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Cali Soul Singer Mark Alan Wilson Helped His Fans ‘Cut Loose’ With His Latest Release

Posted on 29 March 2025

Mark Alan Wilson is the kind of modern artist who makes you suspect he struck a deal with the devil, transforming his own soul into the purest conduit for RnB. His latest single, ‘Cut Loose’, lands effortlessly as a feel-good track fuelled with authentic substance and style.

Wilson is a rare musician who never needs to break convention to sign, seal, and deliver a sound that naturally stands apart. Distinction resonates powerfully through the rapture of his honeyed-smoke harmonies, drifting timelessly into that sanctuary only the sound of soul can provide. The track offers a gentle but necessary reminder that, although patience is essential for life’s bigger pleasures, small delights are scattered everywhere. It grants the listener full permission to cast aside life’s darker moments and simply cut loose, if only for one night.

The swanky jazz-infused interludes and blues guitar riffs sweep away the heaviness from any weary mind, allowing Wilson to effortlessly mainline serotonin into your day. Wilson’s commitment to authentic soul music is evident, resonating as he continues to build momentum through live performances, setting the stage for an array of promising releases throughout 2025.

‘Cut Loose’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

White Picket Fences Are a Lie: Pillowprince Rewire Queer Disillusionment in ‘R the Straights OK’

Posted on 29 March 2025

With ‘R the Straights OK’, the Oakland indie gaze trio Pillowprince crack open heteronormativity with a switchblade grin and the simmering scorn of lived queer reality. What starts in alt-indie quiescence, all ethereal lilt and slowburn restraint, fractures with a scuzzy interlude that proves distortion isn’t just a sonic texture—it’s the emotional static that fuzzes over every moment spent being bent into someone else’s blueprint.

Crafted from the leather-creased, glitter-smeared spaces Pillowprince call home, the track flickers between fragility and defiant force. Olivia Lee’s vocals, feather-light but sharpened with conviction, echo through the mix like the ghost of a version of yourself you tried to edit out. As the instrumentation teases the hook with near-ritualistic patience, you’re pulled into a queer coming-of-age narrative where conformity is the real villain. The melodic breaks are more than sonic punctuation—they’re the spaces where all the unspoken things pool.

Lyrically, it’s a spicy satirical stab at the expectation to fall in line—white picket fences, 2.5 kids, dead-eyed suburbia—before it swerves back into the shadows of a different kind of fulfilment. This is queer unity under pressure. A noise-drenched consolation for anyone crushed under the weight of pretending that “normal” ever meant safe. With Sea Snyder on drums and Liza Stegall on bass locking in a rhythm section that holds its shape even as everything else implodes, the band embodies queer rebellion.

‘R the Straights OK’ is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link. 


Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Paul Robert’s ‘Release’ Proves Catharsis Hits Harder With Cross-Genre Firepower

Posted on 23 March 2025

With Release, Paul Robert proves that artistic distinction lies within taking influences from genres instead of merely assimilating certain figures within the niche. With a cascade of synths serving as a polyphonic prelude that reminisces with a John Carpenter score before he allows you to imagine a matured offshoot of Bloodhound Gang, Paul Robert becomes the master of inter-genre alchemy.

With a sense of mindfulness reverberating through the enlightened, locked and loaded with lyrical gold track, it’s impossible not to feel the catharsis and the hype simultaneously being injected by the electronica, hip-hop and pop crossover.

After pivoting from a sales career in early 2024 and launching his debut 110—a nod to the steep learning curve and the commitment it demanded—Paul has shown no signs of easing up. When copyright disputes blocked his mixtapeLying from release, he didn’t retreat; he recalibrated. Relocating to Los Angeles, he restarted with new collaborators and fresh resolve. Release arrives as part of his new project Love Different, rolling out one unapologetic track at a time.

Paul’s optimism doesn’t come from naive cheer—it’s forged through friction, stitched through each verse touching on belief, action, love, and digital dysfunction. The track is a pressure valve and an invitation—both release and ignition.

Release by Paul Robert is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TNV’s Cream of the Crop – Boom Bap Nostalgia with Boundless Swagger

Posted on 15 March 2025

TNV fires off bars with the kind of force that turns a track into an event. Cream of the Crop, the standout single from his latest LP, For the Record, revives the lo-fi, jazz-infused soul of 00s hip-hop while pushing the energy into overdrive. The larger-than-life presence in his luxe lyrical delivery makes each line hit harder; anyone who grew up on Jay-Z’s prime will feel right at home in the trailblazing anthem which serves as the ultimate soundtrack to your aspiration for greatness.

Swanky melodies and soaring sax lines give the beat a sleek, refined touch, while TNV’s relentless flow keeps the momentum urban nirvana-high. Every bar builds up a kinetic charge that refuses to settle. There’s no stepping back, no slowing down—just pure adrenaline, driven by hooks designed to stick in the psyche. The massive production carries echoes of Run the Jewels, but TNV digs deep into boom bap and soul-driven jazzy hip-hop nostalgia while carving out a sound that is quickly becoming synonymous with his irreplicable presence on the airwaves.

Growing up in Los Angeles with parents deeply embedded in the music industry, TNV absorbed the culture from an early age. His lyricism holds weight, and he uses it to energise and elevate in equal measure. With a fanbase expanding with every release, For the Record positions him at the forefront of the new wave of hip-hop nostalgia.

Cream of the Crop is available now on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Project ATKY Tune into Jazz’s Timeless Pulse with Walkman at Night

Posted on 22 February 2025

When Project ATKY lays down beats, they orchestrate a space where nostalgia and modernity dissolve into one another. Their debut single, Walkman at Night, leans heavier on jazz textures and time signatures than traditional hip-hop rhythms, resulting in an instrumental that drifts through organically unpredictable progressions. With the irreplicable magnetism of jazz’s free-flowing pulse, the track instantly disarms, welcoming listeners to imbibe in hazy, warm tones potent enough to abstract them from the weight of the present.

The duo—Andrew and Kuan—channel the soul of Los Angeles into every note, drawing from the city’s irreplicable energy and deep-rooted musical history. While their sound is steeped in the rich textures of lo-fi and West Coast hip-hop, Walkman at Night thrives on its ability to capture the in-between moments: quiet evening walks, introspective solitude, and the lingering echoes of the day.

For Project ATKY, music isn’t just about sound—it’s about connection, simplicity, and comfort. Their debut sets a promising foundation, both in its understated sophistication and its ability to transport listeners somewhere deeply personal. Walkman at Night is the epitome of sublime—it’s only a matter of time before Project ATKY become a playlist staple for fans of laid-back lo-fi jazz.

Stream Walkman at Night on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hiram Torres’ ‘Devil’s Work’ Sets Fire to Hip-Hop’s Hollow Facades

Posted on 20 February 2025

 When Hiram Torres raps, he cuts through the smoke and lets the industry choke on the fumes. With ‘Devil’s Work’, the final single from his upcoming EP Otay Mesa, Torres tightens his grip on hyper-rap’s pulse, tearing apart the hollow bravado that fuels hip-hop’s most uninspired voices.

Torres produces as viciously as he spits, ensuring the roaring bass and chopped-up samples do just as much damage as his no-prisoners lyricism. The unrelenting momentum is a wrecking ball swung at the mediocrity he’s been forced to witness in the Los Angeles music scene. From talentless hopefuls who should have picked a trade to the cesspool of pay-to-play promoters, he makes it clear: he’s sick of the game, but too in love with hip-hop to walk away.

At its core, ‘Devil’s Work’ isn’t just a takedown; it’s an unfiltered account of what it means to fight for credibility in a culture that’s been diluted beyond recognition. The bluesy rock-infused middle eight pushes the track into unexpected yet seamlessly executed terrain, echoing That Handsome Devil while proving that Torres isn’t bound by convention. If honesty is the devil’s work, Torres is more than happy to be hell’s mouthpiece.

‘Devil’s Work’ is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

‘Mr. Struggle’ – A Sardonic Sucker Punch from Watch Your Tone

Posted on 20 February 2025

With a name as sharp as their sonic sensibilities, Watch Your Tone proves tonality is no afterthought in Mr. Struggle. The Los Angeles-based post-whatever trio—Andy Hoopes (guitar, vocals), Sam Thorne (bass, vocals), and Jenna Terranova (drums)—tear through rock’s lineage with a fuzz-soaked, sludgy surf punk charge that lands in the future of the genre. Sardonically subversive lyrics amplify the hook-rife hit’s immersive pull, with installations of power pop panache ensuring there’s just as much sugar as there is garagey grit.

Falling for the hype is effortless when a band can hammer out infectious earworms with this level of precision. Fans of Teenage Fanclub and The Wildhearts will find plenty to sink their teeth into, though Watch Your Tone’s ability to weaponise chaos into anthemic choruses is entirely their own.

If they hit this hard on record, the live experience must be nothing short of an intravenous shot of euphoria and adrenaline. Watch Your Tone were never made to be contained by the underground—Mr. Struggle is proof of that.

 Mr. Struggle is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Conner Eko is the ultimate advocate for defiant resilience in ‘Standing Up’

Posted on 24 January 2025

Conner Eko’s forthcoming single, Standing Up (Live in Studio), is an unflinching testament to resilience and defiance. Penned during a battle with suicidal ideation, the Vallejo, California-based astrophysicist and indie pop singer-songwriter channels his pain into a piano-driven power ballad that dares to shatter the silence around mental health struggles. The release, recorded live and uncut at Oakland’s 25th Street Recording Studios, marks another milestone in Eko’s deeply personal and professional evolution.

Eko’s performance, underscored by his strident piano chords and backed by the soulful harmonies of Marlo Goeller and Angel Syriah, achieves a seismic emotional force. The crescendos are sanctifying, surging with a zeal that carries echoes of Meat Loaf’s theatricality, tempered by gospel-inspired backing vocals. Each lyric resonates with the weight of someone who has faced the abyss and drawn a line in the sand, refusing to succumb to despair.

Filmed by independent filmmaker Aaron Japzon, the live session captures not just the music but the raw authenticity of Eko’s story. A short documentary, set to release shortly after the single, delves deeper into Eko’s journey, exploring his battle with depression and his transformative recovery through psychedelic integration therapy.

With its allegory of strength and refusal to wait for miracles, Standing Up doesn’t just advocate for mental health—it’s a visceral push toward hope.

Standing Up will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and Bandcamp, from January 24th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking Chains with a Beat: Isabella Chiarini’s ‘Gotta Be’ Shatters the Illusions of Toxic Love

Posted on 22 January 2025

Imagine the raw vocal power of Lady Gaga spiritually amplified by the hypnotic aura of Stevie Nicks, and you’ll get close to the visceral impact of Isabella Chiarini’s latest single, Gotta Be. Throw your perceptions of pop anthems by the wayside with the battle cry wrapped in melody, which tears down the illusions of toxic relationships with unapologetic candour and electrifying pop liberation in its purest form.

Chiarini’s ability to project emotional depth with soaring vocal conviction is nothing short of magnetic. The track’s lyrical narrative cuts to the heart of unhealthy dynamics, where manipulative partners masquerade as saviours. In Gotta Be, Chiarini flips the script, transforming her own lived experience into a universal reminder that happiness doesn’t hinge on anyone else. “It’s okay to do what’s right for you,” she affirms, “because, in the end, that’s what will make you happiest.”

Crafted with co-writers Teresa Nocita and Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo, Gotta Be showcases Isabella’s commitment to authenticity. Her influences may be rooted in personal pain, but the result is a fearless declaration of self-worth that uplifts as much as it empowers. The track seamlessly fuses bold pop hooks with subtle subgenre influences, creating a sonic identity that etches its way into the memory and refuses to fade.

From her beginnings at age eight to honing her craft with PCG Universal, Chiarini’s career has been fuelled by resilience. With Gotta Be, she’s sparking a revolution in how we approach love, freedom, and independence. Cast stones with her by hitting play.

Gotta Be was officially released on January 8th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LA’s GiNN 諸葛靖 dropped a darkly debauched dancefloor-scorching electrohop anthem with his mindfully mantric hit, //MHM//

Posted on 10 January 2025

LA’s GiNN 諸葛靖 is back with a swagger-soaked, unapologetically bold new single, //MHM//, dropping on 10th January. It’s a jet-black, body-moving juggernaut that hammers home his mission to bridge cultures and tear through genre boundaries in one fell swoop. The track bristles with a sense of unrestrained hedonism, but there’s an empowering undercurrent too, as GiNN commands us to trust our instincts and slam the door on timid self-doubt.

Charged with grit and fuelled by a pulsing bassline, //MHM// is precisely the kind of track that carves its own niche in Electrohop. As soon as the thundering beat kicks in, it’s clear GiNN has taken care to ensure every element lands like a knockout punch.

Recorded in Chengdu, Sichuan, and spearheaded by GiNN as Executive Producer, Composer, and Lyricist, the single joins a litany of cross-continental influences that shape his bilingual style. He’s deftly woven Mandarin and English hooks into a propulsive arrangement that feels underground-ready and crafted for the main stage.

With creative support from Otomic on arrangement and audio engineering, //MHM// simmers with dark tension before bursting into a thunderous assault of bass. GiNN’s low-slung vocals add an air of edgy mystique; there’s no mistaking his raw self-assurance as he urges listeners to own their choices. Lyrically, it holds true to the mantric backbone, turning a simple “mhm” into a resolute statement of intent.

GiNN’s commitment to celebrating his Han-American roots remains a vital part of his artistic identity. He’s proven he can hold sway both online—racking up more than 50K followers on 抖音—and on monumental stages like 88rising’s Head in the Clouds festival in Guangzhou.

//MHM// will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from January 10th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast