Lukx - Everyday

Everyday - Lukx (Pop/HipHop)  Lukx is back with yet another hyper-catchy lofi hiphop groove—Everyday. We’ve reviewed Lukx’s past effort, Hello, and like that track, Lukx delivers an expertly produced retro jam giving us all the warm feels of 90s r&b/rap, complete with those twinkling rhodes. A proficient lyricist, Lukx creates yet another earworm chorus. In the verses, the track begins with Lukx’s husky baritone rapping in his native tongue, before eventually returning to English, and his flow is impeccable. Apparently Lukx will be releasing a new track each month, so you definitely want to give this artist a follow so you don’t miss yet another hit in the making. This one goes on a playlist with Nate Dogg and Cam’ron.

Best Lyric: “I see a world with another eye, from another lens.”

Chris Caulfield - Porchlight

Porchlight - Chris Caulfield (Pop). This track is definitely vocal first, with a shining performance by Chris chock full of personality. We really appreciate someone who really sells their lyrics, bringing their whole heart behind the performance—and Chris certainly does that on Porchlight. Despite the track sitting comfortably in Top 40 pop sensibilities, there’s almost a punk sensibility to the delivery—a slight rasp that gives his vocal heft, smokiness and maturity. Also, the chorus is quite the earworm and will definitely take up some serious real estate in your head long after you’re through listening—something you’re going to want to do again and again. Put this one on your commute playlist—you’re going to want to crank up that volume and sing along with Chris at the top of your lungs.

Best Lyric: “You don’t smile because he can’t light up your life the way I can baby.”

Carson Ferris - Speed Limit

PHOTO: Gabe Taylor

Speed Limit - Carson Ferris (Pop). Carson’s voice shines on this track, flying way up into the rafters with ease and with a purity and innocence surely indicative of what we assume to be Carson’s young age. This is a BIG song, anthemic in nature and with some serious drive. It’s a train running at full speed right from the start, and is one of those numbers you could hear in the climax of a movie as the hero learns their lesson and heads towards their triumph—there’s a real “epic adventure” feel with Speed Limit. When it comes to the lyrics themselves, they match the feel of the production perfectly. They’re clever and perfectly in line with Top 40 sensibilities. It’s a unique message of pushing oneself hard in pursuit of success—which even if Carson slows down to maybe like 40mph, we are confident will get there.

Best Lyric: “Sometimes I feel like I’m over my speed limit, going too fast.”

Aimee - Hurt Like Hell

PHOTO: Ryan Douglas

Hurt Like Hell - Aimee (Pop)  From the first few seconds of this track, you know it’s an anthem. Aimee’s voice is expertly produced—front and center, strong and intense, with a great build throughout. This is a track I would put on a playlist with some classic JoJo—Get Out and Too Little Too Late. It also belongs on your karaoke list because this bop has got some serious sing-along-ability. Back to Aimee’s vocal versatility, the slow down of the bridge and switch to a more airy, vulnerable tone is absolutely stunning. And man, in the finale when the music drops out for just a millisecond only to make room for a punctuating snare hit before steamrolling downhill through to the end—pure magic. Hurt Like Hell is definitely one our favorites.

Best Lyric: “When you find someone new, better hold her. Maybe you might do all the things that I told yah.”

Mara Liddle - Facebook Official

PHOTO: PrimaLux Photography

Facebook Official - Mara Liddle (Pop). It’s been awhile since we’ve heard a real saccharine sweet track. What we particularly enjoy about Facebook Official the vocal delivery choice in juxtaposition with the tenor of the lyrics. The lyrics are quite cute—a teenager writing in her diary about her crush. Like, I could see this song in an update of the musical Grease performed by a modern-day Pink Lady. But what’s really interesting is Mara uses a very robotic, almost ambivalent tone, which helps keep the track from venturing into musical theater. It’s really clever, and definitely carves out a unique style for this artist. In fact, Mara’s voice bakes perfectly into the instrumental—it’s almost as if it’s another instrument in the arrangement. And when it comes to the vocal production, Mara’s voice is put through a synthesizer to get that noticeable autotune effect, which works great with the quirkiness of the lyrics and unique delivery choice. We dare you to not shimmy along to this twinkling gem of a track.

Best Lyric: “I sent you message you left on unread. Is it just me or is it something I said?”

Chris Bloom - Peace of Mind

PHOTO: Autumn Stein of Autumn Layne Photography

Peace of Mind - Chris Bloom (Pop). I mean, this is just Top 40 perfection. Chris Bloom’s shining tenor soars through the guitar driven Peace of Mind, accompanied by a lofi hiphop percussion production that marries so well with Chris’s crystal clear vocals. Soft and reedy, Chris bolsters an intimate vocal performance with lush background doubles and harmonies which really elevate this indie-pop track into something special. The melody is catchy, with the repeating descending chords creating quite an earworm, and the lyrics are both thoughtful and clever. There’s really not much more to say other than that Chris Bloom is a star in the making.

Best Lyric: “Even if I runaway, can never leave myself, yea. And I’m not going nowhere.”

Apoorva - Phoenix Unbound

PHOTO: Autumn Stein of Autumn Layne Photography

Phoenix Unbound - Apoorva (Pop). Apoorva’s latest track, Phoenix Unbound, is hauntingly beautiful. There’s a “Blackhole Sun” vibe to this one—something in the guitar and parts of the melodic line—while also incorporating small touches of what we assume are musical cultural references (we hears some spanish flavors in the guitar, a few Indian-sounding riffs between sections). There’s a supernatural quality to Phoenix Unbound that begs music supervisors to put this track in their gothic fiction shows. But the song’s greatest strength is Apoorva’s voice—the leads are strong, and the backings are pure magic, creating a swirling layered soundscape soaring in a dark cavern. While the main melody sits comfortably in alto, imbued with an intoxicating smokiness, Apoorva proves on her nearly scene-stealing harmonies that she has the range—floating up in the rafters with a siren call. Lush, shimmery and soothing, put Apoorva’s Phoenix Unbound on your chill vibes playlist.

Best Lyric: “Awakened by fire.”

Blair Djuna - Don't Tell Me

Don’t Tell Me - Blair Djuna (Pop). Blair Djuna’s latest track, Don’t Tell Me, is a gift that keeps on giving—a multi-layered experience that keeps the listener at the edge of their seat. The song’s structure and movement through its various sections are expertly crafted and at times surprising, in the best way possible. Genre wise…well we can’t quite pinpoint it. Anthemic pop plus a tinge of disco and some synthpop retro? It’s really bringing the best of all of its inspirations—a wide, verbed choral chant that beckons you to sing along, a voice modulation that pulls you to the dance floor, and some disco percussion that keeps you there. Chock full of earcandy, this infectious track certainly makes you move, and Blair’s voice is strong, focused and versatile. This one goes on your cardio playlist, trust. 

Best Lyric: “Floating in your galaxy, heading for destruction all alone.”

Ceyeo - Lost

Lost - Ceyeo (Rap) What strikes us about this track, what pulls it out of the retro lofi hiphop soundscape it inhabits, are the maturity of the lyrics. With a backing soundscape often used by social conscious rap, Ceyeo’s “Lost” is more ‘mindfulness rap.’ On his latest track, Ceyeo walks us through inner turmoil in a way that is deeply personal and intimate. It is clear that the track is autobiographical, and that Ceyeo has, or has previously had, emotional or mental health struggles. The track is truly special in its grounded take on the all too common issue—Ceyeo does not wallow or complain, he expresses shock over what has happened to him, desire to be better and heal, and struggle to find understanding and the help he yearns for. While we are sorry Ceyeo has had his struggles, the silver lining is this deeply personal and moving track we know will touch others and help them feel seen. We certainly were.

