Browsing Tag

Berklee

your friend juniper’s ‘makesmehappy’ Builds a Bridge Between Fantasy and Fearless Living

Posted on 20 February 2025

What begins as a Disney-esque ballad in makesmehappy doesn’t stay in the realm of romantic fantasy for long. your friend juniper—Nashville-based singer-songwriter, producer, and videographer—obscures the whimsical with artful neo-folk instrumentation, her textured rhythm section syncopating beneath vocal lines that don’t just soar but ascend into something divine.

Seamlessly shifting from delicate reverie to something far more profound, this track solidifies her as much more than a vocal powerhouse; she’s an artist who doesn’t just perform but pours her soul into sound.

With a background spanning musical theatre, classical, and contemporary music—honed at Berklee College of Music—your friend juniper wields her vocal versatility with intent, never relying on sheer power alone. makesmehappy resonates with the same evocative energy as her inspirations Hayley Heynderickx, Madison Cunningham, and Regina Spektor, yet the emotional depth and spiritual warmth in her sound make this track unmistakably hers.

If any single can convince you to chase your happiness without hesitation, it’s makesmehappy, which only becomes more of a revelation with each repeat listen.

The first single from her upcoming full-length album is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

J Cass subverted RnB with the neon-lit melancholy in ‘In Da Club’

Posted on 21 July 2024

In Da Club by J Cass unleashes itself from the parameters of the typical RnB anthem by subverting expectations with its Weeknd-esque pensiveness layered beneath the shimmering, neon-lit instrumentals.

The follow-up to his debut, What We Gon’ Do, showcases J Cass’s scintillating ability to blend visceral colour and melancholy within smooth, minor key melodies. His vocals, heavy with gravitas, sweep across the trap-infused beats, marking this track as a profound exploration of emotional depth and artistic maturity.

In Da Club tears down the barriers to the soul, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journeys while dancing to its rhythm. As J Cass continues to navigate and reshape the R&B landscape, his tracks invite us to submerge into our own introspective experiences.

Joseph Castro, the man behind J Cass, hails from Tampa, Florida, and brings a rich background in music and life philosophy to his work. As a graduate of Berklee with a BA in Music Business, he is deeply committed to influencing the music scene through his soul-stirring sonics and educating young minds as a teacher at the Bach to Rock Music School, where he is fostering the next generation of musical talent.

In Da Club is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kelsey Blackstone is a stylistically expansive sensation in her latest single, Willow

Posted on 21 June 2024

Kelsey Blackstone’s latest stylistically expansive single, Willow, proves there is no definitive sound of the summer. Away from the plastic pop fray, Blackstone submerged the sonic palette of this imagination-sparking release into the ephemeral bliss of the sun-soaked season which quickly passes, long before the memories we cling to, and keep ourselves warm with in the colder months

With a jazzy pop chorus, filled with smooth horn stabs and mellifluous grooves, and an electro-folk middle eight nestled into the synthesis of pop, rock, soul, and award-winning songwriting that puts Kelsey Blackstone up there with the greats, Willow brims with incomparable quintessence.

It’s impossible not to get swept up in the dreamy reverie of her transcendent vocal lines as they bring swathes of colour and soul to the lyrics which yearn for consistency in an ever-changing world and nestle into the single that delivers a quintessentially old-school live sound.

Whenever you feel the need to touch grass, tune into this single instead; your connection to nature will be far greater. Better yet, never miss a chance to witness the Boston-born artist’s live performances; whether she’s playing solo or with her six-piece band, she’s renowned for raising the roof and allowing her audience to taste tonal utopia.

Willow was officially released on June 14; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Leah Nawy is the ultimate contender for originator of the year after releasing her debut single, NUISANCE

Posted on 22 August 2023

By combining the soul of Sade with the tongue-in-cheek charm of Kate Nash and leaving plenty of room for her own striking rock-licked sonic signature stylings that open the floodgates to a rush of 90s pop nostalgia, Leah Nawy hit the ground running with her feisty and fresh debut single, NUISANCE.

If you’ve still got the attention span to appreciate a perfect three-minute pop hit, lose yourself in the vibrant tones, groove-driven and funk-dripping instrumentals, and some of the sweetest sugared-with-attitude vocal lines you will hear this year.

With a polyphonically jazzy rock n roll outro that enabled Nawy to dig her heels into her authenticity, NUISANCE is a debut that no one will be quick to forget. Even with the industry more saturated than it has ever been, there’s no denying Leah Nawy is a promising triple threat with her charisma, talent, and ear for earwormy melodies.

After she finishes her Masters degree in songwriting and production at Berklee NYC, she will be an unstoppable force.

NUISANCE hit the airwaves on the 28th of July; stream it for yourselves on Spotify.  

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Trying Too Hard: Himang wonders why they argue so much on ‘Young’

Posted on 22 May 2021

As he wonders what is wrong with him as things just aren’t working out with his love, Himang says what is on his mind via his new innocent single that will have you dancing wherever you are on ‘Young‘.

Himang is a flamboyant Beijing-born Korean-Indian pop/RnB singer-songwriter and Berklee College of Music student. He is impressively fluent in English, Korean, and Mandarin, as he makes wonderfully constructed music about love and thoroughly enjoys to communicate his feelings and observations, with the adoring world.

You feel his smoothly shaved voice, that is to the point and sung with a terrific array of highlights — that bleach your speakers blonde — with a singer who feels like he only going to get better and better. His invigorating vocals has your mind in a happy spin, as you turn him up and enjoy the moment, with a singer who performs from the heart so sweetly.

‘Young‘ from the talented Korean-Indian pop/RnB singer-songwriter Himang, opens the freshly painted door to how he feels right now in this crazy world. He knows that he is young and says silly things sometimes, but doesn’t mean for it to be harmful in any way at all.

This is a reflective song that is perfectly timed when you laugh at those past relationships and all those foolish moments you wish you could take back. Living is learning they say.

Hear this new captivating voice as he moves up the ranks on Spotify and see more news via his growing IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

‘Sorry, I’m Not’ from Chinese C-Pop/R&B artist Echo Huang is a song with genre-bending skill about heartbreak

Posted on 9 November 2020

‘Sorry, I’m Not‘ from Chinese C-Pop/R&B artist Echo Huang is a song with genre-bending skill about heartbreak that shines through the dark clouds of current times. The Berklee College of Music student is on a mission to combine these two styles to educate her homeland and also create her own lane in the music highway.

Currently based in Boston, you get the feeling that this young musician is finding her voice really quickly. With a fresh sound and lots of self-motivation, this is the start of something special. Inspired by OG Chinese artists, Whitney Houston, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu just to name a few, Echo is learning from the best but also doing things in her own way.

You know your self-worth and refuse to let anyone push you around. You are sad that things ended and the friendship is over but they walked over you way too many times. The trust barrier is broken like a car that needs a much-needed service.

Echo Huang sings with such grace on ‘Sorry, I’m Not‘. She knows her value and isn’t letting anyone bring her down. With a lovely voice and clever lyrics, this is such an enjoyable listen that keeps you hooked all the way through. I love the way that Echo writes music, her lyrics catch your attention and the beat meshes perfectly with the message.

This is an artist with so much talent and authenticity, which is just what we needed in this crazy year. She has made this writer a huge C-Pop/R&B fan and many more will follow.

Click here for the Spotify link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen