Browsing Category

Illinois

Ready To Roll: C.K.G swoops down like a hungry eagle on bouncy gem ‘Well’ (We Survivors)

Posted on 15 September 2021

Taken off his vibrant thirteen-track album ‘For The Music Supervisors, Vol.2‘, C.K.G shows us that he is ready for anything as he has seen much and is down for whatever obstacles come his way with his new track ‘Well’ (We Survivors).

C.K.G is an award-winning music producer and indie singer-songwriter/rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He makes that mood-lifting ambiance that has those feet tapping and your whole body moving to the rhythmic vibe, of a true underground legend with that style you are born with.

”This is a compilation of Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Trap, Rap, House music & more.” ~ C.K.G

With energetic bars that stomps the floor and has you nodding that delighted head in absolute delight, this is a real throwback to those classic days of hip-hop and is made with a modern edge too. He seems to have that I’m-ready-to-ride mentality, which shows he has met many fakes before who actually want him to fail. After realized who is real in this copycat world, he turns up the voltage and flows through the air to swoop down and remind us what good music should sound like.

‘Well‘ (We Survivors) from the Chicago, Illinois-based music producer and rapper/singer-songwriter C.K.G, is that call to keep the motivation high as things are always falling around us in life. He raps with a clearly efficient style and the beat is rather juicy on this one, as he throws us up in the air on this party-style track for the ages.

Hear this new sizzle-single on Spotify and see more via his IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Not The Right Time: Boston-based indie pop artist Chris Peters knows that he is always ‘In Between’

Posted on 12 September 2021

With a radiant ray of vibrantly exciting energy that certainly transforms those cloudy days into wonderful sunshine, Chris Peters wants to be with his dream lover so much but knows that they will always be with someone else on ‘In Between’.

Chris Peters is a Chicago-born, Boston-based indie pop singer-songwriter. He is a current Berklee College of Music in Boston student, and is only interested in spreading love and light through his music creations.

He sings with such a clear vocal ability that makes you take notice and turn up the volume, as he performs with a freedom that is so glorious to lather lovingly inside. With a smooth style and rather descriptive lyrics that shows you where his head is at, he avoids the often-confusing mystery and shows us warmly into his clearly creative mind with much-pleasing gusto.

‘In Between‘ from the Boston-based indie pop singer-songwriter Chris Peters, is that leave-me or love-me type of song which follows a relevant story of being with someone who you love, but it seems like you will be destined to be friends with forever. Your heart is telling you to stick around as things might change – but your trustworthy gut is saying you should move on – as you wonder deeply as to why your ideal lover, wants to be with someone else who continues to hurt them.

Sometimes you just need to accept that you can’t be together, even when you see them your heart beats uncontrollably and you say things you wouldn’t with anyone else in the world.

Stream this new single on his Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Never Get Another One: Radiant Chicago RnB artist Vesta shines beautifully on ‘Personality’

Posted on 12 September 2021

Taken off the latest thirteen-track album named ‘Hydra‘, Vesta lets it be known that we have only one ‘Personality‘ so its best to use it wisely and be yourself always.

Vesta is a Los Angeles, California-born, San Francisco-raised, Chicago-based, queer indie RnB/soul singer-songwriter. Music with a purpose is the mission here, as there is a classy vibe that has been created to assist others in being themselves no matter what.

”Vesta’s interest in music production began after listening to Daft Punk’s Alive 2007, as began their mixing skill with Ableton Live. Progressing from house to a more relaxed style akin to that of Sade or Raveena, Vesta slowly began to incorporate their own writing and voice into their music.” ~ Vesta

There is much to love from an underground artist of this quality, with a true story that so many of us seem to easily forget. With so many people trying to copy bad role models daily, this is the kind of refreshing correction the youth need to digest and never forget the taste of.

‘Personality‘ from the highly creative Chicago-based indie RnB/soul artist Vesta, is the message that should reverberate about our hungry-for-realness hearts and adds an extra glow of love to proceedings. The vocals are crystal and pure, created with a dazzling display of that intriguing goodness. which is much-needed in this at-times selfish world.

This is the type of peachy track to put on when you need reminding – that you should always be yourself no matter what – and express yourself to be fully understood in this treasured life of ours.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Hide Our Thoughts: Chicago alt-pop artist Chandler Poe wonders about the state of existence in this world on the poetic debut ‘No One’

Posted on 11 September 2021
https://soundcloud.com/chandlerpoe/no-one

With a poet-like style that changes up your current mindset to thinking more thoughtful, Chandler Poe is in inspired form via his brand new single all about this weird life called ‘No One‘.

Chandler Poe is a twenty-one-years-young alt-pop artist from Chicago, Illinois. He is a true underground poet, who puts on a stunning display with a performance which will have you listening twice and telling your friends about.

This is the message of looking a bit deeper as no one is the same at all – as you look to find something truly meaningful to hold onto – in this rather odd world full of misdirection and loneliness. He sounds ready to project his thoughts in his own way, which ultimately is the best way to do things.

With so many lazy copycats and fake posers lurking at every corner, this is an inspired effort from an artist with an abundance of creative energy just waiting to burst open and cure us from all the heartbreak around.

‘No One‘ from the Chicago-based alt-pop solo artist Chandler Poe, is the story about thinking deeply about this man-made alternate world which we currently live in. With so many people watching and listening to our every move, the power of hiding your thoughts and actions has never been more important.

Featuring a deep tone, introspective lyrics and an authentic beat that seems to end before flourishing rather quickly again, is one of the more fascinating debut tracks you will hear all year.

Hear this new track on Soundcloud and see more via his IG music channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Swim Ignorant Fire speaks to your rhythmic pulses on a primal level with ‘Initiated’

Posted on 3 September 2021
Swim Ignorant Fire

Chicago Illinois experimentalist, Swim Ignorant Fire, has launched their latest single, Initiated, as a leftfield globally inspired teaser of his album, Bufo Alvarius. The soundscape makes a Herculeanly strong case for multiculturism as the Eastern vocals ethereally drift in and out of the ambient electronic mix that also feeds in distorted guitars and bass.

If your ambient lo-fi playlists are feeling a like uninspiring, funk them up with this infectiously eclectic release that speaks to your rhythmic pulses on a primal level.

Get Initiated by heading over to Swim Ignorant Fire’s Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Know We Belong: Courageous Chicago indie-rock trio Jacks and Atoms inspire us to join together as one team on ‘We Stand’

Posted on 29 August 2021

After starting the song and coming back to it as the pandemic ravaged the world like an angry fire that wouldn’t go out, Jacks and Atoms bring us much-needed peace with a wonderfully created new single all about growing despite the wicked fear around during these savage times with ‘We Stand‘.

Jacks and Atoms is an entertaining Chicago, Illinois-based indie-rock trio. They make an elite blend of looking-deeper music which touches on real topics we can all get behind, as they bring a likable energy to this confused world.

With a true story all about doing what is needed to move the suffocating boulders which have taken over our deepest thoughts, this is a fantastic single which has you thinking much clearer than before. Featuring crystal clear vocals and a stunning guitar background to dance the doubts away into the woods, you somehow feel rather reinvigorated after cleaning your soul with this excellent effort.

‘We Stand‘ from the highly enjoyable Chicago-based indie-rock trio Jacks and Atoms, is an important story all about standing up for yourself and not being afraid to rise up tall when needed. They sing with such an uplifting energy, which has us building our mind bridges and staying strong, lifting above all the hate and confusion.

This is the message we all needed to hear, as they bring the world a hopeful effort to all join hands to. As one team.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see their exciting journey on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

KennethWayne laced the airwaves with indie lo-fi psych-pop soul with ‘Sound of Regret’.

Posted on 31 July 2021

US alt-indie artist KennethWayne’s experimental sound is constantly in flux; taken from his LOOK UP mixtape is the best introduction to his eccentrically affable style. Sound of Regret is a sweetly kaleidoscopic hit of lo-fi psych-pop that retains soul despite the retrospective melancholy.

Between the kicking percussion, accordant guitar chords and the masterful straight-off-the-tape-deck vibes, if Sound of Regret fails to leave you feeling endeared, you can assume your soul is defunct. Fans of Elliott Smith, the Beatles and Nick Drake definitely won’t want to miss out on this release.

Sound of Regret is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Follow the artist on Instagram. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wish You Could Of Loved Me Better: Sensational Chicago sister duo CORA show such scintillating class on debut single ‘Homesick’

Posted on 29 July 2021

As they courageously wrote this incredible song whilst their flight home from LAX was delayed, CORA open up their hearts which were sadly broken by two selfish guys who showed their true colors eventually on ‘Homesick‘.

CORA is a captivating Wisconsin-born, Chicago, Illinois-based sister indie pop duo formed by Meghan and Caitlin Foley. They soulfully formulate a lovely blend of excellent music melodies about the struggles of being in love, with the pressures of fake social media always around, as well as the journey to finding themselves.

”A few months ago we decided it was time to rebrand and change our name. We chose the name CORA which symbolizes the heart and honesty, which is what we want our music to represent, too.” ~ CORA 

This is the sad story about being with someone who seems sweet at first – but then shows you how indescribably devious they really are – as they are small-mindlessly manipulative and are only thinking of themselves. You take it on the chin for a while and hope for change but then it becomes too much, as you then know that their time is up and you need to escape quickly, before they control you like an evil nemesis forever.

With lusciously intertwined vocals and a close togetherness brewing so brightly like a shooting star, you sense that they are starting a new journey that they have been waiting for. Their mindset is now aligned and you feel like they will always communicate properly from now on. Their loving bond is alive and bright, as they sing so beautifully in unison to also help those who have been hurt by a cruel lost love.

‘Homesick‘ from the fantastic Chicago-based sister indie pop duo CORA, shows us music vibrations that when you turn on, has your horrid ex stepping painfully onto a sneakily hidden piece of wayward Lego. They have a dynamic fusion together that is so lovingly authentic, and send our reflective minds into a real spin of past flashbacks.

Sometimes you think that you are with the right person who will be there forever, when actually you have just found out that you need a new type. Quickly. That real love is waiting for you however, when you find that special soul waiting to connect with you, in a place you least expected it.

Stream this wonderful debut single on YouTube and see their exciting journey via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Time To Take A Stand: Confident Chicago rapper Demko is ‘Feelin’ so good

Posted on 28 July 2021

With a positive outlook and a cheeky smile which shows that he is in the zone right now, Demko has that all-knowing ‘Feelin‘ that his day is only going to get better with a flow-filled display on his new blaze-filled music video.

Demko is an assertive Chicago, Illinois-based rapper, music producer, singer, actor and artist. He makes that swarming old school hip-hop, which is packed full of meaningful bars which has your mind alive with possibilities.

This is the track all about showing that you are on a mission and the story takes us on a body grooving journey throughout the buzzing city – as the vibe is there in the blood-thirsty veins – and this is a terrific single all about taking yourself into another level from the rest. The self-belief is definitely there and the lyrics just seem to appear as you are walking around, as  you sense his eyes are only locked onto success.

‘Feelin‘ from the clean shades-wearing Chicago, Illinois-based indie rapper, actor and producer Demko, is a bounce-in-his-step type of release that has you beaming from ear to ear. He shows such cleverly-penned lyrics and a lighter-fueled smoke of delight on each verse here, as his grin-stacked charm is oozing in delight. He feels good and wants to let everyone know, that he is only elevating to levels that many of his former friends, wish they could be a part of.

When you feel good you just know it deep inside your bones – as you take a stand with yourself and choose to ignore all of the undesirable energy – which so many choose to breathe, instead of that smartly chosen positive vibration.

Stream this new music video on YouTube and find out more on his IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

John Greska has released his eccentrically introspective indie-folk-pop single, ‘The Big Hill’

Posted on 6 July 2021
John Greska

If Bowie picked up some folky Midwest charm, his Ziggy Stardust days would have run in the same vein as John Greska’s eccentrically psychotropic single, The Big Hill, which explores the pace at which the sands of time slips by.

With the playfully polyphonic synths and keys paired with John Greska’s quaint yet charismatic vocal timbre, this indie-folk-synthpop-single couldn’t be more endearing. Rather than leaving you in an existentialist catatonic state as you ponder just how fleeting your existence is, The Big Hill leaves you with the same ardour for life as exhibited in the reminder that the days will slip by you if you let them.

The Big Hill will officially release on July 19th; you can check it for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast