Tim Qualls - Forever

Forever - Tim Qualls (Pop) Driving and anthemic, Tim Qualls delivers quite the head nodder with his latest record “Forever.” Setting the mood, Tim gives us a bit of a prologue at the top of the song, using a sample of at least sounds like some retro film dialogue where a duo talks about love before a dreamy and driving beat takes hold. The descending chord progression looping throughout injects a bittersweet melancholy that is perfectly fitting with the tune’s message—yearning for a love to last. Tim’s vocals are a standout, a pure tone that tugs the heartstrings particularly when he goes up into his higher range. Heartfelt and powerful, “Forever” has Top 40 written all over it.

Best Lyric: “Someday it’s gonna end and I don’t wanna waste my time.”

Love Ghost - Haunted House

Haunted House - Love Ghost x FLVCKKA (Pop) Love Ghost and FLVCKKA come together for an impeccably produced dark pop record, “Haunted House.” With metal influences integrated into an 808 heavy future hiphop production, we get a track with a ton of depth and texture, abound with earcandy. The vocal layering here is extremely effective, reflective of the theme of having “voices in my head” as the lead is delivered in two different styles simultaneously—a reedy melodic baritone and a gutteral yell an octave up—that provide a distinctive and engaging sound. Our guest rapper gives us some bilingual flare with a rapid fire flow whose fierceness is not undercut by her otherwise angelic tone. Overall the song reminds us of the rock/rap crossovers of the 00s, priming itself for a large fanbase. Dope.

Best Lyric: “I’ve got voices in my head. And sometimes they aren’t my friends.”

Dax - God's Eyes

The Devil’s Calling - Dax (Rap)  Dax is back, following our review for “The Devil’s Calling,” this time bringing us “God’s Eyes”—a melodic rap social justice record that is as catchy as it is intelligent. A mid tempo groove led by a brooding guitar and crispy trap percussion, the standout element of the track is surely the lyrics, as fed to us by a passionate and impressive delivery we have already come to know with his prior release. Towards the end of the second verse specifically, Dax GOES IN with a rapid fire flow that will certainly get you hype. But as impressive as the spit is, it’s the lyrical content that blows us away. Using an admittedly well worn framework of seeing the Devil at work here on Earth, Dax uses the trope to preach nuanced and insightful thoughts on the state of the world, capitalism and humanity’s present day value system. Religious or not, this one will strike a chord.

Best Lyric: “We know the price of everything, but we don’t know the worth.”

Beth Macari - Summer Feelin

Summer Feelin- Beth Macari (Pop) How excited are we to have Beth Macari back with us, following one of favorites this year, “Feel The Same.” We’ve got a different type of feels this time with “Summer Feelin” where Beth gives us another big pop record with her distinctly powerful and emotive vocals. There’s a raw seductiveness about Beth that is incredibly captivating, and we’re glad to hear it here in a summer jam that beckons the listeners to wind down the windows and feel the wind in their hair as they drive down the freeway. While the production is top notch, as always with Beth’s tracks, the star remains the vocal—we are simply in love with her voice. The best we can compare her to is probably Taylor Dayne in power and maturity. The track itself is super fresh, very modern, classic Top 40 with the thudding dance kick, big club energy, and even a bit of funk. It’s just a perfect summer bop. This is now a Beth Macari stan blog.

Zachary Crawford - Alibi

Alibi - Zachary Crawford (Pop/Funk) With “Alibi”, Zachary Crawford delivers a funky jam session with clever and memorable lyrics. Beginning with a dreamy, sun drenched guitar, Zachary’s latest single boasts a lush production, creating a classic sound with some 70s funk influences. The vocal is sweet and pure, and blends beautifully into the mix of this impeccably produced track. The musicality is also superb, with some unexpected chord progressions and changeups leading to some wonderful musical moments that elevate the record. The outro is particularly striking, and beckons a repeat listening by leaving the listener on the edge. Well crafted and groovy, get “Alibi” on your summer playlist.

Best Lyric: “In a different world, I’d learn to settle down.”

Simfonia - Castles in the Sky

Simfonia - Castles in the Sky (Pop/Dance) Simfonia cast a hypnotic spell in her latest release, “Castles in the Sky”, delivering a mix of siren song and club track. The vocal is powerful—strong, round and emotive, delivering poetic lyrics imbued in passion. The song is patient, crafting a slow build and lingering in the brooding miasma of synths and strings before finally introducing the club-centric percussion of crisp snappy tops and a plucky string lead, holding back even further before the kick hits in order to create both tension and a clear structure to the record. Orchestral, lush and broody, Simfonia’s “Castles in the Sky” successfully straddles both “sing along in the shower” and “get lost on the dance floor”.

Best Lyric: “Do you ever see in your dreams all those castles in the sky?”

Wild Horse - Do You Wanna Talk?

Do You Wanna Talk? - Wild Horse (Pop Rock) Fresh and groovy, Wild Horse delivers an easy breezy summer jam with their latest record, “Do You Wanna Talk?” The musicality is standout here, with a classic sound and some thoughtful chord progressions, segues and breaks that help keep the listener engaged and make several nice “moments” throughout the record. What we appreciate most, however, are the great lyrics telling the story of a hot and cold post-breakup texting spree, giving a unique point of view on a breakup track that we don’t think we’ve heard before. We’re also in love with the lead vocalist’s tonality, reedy and resonant with a little buzz to it that accentuates a passionate delivery of those great lyrics.

Best Lyric: “Now you’ve been alone for a minute, now you wanna talk about it.”

Lucy Burke - On The Edge

On The Edge - Lucy Burke (Pop) The tension starts building right out of the gate in Lucy Burke’s latest track “On The Edge”, fitting considering the name. Sonically, the song feels straight out of late 90s/early 00s, striking us as if it were a club remix of a Top 40 power ballad. We would place “On The Edge” on the charts at the time of Cher’s “Believe,” like if Celine Dion had a rival club mix going on at the same time. The melody is classic pop, which Lucy delivers with one hell of a belt, and beckons a sing along. The song’s greatest strength is its build as “On The Edge” never plateaus, helping to pull the listener deeper and deeper into the track as it progresses.

Best Lyric: “Don’t even ask me, don’t know what to expect.”

Shai Sevin - Sevin30 Days

Sevin30 Days - Shai Sevin (Rap) Shai Sevin feels like celebrating with his latest offering, a short little appetizer called “Sevin30 Days.” In 59 seconds, Shai lets us all know that he’s been through some shit and has successfully emerged on the other side—early in the track he announces that he’s been two years clean. Putting the music aside for a second, Shai’s lyrics are specific, clever and memorable—he is definitely a very strong writer, and made it hard for us to pick our favorite line below. Back to the sound, Shai’s tone is distinctive—raspy and reedy—upon which the entire chill retro hip-hop beat revolves. Overall this impeccably produced track is giving us some early Kanye vibes. Our only criticism is we wish it was longer!

Best Lyric: “Two years clean, one hell of a statement.”

ellakate - Dry

Dry - ellakate (Soul) ellakate’s latest track, “Dry”, slams into high gear from the first beat with a big band sound drenched in fuzzy analog vibes. The song has a classic quality, spinning like a vinyl, while marrying lush modern production with a retro soundscape. “Dry” certainly feels like a song that could be in Amy Winehouse’s repertoire. But while the instrumentation is a bonafide jam, the star of the song is certainly the vocalist—slinky and seductive and dripped in soul, we get some Duffy vibes as guaranteed “old soul” ellakate both chews the lyrics with emotion and finally crescendos into a powerful belt in the closer. The track definitely takes you for a ride you’ll be happy you’ve taken and boy is that bridge just extra tasty.

Best Lyric: “I am dry and I want fire.”

Kapture - Compare To Me

Compare To Me - Kapture (Rap) Kapture is back on the blog with the follow-up record to “New Beginnings,” titled “Compare To Me.” Bringing the sultry this time around, Kapture extols the virtues of her dream man in a fresh and biting flow, spitting some clever lyrics over a curious instrumental that uses a vocal effect in the instrumentation to give this track some fresh uniqueness and solidify its identity. There’s a 00s vibe about the chorus we love, something out of an Eve or Trina album almost, while the verses remain incredibly fresh and perfectly in touch with today’s female rap game leaders. But don’t sleep on the sung portions as well, Kapture’s got some vocals on her. With clever lyrics, a sharp tongue and top notch production, Kapture continues to carve out her lane with this latest track.

Best Lyric: “He’s my present just like Christmas.”

Marlene Larsen - I Said I'm Fine

I Said I’m Fine - Marlene Larsen (Alt Rock} Marlene is back on the blog with her follow-up to “Galore”, “I Said I’m Fine.” Brilliantly produced, this driving alternative rock record brings some 90s grunge as the soundscape to Marlene’s brooding track. The guitar reminded us a lot of Sheryl Crow’s “If It Make You Happy”, and the record overall reminds us of that time period in pop. Marlene’s musicality cannot be understated—from the lush vocal layering to the incredible build of the instrumental to the constant switchups that keep engagement high, Marlene knows how to construct a rich record. But what takes the cake for us is her Olympic level lyricism, paired with a theatricality of performance that elevates her tracks into stardom. Marlene is one to watch.

Best Lyric: “One more time and they’ll believe you.”

Chris Gabo - Medusa

Medusa - Chris Gabo (Rap) This guy can really ride a beat. In “Medusa”, Chris Gabo delivers an eclectic hiphop production. The dreamy guitar and analog fuzz lulls the listener into a false sense of security before Chris barrels into the room, guns blazing, bringing nothing but fire to the track. The flow is rapid, doubled with a monstrous distorted low octave, reminding us a bit of early Kanye especially in Chris’s expressiveness—he really sells his creative lyrics. The instrumental slams, with an 80s synth lilting with a creepy lullaby to inject tension throughout the cut. What impressed us the most were the constant switchups of beats and flows—you never quite knew where Chris was taking you until you got there. And when you did, you were happy you came.

Best Lyric: “So slept on they got their clothes left on.”

The Heidi Incident - Under The Lights

Under The Lights - The Heidi Incident (Pop/Funk) The Heidi Incident launches with a cornucopia of 80s delights with first single “Under The Lights.” Lead by a traveling baseline and “Mercedes Boy” style guitar, the song reminds you of the days of Jodi Watley, George Michael, Gloria Estefan and Paula Abdul. Vocally, we have a strong and pure male singer who, in his higher register, gives us Maroon Five’s Adam Levine in tonality. From the synth leads to the melody itself, we are reminded of all those great late 80s/early 90s jams. The affair is a 2-step midtempo that leans on seduction, singing about being captivated by how a girl moves on the dance floor. Equally nostalgic and danceable, this catchy tune is a great introduction to The Heidi Incident and we look forward to more.

Best Lyric: “This feeling's got my in a tailspin”

Desperate Electric - Dopamine

Dopamine - Desperate Electric (Funk/R&B) Oh “Dopamine” is right up our alley, as Desperate Electric delivers a chill funk/R&B record just in time for the summer heat. We’ve got two vocalists here who compliment each other beautifully to deliver quite a showcase of talent. We’ve got the soft and sultry vocal of the female lead (who really belts it out in the end) layered in a powerful chorus with the resonante male baritone. The instrumental is lush and engaging, reminding us of some late 90s R&B/soul grooves which is our favorite sound here on this blog. Then of course you have incredibly unique and memorable lyrics, conjuring specific imagery that give the record a clear identity among its peers. The highlight of this track however is the wailing at the end of the track right after a welcomed guitar feature which take the song into the stratosphere. This is truly one of our favorite tracks of the year.

Best Lyric: “Yeah we’re groovy like a drive-in movie, like a sunroof in June.”

Jay Roecker - Mi Amor (I Had a Dream)

Mi Amor (I Had a Dream) - Jay Roecker (Synthwave/EDM) This is Jay Roecker’s fourth appearance on our blog, after his LP “Electronic Symphonic” and tracks “Pour On Me” and “A New Day For You”. We have him back this week with “Mi Amor (I Had A Dream)”, a track which demonstrates why we select his music time and time again (and suggest you do as well). Jay continues to resurrect the 80s here, with another track that belongs on the Top 40 charts of that era. With “Mi Amor” we have his signature vocal layering and Kate Bush synth lead taking the spotlight. The production is constantly shifting and varying as Jay has an excellent understanding of song structure and motifs, allowing him to keep the audience constantly engaged without fundamental shifts to the sonic landscape. Lush and heartfelt, “Mi Amor” is a “sing along in the car” type of track. 80s kids, get this one.

Best Lyric: “Then I asked you out, without a doubt, we were on to something.”