Katie Belle - People Pleaser

People Pleaser - Katie Belle (Pop) Katie Belle joins our blog this week with her latest, “People Pleaser.” An American singer-songwriter, model, actor and pop artist, Katie Belle splits her creative time between Atlanta and LA, with “People Pleaser” being the title track off of her recent EP, whose two lead singles have garnered over 500k streams across streaming services. On “People Pleaser”, a sizzling, intimate vocal coos in your ear, telling the listener that she is changing her ways and will no longer be a people pleaser. The instrumentation is pure ear candy, with a crispy and engaging percussion underlaid by splashy synths that give this modern protection just a touch of retro. Smooth and groovy, “People Pleaser” is a smash Top 40 midtempo bop.

Best Lyric: “I just killed the girl you thought I was in side of your head.”

Lisa Jo - Hood Rats (LP)

Hood Rats (LP) - Lisa Jo (Hip-Hop) This week’s album review comes from Lisa Jo with her latest project, “Hood Rats”. While we typically just focus on the music, selecting those projects that stand out for their quality, we feel the need in this circumstance to also highlight a little about Lisa, and all of her trials, as it brings a heart-wrenching context to the work.

Lisa Jo has used music throughout her life to get her through the ups and the downs, of which we find Lisa has had far too many downs for any one person to have to shoulder. Tragically, a terminal illness took a toll on her vocal chords, and so she began writing music to find her musical fulfillment. She lost her husband and is also caring for her mother and sister, and unfortunately struggles under the heavy weight of medical bills. But in the darkness of losing her career and battling multiple forms of cancer, she has become a creative powerhouse and firehose of new content. It appears she clings to music to get through, and what incredible music it is.

Learning her story before diving in, we were surprised to find that though there is the occasional commentary on the haves and have-nots, sometimes with respect to health care, the album is mostly commentary on the everyday struggle and speaks very little about Lisa’s personal circumstances. It shows a multi-faceted woman who has a lot to say beyond her personal circumstances, and instead of creating a sort of diary of her current trials, she has surprisingly created a very catchy 90s hip-hop record about life in the hood. Let’s dive in to a few of our favorite tracks.

Most of our favorites are in the front half of the project. The album kicks off with a 90s hip-hop flare in “Everyday Struggle” and immediately introduces Lisa as a powerhouse lyricist with a sick pen game. J-Mac, who is the primary vocalist on the project, has a low-key flow, with a delightful rasp to his tone that makes each track he is on sizzle. There is a melancholy mood to the mid tempo, just someone trying their best to get through their mundane daily life, feeling as if they will never win.

“Voodoo” continues the 90s feel with a real West Coast vibe—Tupac, Dre, Snoop…this is where this track sits. This song hovers in a cloud of chronic, painting a picture of life in the hood. “Hope in the Hood” adds a level of darkness as a cloud passes over what had previously been a relaxed acceptance of circumstance. We also get a bold female vocal that cuts through the darkness like a ray of sunshine.

“Everybody’s Friend” brings Ebony Reign to the track, a female rapper who tears into the record with fierceness, showing off a delivery that reminds us a lot of Eve. On the track, Ebony has had it with the fakes and they can kiss her ass. Later in the project, “Sassy Frassy” gives us a twinkling piano underlying a rough hip hop percussion as a man contemplates the single life or going after the girl.

As we write this, Lisa is preparing to go into a life threatening surgery which may permanently destroy her voice. So as you listen to this incredible collection of music, which gave us all the retro feels, keep Lisa in your thoughts.

Tracks:

1. Everyday Struggle

2. Voodoo

3. Hope in the Hood

4. Everybody’s Friend

5. Lord of the night

6. Instascam - Special Version

7. Unbroken

8. Sassy Frassy

9. Beast With Rage

10. Same Ladder

11. Victory is Mine

12. Street Queens

13. Fierce

Antoin Gibson - Venom-Laced Tears

Venom-Laced Tears (Pop) Antoin Gibson comes to our blog this week with a roiling stormcloud of a track, “Venom-Laced Tears”. The record is equal parts dark, dangerous and ethereal, with a soundscape that we’d best describe as mystical. But while the production is delightfully lush, what hits us the hardest about the track are these delightfully poetic lyrics, descriptive and captivating. This is a track you want to listen to over and over again to capture every word. Delivered with a seductive whisper reminding us a lot of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”, Antoin slithers like a snake on this track. Dark, moody and intoxicating, we dug this excellent example of a stellar pen game.

Best Lyric: “Teardrops of venom cleanse the disease by disintegrating you.”

RydymX - Still chose love

Still chose love - RydymX (Rap) RydymX joins the blog this week with his latest single, “Still chose love”. A soulful string arrangement and heartfelt chord progression underlay a punchy percussion and crisp rap flow on the track, telling the story of a difficult childhood. But despite being subjected to the roughness of the world around him, the artist still chose love. The instrumentation gives us a nostalgic feel of the 2010s, and there’s a clear narrative here, describing an incident where our artist stood at the crossroads of choosing violence which would put him down a dark path or taking the high road. With an emotive flow paired with a soaring chorus, the track has a lot of heart, transforming the hip hop number into something with Top 40 crossover appeal.

Best Lyric: “Teacher said, oh you won’t be much. Life hit hard no gentle touch.”

Amara-Fe - Echoes (LP)

Echoes (LP) - Amara-Fe (Pop) Amara-Fe joins us this week, bringing us her 9-track LP “Echoes”. Having previously reviewed her work, it’s nice to have her back, especially with a full suite of tracks to dive into. But before we tell you why “Echoes” is a must listen, let’s talk a little bit about our artist.

Hailing from Mission, rising star Amara-Fe comes to us with deep-rooted connections to the music industry. With uncles Eugene & Rene jamming in Tulsa and a grandmother writing for Minnie Ripperton, music is in Amara-Fe’s blood. We’ve been fortunate to review Amara-Fe in the past when she brought us feel good track “To good for that” from her REBORN LP. There, a self confidence permeated the track in a Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” kinda way, with a pop Top 40 flare and hard hitting, theatrical vocals preaching a simple message: “Boy, bye!”

On “Echoes”, we get everything we want from Amara-Fe. Housed mostly in mid-tempo R&B, Amara-Fe is a supremely confident woman who isn’t afraid to open her heart, but at the same time knows when to close it to protect herself. This is a woman who knows both her boundaries and her worth, and is able to express all of that on an immaculately produced collection perfectly sequenced to tell a clear narrative. As such, it’s worthy of a straight through listen in order to go on the journey Amara-Fe has laid out for listeners.

The album starts with a snappy pop mid tempo , “Love Forever last”, a love song about wishing to prolong the highs of love. Amara-Fe is infatuated, but the vocals convey a relaxed ease about the feelings rather than anxious yearning. Like track itself, Amara-Fe rests comfortable in the pocket on this one, riding out the beat while wrapping herself in love. We particularly liked the little call and response moments.

“Don’t tear us apart” immediately takes a turn, as a soft piano ushers in an R&B midtempo. The love of the prior track has fallen apart, with the beautiful duet ballad descending into the melancholy of the end of love. This is our favorite track on the album, reminding us of a Chris Brown duet, with the passionate vocals we expect from this artist. Hit, hit, hit.

“Warning signs” is a song about hindsight being 20/20 . It’s a punchy groove with a cool guitar punctuation throughout to make a real head nodder, reminding us of early 00s productions. In this and other tracks, Amara-Fe often rides the line between sung vocals and rap in a way Ariana sometimes dips into.

“Love on another level” swings back to the positive with a ballad on unbreakable love. Amara-Fe confidently professes that she loves her person more than their own family does. This is the confidence we were first introduced to back in our first review. Amara-Fe knows exactly who she is and how good of a partner she is.

“Paper planes” continues our suite for guitar-forward tracks as Amara-Fe leans back into her lyrical flow about wild love that burns too hot too fast. The imagery in this one is fantastic. This was a runner up for favorite track.

“Why can’t you love me” feels like a sequel to “Love on another level”. In the latter, Amara-Fe knows the great love that she is, and now she’s asking why she’s not getting it in return. She continues to exude confidence. This a self assured, secure woman right here.

“To fly to cry” pulls us back into ballad where Amara-Fe walks away, says goodbye and does so holding her head high. This is the culmination of all that came before—our artist has realized that her lover didn’t deserve her, isn’t on her level, can’t reciprocate what she brings and she feels empowered walking away. This is a track for the jilted lover.

“Standing at the window” is the emotional fallout. While she might have walked out confidently, she’s got some pain to work through, and gives herself a pep talk on this track to get through and move on.

Finally album closer “You don’t own me” gives us everything we want from Amara-Fe—silky smooth vocals, confidence and a catchy midtempo. It’s the culmination of the entire project, an empowered ode to rising up and not allowing the love who didn’t deserve her to break her down. Amara-Fe, if anything, is a survivor.

All in all, “Echoes” is a cleverly written, passionately delivered R&B/pop crossover rumination on love, loss, heartbreak and confidence. This album is the perfect mix of feminine softness and feminist empowerment.

Tracks:

1. Love Forever last

2. Don’t tear us apart

3. Warning signs

4. Love on another level

5. Paper planes

6. Why can’t you love me

7. To fly to cry

8. Standing at the window

9. You don’t own me

Tobias Lund - Made Up My Mind

Made Up My Mind - Tobias Lund (Pop) This week, we are joined by Austin-based Danish artist Tobias Lund with latest track “Made Up My Mind”. Featuring local collaborators Jose Cafaro and JTB, the track is an R&B/pop hybrid which Tobias hopes highlights cross-cultural collaboration. On “Made Up My Mind”, we are treated to a honey smooth track with a healthy injection of funk, overall reminding us of early Maxwell tracks. That 90s neo soul feel comes with some music appreciation as well with a nice callout to Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”. Each vocalist brings the heat, blending together to form a perfect little R&B supergroup.

Best Lyric: “Lying straight through your teeth there baby, it’s all plain to see.”

Kayla Ramos - Oceans Deep

Oceans Deep - Kayla Ramos (Pop) Kayla Ramos joins us this week with her latest track “Oceans Deep.” The California-born, Filipino-American singer-songwriter roots her craft in vulnerability and nostalgia. On “Oceans Deep”, a somber piano backs an ethereal, almost mystical, vocal, which drips with emotion. It’s the performance of a high priestess conducting a mountain top ritual. Kayla sings of a deep connection, where just one look from her love both overwhelms and fills her. The song is slow and steady, with a thudding heartbeat of a drum and subtle strings patiently driving us through the track. Overall, it’s a heavenly song that fully captures the themes of water as the listener is carried by a gentle current, floating along the soundscape. This one goes great with a hot bath in candlelight, a spa treatment or your daily meditation.

Best Lyric: “Every tide will only carry you to me.”

SHAB - Skin & Bones

Skin & Bones - SHAB (Pop) This week, SHAB joins us with pop/dance track “Skin & Bones”, paired with a sleek music video about a heavy subject matter. On its face, “Skin & Bones” is a dance track about not being able to live without someone, that their love makes SHAB more than just ‘skin and bones’. But in the music video, a slickly produced narrative with high choreo dance breaks, we learn that the song is inspired by the unbreakable bond SHAB has with her husband who a few years ago survived a car accident. This disclosure brings even more heart to the song, which undulates with palpable passion, as a punchy drum kit punctuates through an ear candy synth vocal to create a Top 40 ready pop confection.

Best Lyric: “Without your soul, I’m skin and bones.”

William Kalmer & Audrey Karrasch - Graceland

Graceland - William Kalmer & Audrey Karrasch (Pop) This week brings us “Graceland”, which is South African songwriter and producer William Kalmer’s first release in many years, a deep collaboration with singer-songwriter Audrey Karrasch. William tells us that he focuses on creating emotionally driven music, emphasizing restraint, texture and honest storytelling. On “Graceland”, we get a driving power ballad with quite a build throughout. It’s an understated instrumental production, allowing Audrey’s vocals to take center stage. She croons with melancholy, reminiscing over a prior love, wishing she could go back in time to the climax of their encounter—graceland. Overall, it’s a heartfelt song that, from production to vocals to lyrics, excellently pulls on those heartstrings.

Best Lyric: “Woke up with makeup on, ashtray your ghost is gone.”

