over You” speaks to a similar relationship, as the thoughts early in a relationship take over and confuse the hell out of our protagonist. Undoubtedly, this is a highly relatable track for the listeners. It’s also got a beautiful cadence that is absolutely captivating.
The title track rounds out this new release, more simplistic instrumentally than its predecessors, just as impactful. It really is the most freeing way to end the collection. If you have the opportunity, we highly suggest listening to the work in its entirety – as a full and honest adventure – below.
Today, we have your first look at the new Dawson Fuss music video, which also happens to be the artist’s directorial debut. The gorgeous visual boasts warm colors, noticeable contrast of light and dark while the protagonist (Fuss) experiences moments of obvious uncertainty. The video brings small instances of beauty to the forefront, moments you appreciate only when everything goes a little bit awry in a relationship. That, coupled with Fuss’ magnetic vocals and relatable lyrics, makes for a touching, all-encompassing experience.
“‘Hey You’ is inspired by the failure of first love and the complicated emotions that follow: regret, anger, sadness, and loss,” Dawson explains. “I wrote this song following my first serious relationship that unfortunately ended because of emotional and physical distance caused by the isolation of COVID-19.”
Get your first taste – and second, third, and thirtieth – below!
“Ivory Tower” is the first single/video from the debut EP Half Moon of Rubyfruit. The Indie duo. Jenny Posnak and Kate Hamilton, currently based in Denver, have voices that complement each other completely. They are able to create harmonies and use their instruments in the most interesting ways. Their video for “Ivory Tower” is a gem.Support Independent Music! Give Us A Follow:
Directed and photographed by Mia Cioffi Henry, the film uses modern dancers (Clarrisa Dyas, Sarah G Chenoweth, Rose Huey) to tell the story. Henry had this to say about the effort:
“Ivory Tower” is about the interior lives of women. It takes interior spaces where women are present, clears them of all clutter and fills them with the thoughts and emotions as dance. We as women are always reevaluating our places in the world. We are in conversation with ourselves constantly. We are living interior lives.
British rock band You Me at Six have delivered a moody turned explosion of a track with their newest release, “Adrenaline”. This is to say that the song eases you in with a gentle, soft verse before blowing you away with loud and catchy chorus to ripple through your mind. I can only imagine what it sounds like in a room full of people at a live show. The chorus isn’t nearly the only mind-blowing thing here. The moments leading up to the chorus are a direct contrast to the subsequent parts, with just a vocal and gripping melody to prepare you for what’s to come in the rest of the song.
The song’s dark sound matches the lyrical content to a tee. Appropriately, the listener is taken to the possible dark side of our personalities and the struggle that comes with balancing our thoughts while still being who we are. The sonics of the track amplify this idea, creating a world filled with intense emotions.
Lead singer Josh Franceschi says of the track: “Adrenaline is about understanding & accepting the capacity we all have as humans to have split personalities. Coming to terms with the idea of co-dependency.”
