Heart Calls Love - Larry Karpenko (Pop) We welcome Larry Karpenko to the blog this week with “Heart Calls Out”. It’s easy to get lost in the atmosphere of this track as it sort of swirls around you, while buttery soft vocals usher the listener through the experience, split between the ears and placed close in the mix to add an intimacy to the record. When the percussion really kicks in, there’s an 80s sensibility poking through, and the break providing a short but sweet conversation between lovers that is quite smile inducing. From the melancholy of the guitar to the sweetness of the lyrics, this is a track that fills you up.
Proklaim - CELEBRATE
CELEBRATE - Proklaim (Rap) What can we say about Proklaim, the star of our blog, that hasn’t already been said? In his latest of his firehose of releases, “CELEBRATE”, Proklaim taps a soulful R&B vocal sample to underlay his boombap mellow track. Proklaim’s recent work has been utilizing vocal samples more frequently, adding additional texture to his tracks, complimenting his laser focused point of view. Leaning more to the positive uplifting side of his work, “CELEBRATE” encourages the utilization of one’s imagination and always delivers profound messaging with the hopes of opening minds. Proklaim is on a spiritual vibe. The pen game on this one is particularly notable, making it hard to choose a favorite lyric.
Best Lyric: “People get jealous when they souls are never comfortable inside their own flesh.“
KARMA - Anthem
Anthem - KARMA (Pop/R&B) We are excited to have R&B supergroup KARMA back on the blog today with latest track “Anthem”. We had the privilege to review the group’s last EP “SIS (She’s Something)” which featured top notch production and 00s R&B girl group retro vibes that we stan over here on this blog. But this seductive track might be our favorite of all their releases. The record sits very much in the Destiny’s Child “Lose Your Breath” category when it comes to the instrumentation, while the rap sections give us some GloRilla vibes in the flow, and even a touch of Nivea’s sultriness from her “Animalistic” era. Female empowerment and confidence pours out of the track, as we expect from a KARMA record. “Anthem” is an anthem for sure, and a sexy one at that.
Kelsie Kimberlin - Perfume
Perfume - Kelsie Kimberlin (Pop) Following our review of her 8-track collection “The Drawer”, Kelsie returns to the bog today with new track ”Perfume.” Reviewing her prior work, including “The Drawer”, we’ve always been impressed with Kelsie’s versatility as she commonly crosses the barriers of genres in her releases. On “Perfume”, Kelsie delivers a siren song, telling her lover that he will always be drawn to her. It’s a sparkling mid tempo track with a catchy chorus and strong storytelling. This is a sing-along in the shower kind of record. Kelsie pairs the release with another slickly produced music video showing how her lover trails her, forever drawn to her as if on an invisible leash.
Best Lyric: “Boy you know you’re doomed by my sweet perfume.”
Dax - I Hate That I Love You
I Hate That I Love You - Dax (Pop) One of our favorites is back for his tenth feature on our blog. Dax returns to us with “I Hate That I Love You”, an emotional track about the regret of falling in love with someone who breaks your heart. Dax has a knack for creating tracks with a broad crossover appeal, and “I Hate That I Love You” is no exception. Returning to his hip hop roots, this latest track feels like classic Eminem, specifically in the raw delivery of his lyrics, Dax’s voice often breaking from telling a story that is clearly pulled from his personal life. The heartbreak is palpable on this record. And as always, Dax accompanies his new release with a slickly produced music video, starting with a narrative that might shock you.
Ainsley Costello - Exless
Exless - Ainsley Costello (Pop) Well we sure hope Ainsley’s current partner doesn’t hear this plucky and upbeat number where our artist fully admits to settling, and only temporarily. For her first feature on our blog, Ainsley Costello brings us pop-rock number “Exless”, which has all the elements of a top 40 bop from the earcandy chorus to the chant-along spelling of the song’s title. With a very Taylor Swift esque vibe—in the “Shake It Off” category we think—Ainsley’s strong vocal and delightful doubles tell a relatable story of sticking with the one you’re with until your true love arrives. With clever lyrics and a unique perspective, this one’s a pop playlist must have.
Best Lyric: “Never crying over someone so replaceable.”
Dara Blaxx - The Mission
The Mission - Dara Blaxx (R&B/Soul) Dara Blaxx joins our blog’s roster this week with latest R&B bop “The Mission”, a track overflowing with sultry and sexy vibes. The record is silky smooth, starting with a vibey piano before a bassy kick starts the mid tempo pulse, overlaid with a lo fi percussion production. The star of the track, however, is the vocal. Round and rich, Dara’s vocals are supported a Brandy-level doubles and harmonies that paint a swirling soundscape that is nothing less than intoxicating. Despite the Brandy of it all, the track most reminds us of some early Jill Scott records. Dara’s inviting you to intercept the mission, and after hearing the track, we recommend that you do.
Casey McQuillen - Better
Better - Casey McQuillen (Pop/R&B) We welcome Casey McQuillen to the blog this week with crossover R&B bop “Better.” Casey is on her independent woman vibe with a record that tells listeners she’s perfectly fine on her own, though the addition of a lover would make life so much better. We’re getting huge modern Mariah Carey vibes on this track, with the track sounding like it could have come right from the “Caution” album of a few years ago. It’s incredibly catchy, bumping along at a steady midtempo in an Ariana Grande kind of way, with sultry vocals that range from a whisper in the ear to a confident belt. Sassy and strong, this track is one for the ladies.
Best Lyric: “I don’t wanna wake up, messy make-up.”
Great Adamz - Fantastic
Fantastic - Great Adamz (Afrobeat) Today we get our third track from Great Adamz on the blog, with the aptly titled “Fantastic”, because that’s exactly what this record is. It’s a simple message with a stellar production—an ode to the beauty of a partner’s body. On previous effort “Talk To Me”, we lauded Great Adamz’s afrobeat island jam being elevated by an emotional core, and on “Love Your Neighbour”, we noted how catchy the track was and our artist’s attention to movement in their music. On “Fantastic”, we are again treated to an afrobeat/tribal sound with a bouncing synth in the back that reminds us a lot of Rihanna’s “work”. The swells are there as with previous tracks, which fill you up while making you dances. There’s something about Great Adamz’s vibe that feels like a warm beverage. These tracks give you the warm and fuzzies.
Al Kenizo - Don't lock me out
Don’t lock me out - Al Kenizo (Pop/Funk) We’ve got some retro funk vibes with the latest from Al Kenizo, “Don’t lock me out”, the release of which gives us both an original and remastered version. The track is an eclectic mix of instrumentation. The foundation sits in funk with the groovy bassline providing the base on which the patter of tribal drums are added. Then we’ve got an extremely unique horn arrangement, including what sounds like a didgeridoo, which when paired with the swelling strings in the chorus adds a layer of intensity and danger. Then, out of nowhere, we get the sudden influx of eastern world music sounds that truly make this track unique. Yet when it comes to melodies and harmonies, we’re talking straight 90s neo soul. Truly nothing like we’ve heard before and a total jam session. If you like Lucy Pearl, like we do, you’ll dig this track.
GlassJack - HERO (Just for Today)
HERO (Just for Today) - GlassJack (Pop) GlassJack is holding out for a hero on latest record “HERO (Just for Today)”. A retro pop track, the beats call to 80s/90s dance floors and feels primed for summertime outdoor tea dances. It’s a sizzling mix with great instrument separation as the thudding kick drives us relentlessly forward while synths, a pounding piano and wailing guitar create the sonic soundscape. All of this supports GlassJack’s strong belt that never gets overpowered by the full instrumentation. Aside from the title, we have to believe that the Bonnie Tyler track provided some inspiration for this one, as we can hear it right alongside that classic along with “It’s Raining Men”, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Flashdance What A Feeling”.
Best Lyric: “The monster in the mirror is looking back at me every day.”
Jovial Phenom - Seductive Flow
Seductive Flow - Jovial Phenom (Hip-Hop) Seductive flow is exactly what Jovial Phenom brings with her aptly titled new track “Seductive Flow”. Giving you all the warm and fuzzies of those retro lo-fi hiphop vibes, Jovial’s vocals are like honey on the track as she straddles the line between R&B melody and rap spit, accompanied by the ear candy of dropped and raised octave vocal hits. Jovial pulls the listener into a liminal state on the record, with the introduction of a twinkling piano and sultry guitar throughout the track that take the baton from Jovial to lead the way forward. This is a dim the lights and pour a glass of wine on a rainy night kind of track.
Best Lyric: “We dance to the rhythm, chemistry thick.”
Matya - Night Light
Night Light - Matya (Pop) This week we welcome Matya to the blog with two-step inducing “Night Light”. From the moment the track starts, it’s an instant groove with an old school vibe and 80s/90s neo funk feels with just a touch of disco. A bass guitar propels the track forward as Matya’s silky smooth vocals are pure pop perfection, reminding us a bit of Kylie Minogue. While boasting a modern production, there’s a fair amount of nostalgia as well (if you remember loving The Cardigan’s “Love Fool”, this is a track for you). The vocal doubling is pure ear candy, and the chorus begs for a sing along. And don’t miss the dazzling music video where Matya takes to the spotlight to bring this dance floor spinner to life.