Best Lyric: “I hate not being a stronger person.”

Sage Phoenix- Forever (EP)

PHOTO: Sage Phoenix

Forever (EP) - Sage Phoenix DJ (Pop/R&B)  Sage Phoenix brings some delicious pop/r&b with their four-track EP Forever.  Sage’s debut, following 2021 single Lose Our Minds, this collection of plush, midtempo tracks delivers a cohesive package of chill R&B with crossover pop appeal—if you want to make a top 40 comparison, think Neyo, but add a bit of 80s synthpop to it as well.  So…if Neyo did the Stranger Things soundtrack?  It’s very much giving that.

The EP starts with title track, Forever, the most uptempo song of the entire outing, and the middle ground of the 80s meets contemporary R&B genre mix that Sage has claimed for their project.  The listener is immediately pulled into the EP by those glistening wind chimes–reminding us of classic R&B ballads like Janet’s “Funny How Time Flies”--and wastes no time diving right into a two-step inducing bop.  The restraint on the vocal production is appreciated—traditionally in songs like this the lead vocal is distorted, verbed and buried into the instrumentation.  Here, in a very Sam Smith way, Sage’s strong vocal performance is left to shine, sitting front and center.

Next, Sage slows it down and is joined by Syauqi Destanika for a glorious duet that in our opinion is the standout track of the entire project—Angel.  The production is lively, and begins leaning more into the 80s synthpop elements, particularly with the lofi drums.  Sage and Syauqi’s vocals are a beautiful pairing, and it’s when the two sing in unison that the track hits the heavens.  It’s a great example of how something can be more than the sum of its parts. The Phil Collins-esque gated drums complete the track to make it the strongest of the impressive set.

Carrying on with the synthpop vibe but picking up the tempo a bit, Make You Mine is led by those buzzy lofi synths that continue to make a strong comeback in contemporary pop, accompanied by some twinkling rhodes and sawtooth lead lines for several helpings of earcandy.  With this track our transportation to the 80s is complete.  The most notable part of this midtempo is Sage’s voice.  It’s on full display here, particularly when they hit the higher registers.  It is up there in the rafters that Sage’s voice rings as clear as those rhodes in the background.

Finally, Without Your Love closes the project with a more traditional piano driven production—leaving the 80s behind for more of a 00s Mary J or Mariah Carey ballad.  While our personal favorite is Angel, Without Your Love is the clear radio single for the project.  The lyrics are vulnerable and the Sage’s focused tenor is accompanied by the most beautiful backgrounds of the entire EP—nearly stealing the show at times.  It’s a great finale to a tight package of well crafted, genre-melding ballads.

All in all, Forever is a strong collection of timeless R&B midtempos and ballads where Sage is left to shine by the strength of their vocal performance.

Tyler Brooker - Hypocrite

Hypocrite - Tyler Brooker (EDM) Tyler’s new house anthem Hypocrite is one of those “go f**k yourself” tracks that is sure to fire up your commute or cardio session as it delivers high octane intensity. The lyrics are very pointed, and great for a listener to use when alone and shadowboxing an old argument. Hypocrite is a track for that “well what I should have said was ____” moments that we all have. The production is BIG, cinematic in scope, and we know could really fill up a dance floor. But what makes the track special for us is specifically the tonality and delivery of the lead vocals which is giving a very David Bowie feel. So if you need some raw anger to power your trip to the gym or fighting through traffic, this is one for your playlist.

Best Lyric: “You hypocrite, why did you have to try it?”

J Cru - Man Cake (feat. Fresh Micks)

Man Cake - J Cru (ft Fresh Micks) (Rap) We really love it when a song is so f***ing clever that we can’t choose our best lyric. Hands down, the track is hilarious as two presumably hetereosexual men sing about their delicious fat asses that the ladies love. The comedic comradery between J Cru and Fresh Micks is very natural, with the two bouncing off of each other from one jaw-dropping lyric to the next. But that’s not to say the song isn’t a serious bop—it belongs right up there with any of 20 Fingers’ tracks (Short Dick Man, Boom I***ed your Boyfrend, etc)—and one you’re not only going to learn the lyrics to, but also groove to on the dance floor. The overall vibe of the track is giving us LMFAO, which we think is a lane in pop music currently wide open for occupying.

Best Lyric: “Suns out, buns out, gotta stay lubed up. This ain’t Photoshop, I ain’t using no computer.”

Jonathan Shapiro - My Dawgs

My Dawgs - Jonathan Shapiro (Rap) Looking at Jonathan’s picture, we’re afraid he may be too young to know the reference we’re about to make, but in his chill midtempo flow My Dawgs, he’s bringing us back to the days of Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony. His rhymes flow easily, riding the crisp production almost melodically, giving the track a very “sing-along-able” quality. The lofi percussion with swirling rhodes are punctuated nicely by the occasional audio effect and background chant, and marries nicely with his lead vocal production. His lyrics are quite clever, which made choosing our best one difficult, and while the song feels like an introduction to who Jonathan is, his playful wittiness in his word choice and phrasing tell us even more about him than the lines themselves. But at the end of the day, My Dawgs is a drink and a two step kinda jam, and we’re here for it.

Best Lyric: “Can’t keep me in a box, too fidgety. Can’t keep me in a roof, too chim-i-ny”

Beth Macari - Feel The Same

Feel The Same - Beth Macari (Pop) Beth Macari delivers a genre defying in Feel The Same, giving us mainstream pop perfection infused with elements of retro R&B that used to be the bread and butter for nearly all of the pop divas. Beth’s voice is powerful—putting her in the Christina/Pink pop lane—and boasts raw sexuality in both tonality and in the lyrics themselves. There’s also a touch of funk to this track in the punctuated “like like” hitting in each of her super catchy choruses. While Feel The Same is probably best categorized as a midtempo, it boasts plenty of energy to translate to the dancefloor. And if you want a real treat, don’t miss the music video in which, like Kelis before her, Beth’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

Best Lyric: “I don’t mean to hurry things, so it’s gonna be last call.”

Aruna - Confessions

Confessions - Aruna (Pop) Aruna delivers a 00s singer/songwriter vibe with Confessions, which we could confidently imagine appearing on Top 40 radio. Lyrically, the song is a unique take on lovelorn, describing a situation where Aruna’s been friendzoned and has to hear about the lovelife of a friend she has feelings for, who she fears in the end she must say goodbye to. We really appreciate a song with a strong narrative, and Aruna’s heartfelt delivery of an engaging melody gives the track all the punch it needs and highlights her strengths as a storyteller. We recommend this song highly if you’re into the likes of Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch and even Sheryl Crow, if you want to take it back further. There’s also a Taylor Swift esque quality to it—not to the sound, but to the message, and so we also recommend this one for your next karaoke night.

Best Lyric: “Jealousy’s my best friend now, I know her well she’s always been around.”

Savoy Ellis - Don't Break My Heart/The One (Sped Up)

Don’t Break My Heart/The One (Sped Up) - Savoy Ellis (R&B)  There’s a Jackson-esque quality to this R&B vibe, particularly in the engaging melody which shows Savoy’s musicality and understanding of motown chord progression. A bit of Human Nature and the Janet B-Side This Can’t Be Good, the song is delivering some delectable retro. However, the tight percussion production keeps the song firmly grounded in the present, which helps give the track a timeless quality and avoids chasing current R&B trends. The uncredited singer on the track is given the 00s Kanye “sped up vocal” treatment which Savoy Ellis restrains from getting into chipmunk territory. Get this track on your retro R&B playlist ASAP.

Best Lyric: “She seems too good to be true, let me know is this the real thing or fool’s gold?”