Meco Velez - Gasoline

Gasoline - Meco Velez (Pop/R&B) This week we feature Meco Velez, a latina queen with a mix of black girl magic, with her latest track “Gasoline.” Meco’s brand is “fearless femininity” and “sensual storytelling”, she tells us, making music that “doesn’t play it safe.” On “Gasoline”, a stormy undulating synth underlies an overall mysterious production. The track is pure sex, with a growling bass barging in on the choruses, pairing with Meco’s sultry vocals, to punctuate the urgency and seriousness of Meco’s desire. It’s pure, unadulterated lust on “Gasoline”, which makes it the perfect bedroom track for that special playlist of yours. ;)

Best Lyric: “I feel it starting when you put your hands on me.”

James Bellew - Hollywood

Hollywood - James Bellew (Pop) James Bellew arrives on our blog this week with infectious mid tempo cut “Hollywood.” A lilting guitar and punchy, driving percussion are cut with buttery soft female vocals that almost coo in your ear as the overall mesmerizing production carries the listener through the record. A nostalgic and timeless track, the song describes a magic moment on the dance floor between two lovers where time seems to stand still and both get lost in the intoxication of the atmosphere. Overall, we think “Hollywood” sparkles with the same magic its lyrics describe, and pairs nicely with a windows down, sunny drive down the coast. This is a cruising track.

Best Lyric: “A holiday vibe, just you and me.”

For6i66en 3laxk - Villains FDO (ft ATS Semaj)

Villains FDO - For6i66en 3laxk ft ATS Semaj (Hip Hop) We’ve got quite a menacing track on the blog this week with “Villains FDO”. Our two artists pass the baton between each other with ease over a dark and gritty track, characterized by a thudding bass and foreboding synth that injects a sense of danger, emphasized by the maniacal chuckling of our artists. On the track, our artists embrace their villain status, relishing in it, almost as if they are feeding off any hate or criticism that comes their way. With that in mind, the track becomes an excellent hype track for those moments where you gleefully become the bad guy.

Best Lyric: “A villain isn’t born, he is made.”

Olivia Cox - Made Friends

Made Friends - Olivia Cox (Pop) Olivia Cox is accepting life on its own terms in her latest track, and first appearance on our blog, “Made Friends.” A punchy mid tempo, “Made Friends” is an ode to accepting that moving through life comes with baggage, and rather than fight it, one must simply learn to roll with the punches. Olivia’s silky vocals deliver some wonderfully crafted lyrics about acceptance of your circumstances, and are underlaid by a dreamy synth pad that lends to the feeling of zen Olivia wishes to convey. Married with a driving bass line and bubbling synth arpeggio, it’s a well baked, catchy little track.

Best Lyric: “The key to happiness is always stay a little insane.”

Max Sarre - 2025

2025 - Max Sarre (Pop) This week, we welcome London based singer Max Sarre to the blog with his latest track, “2025”. Max notes that the track is a significant milestone in his musical journey, notably pushing his boundaries and refining his sound, making this a standout track in his discography. The record is a driving synth pop number reminiscing on the simpler times of his youth-specifically pre-COVID times. Max holds a mirror to modern day society, pointing out social media facades and lack of authenticity on a track that otherwise feels quite easy breezy. It’s a catchy tune for sure, marrying thoughtful subject matter with whimsy.

Best Lyric: “A different life came in overnight.”

Marina Lang - Rose Garden

Rose Garden - Marina Lang (Pop) Marina out here making that feel good music with her latest track, “Rose Garden”, a track about quiet loneliness in a one-sided relationship. In the song, Marina and her lover are holding hands in a rose garden, but only one is truly there in the romance of the moment. A funky dance floor spinner with serious retro vibes, this is the kind of track that immediately throws you back to the backyard BBQs of yesteryear. With a NuDisco funky step clap format, Marina Lang layers on honey smooth vocals for a track that goes down easy, making you immediately think of summertime.

Best Lyric: “I’m invisible to you.”

Soffel - what the future holds

what the future holds - Soffel (Pop) We welcome Soffel to our little music blog this month with latest track “what the future holds,” credited as the artist’s most honest of their recent work exploring themes of anxiety, emotional paralysis and inner conflict. The record feels incredibly personal, with a muted grunge underlying the pop elements to give a harder edge and slightly retro feel. The track sends a chill down the spine, ominous and full of dread and melancholy. It’s a song that wrestles inner demons, and is a great soundtrack for when you’re in your feels. In the end, with this level of introspection and vulnerability, we think what the future holds for Soffel is great success.

Best Lyric: “Medicine sometimes helps but don’t beat this fear.”