Proklaim - LOVE LAVIDA
LOVE LAVIDA - Proklaim (Rap) Our prolific blog mainstay Proklaim returns with “LOVE LAVIDA”, a latin infused mid tempo number including his expected rapid fire spit and chanting chorus. Blending Caribbean, Latino and West African vibes, “LOVE LAVIDA” maintains the hiphop essence Proklaim is also known for. A kind of synth flute paired with a liquid bass propels the track along, giving it a “travelling song” feeling. We imagine a car with a suped up sound system blaring this with windows down as it cruises down the street. As always the production is top notch, as so is Proklaim’s pen game.
Best Lyric: “And destiny is what you never get to hear it up.“
LTB - My Fault
My Fault - LTB (R&B) LTB is back after our last review of “Lay With Me” to bring us latest single “My Fault.” On his prior track, we praised LTB’s resonant baritone and silky smooth vibe harkening to blues and jazz influences. On “My Fault” we veer more into R&B with LTB’s strong, close and intimate vocal performance taking the lead over a swirling synth and bumping 808. The record has some bitterness cutting through as LTB doesn’t understand how the blame for the dissolution of a relationship is being put on him considering his lover’s actions, while critiquing the inferior new man. It’s a great breakup song for the jilted lover.
Best Lyric: “What do you see in him I can’t provide?“
Artificial Incline - Used to be (EP)
Used to be (EP) - Artificial Incline (Pop) This week we had the privilege to dive into the first EP from Artificial Incline called “Used to be”, which is this artist’s first appearance on our blog. Like most of the works we are drawn to, the tracks on “Used to be” are rooted in specificity of experience—these are human tales that come direct from our artist’s life. Before we dive into this heart wrenching collection, we first dig into a bit about the artist.
Artificial Incline is a Canadian based lyricist focused on combining the power of music and technology to tell emotional stories. Hailing from Strathmore, Canada, our artist uses music as an escape, while at the same time using it to delve into the nuances of the underlying relationship traumas that necessitated the escape—cheating and emotional abuse. As an artist, Artificial Incline is inclined towards the complexities of human relationships, hoping to add their unique perspective to the conversation.
The raw and emotional collection of four tracks that is “Used to be” was born in 2024 after Artificial Incline rediscovered some old videos and lyrics that told a tale of loss, love and heartbreak from experiences that go back to 2017. The spark of those memories became an EP that takes the listener through the mud—this isn’t just the trauma of a breakup, it’s the hard work of putting yourself back together and taking accountability for one’s role in the downfall. This makes the project not only a showcase in vulnerability, but also one of resilience and growth in the face of adversity.
The biggest strengths of the project are the drive imbued into each song—each track has a swelling movement to them—as well as the top 40 catchy sing-along-ability. Also worth noting is the poetry of the lyrics, and so it doesn’t surprise us that Artificial Incline self describes first as a lyricist. While Artificial Incline hasn’t specifically said so, reading between the lines of the artist’s name and the self described leveraging of technology, we think there’s some AI at work here. Regardless of what tools were used to bring the art to life, the passion of the lyrics and beautiful storytelling grounded in the human experience tells us there’s a soul behind the tech.
“Used to be” is rooted firmly in pop ballad, with a tinge of country sensibility here and there as well—though considering how pop country has become, this might just be apples and apples nowadays. “King without a crown” is placed first in the collection to give the listener the current state of affairs—the relationship is over and our artist is feeling aimless and lost. In describing this feeling, Artificial Incline uses the dichotomy of being told in the relationship that they were a king with the post-breakup feeling—how could that be true if I feel the way I do now?
“Used to be”, our title track, then dives right into the emotional core of the project, letting the listener in on the realization that the artist is now forever changed by their experiences. “Far away” takes us from the mourning to more of the details on how everything ended. Importantly, Artificial Incline takes accountability on the track, citing their deceit and unfaithfulness as the reason leading to the end of the relationship. Artificial Incline continues to bleed all over the track, but balances the impact of the fallout they’re feeling with recognizing their fault in the cause.
Finally, “Ink and color” is a tribute to the artistic process and how it has helped Artificial Incline process their emotions. It’s a great coda to the project, summarizing the entire endeavor as a closer.