Tell Me is a new single from M-Dash, a hip hop artist based in Vallejo, CA. The song is slated to appear on his upcoming album, Elevation. M-Dash is an established veteran of the hip hop genre, boasting an impressive discography that includes nine albums and twenty singles/EPs. His refined skills are evident on this latest track. He has a casual, straightforward and witty delivery style. His voice also projects very well, which is the mark of an experienced performer who understands best vocal recording practices.

He actually covers a lot of lyrical ground in the song’s modest 2:36 runtime. Throughout the track, M-Dash outlines his personal ambitions, interests and lifestyle in great detail, occasionally breaking the 4th wall to pose the question “but do you care?” to his target audience. The backing beat is fresh and robust, while the music has a smooth and lightly sensual vibe. Sonically speaking, the audio quality of the mix is impressive. It’s a chill jam, but it has enough bass to really bump if you were listening to it on the right system, especially in a car.  Overall,  Tell Me is a catchy, competent and professional single. M-Dash performs with justifiable confidence, and his affable personality is bound to win over some new fans.

For more info:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0d3dNQsv5BuQgkvTunyr7H?si=fp2j_xcuRgG9SEXgrw_eJA&nd=1

Wicked is a new single from hip hop artist, SGXJAY. This hypnotic and slightly haunting track maintains an entrancing vibe from start to finish. The synth-flavored backing beat is melodic and keeps the action moving at a modest, yet deliberate pace. The structure remains constant, but there are still surprises and creative twists in the mix. Various atmospheric effects and samples are utilized strategically to spice things up. SGXJAY’s lyrical delivery is cool and calculated. His flow is on point, and his vocal tone fits well with the song’s casually sinister ambiance. Ultimately, Wicked is a solid release with a fluid, professional and vibrant sound.  It’s coherently constructed and more avant garde than the average hip hop jam.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/jermy-mercado/wicked-v7

Waking up in Nashville is a new song from OLYA K, a Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter. OLYA’s catchy single, Hollywood became a hit online in 2020 and gained her a lot of new fans. Interestingly, before moving to Los Angeles in 2014, she had previously lived in Nashville (“a few blocks away from the honkytonks on lower Broadway”) and was part of the music scene there. She recently visited Nashville again last year 2020 and recorded a country rock version of Eggs and Bacon.

The original version of her latest song Waking Up in Nashville was originally a lighter track which featured an acoustic guitar and tambourine. I’m sure it was excellent, but this latest version simply rocks! It’s lively and vibrant, with peppy pacing, grooving guitars and a robust beat setting the stage for OLYA K’s vivacious vocals. If you’ve heard her other songs, what will immediately impress you is the versatility she is capable of as an artist. Here she is delivering a professional and praise-worthy performance in a completely different genre. She comes off as such a natural country-rock singer that you’d almost never suspect she had successful synthpop and EDM-style releases as well.

One thing that remains consistent is OLYA’s positive and upbeat tone. Her songs convey a genuine enthusiasm for life, and this jam will definitely inspire you to seize the day. In fact, she got the idea for opening lyrics while setting her alarm clock radio one evening and asking herself “”should I wake up with a song or with a beep?” After listening to Waking Up in Nashville, it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out which one she chose.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/olyasongs

Grandpa’s Truck is a new single from Colt Sterk, a country singer/songwriter from Eagle, Idaho. This is some of the most polished and well-performed country you could ask for. The mix is clean and bright, allowing the full richness of the recording to shine through. Colt gives a stellar vocal performance on this lively yet sentimentally nostalgic track. His singing ability really is a cut above. The female backing vocals enhance the chorus and correlate nicely with the song’s romantic elements. The real star of this show is the truck itself, which Cole feels a deep connection with. The truck is a source of personal liberation, reflection and adventure. It also operates as a central motif tying everything together. Musically, Grandpa’s Truck is a solid and radio-ready single that deserves a spot on the charts.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/coltsterkmusic/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Colt45Sterk/
https://www.instagram.com/colt.sterk/

Beat Shop is a new album from Hawaii-born singer/songwriter, Ryan Lagup. Blending elements of pop, R&B, reggae and dance, the tracks on this release are jam packed with club energy and emotive vibes. The actual beats employ some creative rhythm styles, giving Ryan’s music a distinctive and recognizable flair.

On several tracks, ambient synths take a prominent role in the mix, cultivating a retro-inspired dance pop aesthetic. Other songs, such as Better Off are more reggae oriented, though they maintain robust, danceable backing beats. Ryan Lagup sings with sincerity and passion. His voice has a subtly sensual quality as well. Containing over 15 musically comprehensive jams, Beat Shop is a worthwhile listen and showcases some impressive songwriting.

For more info:

http://www.ryanlagup.site/

Scuba-Dive is a new single from artist, DJMSK. Interestingly, the song is a personal reflection on DJMSK not being able to scuba dive due to ear problems he’s struggled with his whole life and how if he were to scuba dive he could go deaf. The music has an ambient, almost aquatic vibe, with its synth-driven backing, while vocal processing effects give the vocals an underwater quality. Tropical tones and a mellow beat provide the appropriate framework. Everything about this recording is thematically and artistically consistent. The melodies are calming and meditative like the ocean itself. At the end of the day, Scuba-Dive is a creative and intensely personal song that refreshes this genre with sensitivity and substance.

For more info:

Dirty Laundry is a new single from Bludgers, a band from Champaign, Illinois. This latest track appears on the group’s recent EP, Bludgers Five. The sound on this particular song is described as “country-rock jangle.” It certainly is that, but it also gives off a solid, power rock vibe with classic appeal. This is great bar music. The mix is clean, loud and professional, and these veteran musicians have clearly spent years on the ground cultivating their skills. The guitar tones really shine, and their robust presence supercharges the entire recording.

I won’t go into the details, but lyrically, Dirty Laundry features a rather intriguing premise that interweaves a narrative/storyline with sentimental metaphors, incorporating the title in multiple ways. The singer is quite good and has just the right kind of old school rock’n’roll voice to credibly carry the song where it needs to go. I’d recommend checking out the rest of the EP as well, because the band is competent in a variety of different styles, and the other songs on here are definitely worthwhile.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/Bludgers/
https://soundcloud.com/bludgersband/
https://www.instagram.com/bludgersband/

BAD is the new single from Storm & Stone, a band comprised of three siblings. This dynamic and soulful jam boasts some truly phenomenal vocals. Seriously, the singing on this track is incredible, and the harmonies are brimming with pure passion. Musically, the song blends elements of pop, folk, and R&B, resulting in a vibrant and emotionally electric sound. Ultimately, the vocals command much of the attention, but the music itself is well choreographed and energizing. The impressively complex songwriting structure is evident, even within what presents as a fairly minimalist mix. BAD is a great song, characterized by impeccable timing and some genuinely professional performances.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/stormandstoneofficial/
http://www.facebook.com/stormandstone/
https://orcd.co/storm-and-stone-bad

Into the Multiverse (The Subsequel Mixes) is a new album from South Lond-based artist, Ultra_eko. This epic musical undertaking blends elements of hip hop with spoken word poetry, dance and a plethora of other genres. The style is deeply meditative, and Ultra_eko has a natural storytelling ability as he explores the realms of the multiverse with the appreciative listener. Ultra_eko has a crisp flow and maintains a commanding vocal presence throughout. His voice really holds your attention.

The backing music on this album is sleek and spectacular. It often has a retro-futuristic feel, invoking synthwave energy and vaporwave aesthetics. If you removed the rapping, many of the beats wouldn’t seem out of place in a high energy, 1980s workout video. Yeah, this is good stuff all right. The mix is clean and polished, boasting a professional sound and audio clarity that would impress even the most discriminating stereophiles.

Ultra_eko’s lyrics are rich and substantive. He combines deep philosophical questions about the cosmos with relatable day to day experiences, creating a vibe that’s intellectually far out but still relatable to the average person. The songs are dynamic and fluid, frequently changing and evolving in style, tone or tempo. Some tracks such as Pingu are laid back and reflective in nature, while other songs like Day Tripper are much more assertive in their intensity (particularly in the vocal delivery.) Surprisingly, Ultra_eko doesn’t just rap but also actually sings on a number of these jams. A good example would be Keep Busy, where he briefly ventures into indie synthpop and darkwave territory.

Into the Multiverse (The Subsequel Mixes) is a comprehensive release, both musically and philosophically. Clearly a lot of work must have gone into the creation of this deliciously complex project, and it paid off. From an creative/artistic standpoint, this is already one of the best hip hop albums of 2021. Ultra_eko comes through on the performance side as well.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/ultraeko
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/into-the-multiverse-the-subsequel-mixes-the-subsequel-mix/1546241692

Her Song is the debut single from NYC-based (but originally born in Thailand) singer/songwriter Arya Rita. Innovative and darkly ambient, this track is cutting edge indie pop at its finest. The synth-driven backing music is entrancingly hypnotic, while a robust beat keeps the action hopping. Arya Rita’s vocals are passionate and haunting. She’s a solid singer. Her voice projects well and she combines technical skill with an ability to convey genuine emotion. The recording makes effective use of harmonies and vocal layering to maximize the melodic impact. This stylish, substantive song constitutes an impressive debut. Stay tuned for another upcoming release from this artist in the near future.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/napahtnanongkhai/
https://www.instagram.com/napahtnanongkhai/