Browsing Tag

singer-songwriter

Chloe Leonard became Nashville’s queen of indie pop catharsis with her debut single, White Noise

Posted on 26 December 2024

Eschewing the timid hallmarks of many first releases, the Nashville-based indie singer-songwriter Chloe Leonard established herself as a vocal powerhouse with songwriting chops to match in her debut single, White Noise. The track is a carefully stylised, panoramic production that invites you to lose yourself in its tides of emotional resonance, while Leonard’s magnetic presence pulls you back to shore.

Raised in Northern California with a soundtrack of John Mayer, Norah Jones, and Fleetwood Mac, Leonard’s formative years were spent journaling lyrics, performing in musicals, and teaching herself piano—her first tune being Coldplay’s Clocks. Now rooted in Nashville, her sound mirrors her dual identity: expansive and evocative, with echoes of Keane’s melancholic sting, but retaining a quintessential country twang that adds depth to her weightless catharsis.

Collaborating with AMA-winning vocal coach Moe Loughran, Leonard has refined her raw vulnerability into relatable, lyrical storytelling. Her voice soars effortlessly over the warm instrumental layers, carrying both the authenticity of Kacey Musgraves and the ethereal magnetism of Maggie Rogers. The track’s poetic reflections touch on navigating mental health, finding balance, and embracing love amidst life’s noise—a theme that feels refreshingly grounded.

As she embarks on a year of new releases, Leonard’s honesty and elegance are sure to implant her in the Nashville hall of singer-songwriter fame before long.

White Noise was officially released on November 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cohen’s Protégé, Perla Batalla, is One of the Last True Chanteuses in ‘Awakened’

Posted on 23 December 2024

Between Grammy nods and praise from Leonard Cohen himself, there’s little doubt why Perla Batalla commands such esteem in the industry. Her most recent seminal single, Awakened, from the LP A Letter to Leonard Cohen, which was released on what would have been Cohen’s 90th birthday, proves she needs no coattails to ride upon. Cloaked in a sublime sense of grace, every note carries a cinematic magnetism that draws you into her soul-baring homage to the revered Canadian poet.

Batalla earned her prestigious industry stripes by touring and recording with Cohen for over a decade. Inspired by her upbringing in an immigrant household—an Afro-Mexican mariachi father and an Argentine mother who ran a record store—she developed a genre-blurring palette. In Awakened, her commanding voice glides alongside stirring melodies, reflecting the resilience that fuelled her return to the studio after a catastrophic hard-drive disappearance in Barcelona.

This release follows her first tribute, Bird on the Wire, which Cohen personally supported by attending sessions and contributing ideas. Dedicated to the late producer Hal Willner—known for orchestrating unorthodox musical collaborations—A Letter to Leonard Cohen also features Batalla’s two original compositions and includes special appearances such as Broadway luminary Patrick Page on Democracy, produced by the multi-Grammy Award-winning Mike Elizondo.

From sharing stages with Nick Cave and Rufus Wainwright to hosting sold-out shows worldwide, Batalla remains an essential interpreter of Cohen’s legacy, and Awakened resonates as pure melodic poetry from one of the last true chanteuses.

A Letter to Leonard Cohen is available to stream and purchase on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Discover more about Perla Batalla via the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Take a detour to ‘the suburbs of jersey’ with Natalee Gallo’s latest indie vignette of vulnerability

Posted on 19 December 2024

Natalee Gallo’s latest release, The Suburbs of Jersey, weaves a delicate yet unyielding balance between introspection and melodic sophistication. With her sophomore single, the Pittsburgh-based indie singer-songwriter invites listeners into the emotional architecture of her experiences, building bridges between past uncertainty and present clarity through her Americana-tinged indie pop.

A master of subtle dynamism, Gallo’s layered approach to songwriting breathes life into her narratives. The slide guitar’s soft curiosity melds seamlessly with the driving acoustic backbone, creating a soundscape that pulses with restrained intensity. The production evolves in waves, mirroring the emotional intricacies of its subject matter: the insecurities that stem from navigating perception and expectation at the genesis of a relationship.

Born from a journal entry penned in 2018, the track feels as confessional as it does cinematic. Gallo’s tender yet resolute vocal delivery conveys the vulnerability of her lyrics with an evocative timbre that paints panoramic emotional vistas. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what follows from the organically absorbing artist who can stir the coldest souls into feeling whole.

the suburbs of jersey is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sincerity and Skill Coalesce in Choclett P’s RnB Instant Classic, Do You Mind?

Posted on 17 December 2024

Do You Mind? by Choclett P aligns modern lyrical candour with a nostalgia-slick tempo, giving the shimmer of RnB an irresistible contemporary edge. The ‘Boy Meets Girl’ narrative veers away from expositions on superficial situationships, offering a tangible sense of honest connection. It’s as though the classic luminescence of RnB has been recast with a graceful subtlety, allowing soulful lyrics and seductive rhythms to coalesce in a perfect equilibrium.

Choclett P—born Larry Redding in South Bend, Indiana—occupies a unique sonic space influenced by Trey Songz, T-Pain, and Usher while still whispering of Michael Jackson’s timeless influence. He refuses to be defined by any label, having found ways to craft family-friendly hits and pure acapella renditions yet never straying from the genre that anchored him.

Recently signed to Cash Catcher North, he looks beyond the familiar, laying plans to perform at festivals, organise tours, and broaden his musical output. His focus remains on making his family proud and staying loyal to both himself and the supporters who have followed his evolution.

In Do You Mind?, Choclett P recaptures classic RnB warmth with sincerity and skill and reflects it through a fresh lens, proving that the heart of the genre can still glow with new intensity. You just can’t help falling for his aura.

Do You Mind? was officially released on November 27th; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The guilt of grief locked into the minor-key melodies in The Every Glazer’s most affecting single to date, One More Day

Posted on 15 December 2024

The Every Glazer never shies away from emotive candour, yet, his latest single, One More Day, lays bare the inner turmoil that took hold after he rushed to the hospital to be by his mother’s side, only to arrive too late. The luminous minor-key notes meet the aching intensity of lyrics that detail his regret, as though the track had no choice but to spill from his soul in an attempt to process grief through a poetically intimate narrative.

Mourning rarely translates neatly into language. For some, it’s an alien phenomenon; for others who have firsthand experience, it’s simply beyond expression. The Every Glazer manages to crack that code by stripping himself bare in a score that feels both painfully raw and tenderly consoling.

Anyone who has ever stumbled through the guilt-ridden conflicting emotions of bereavement will find solace in the harrowing yet comforting presence of ‘One More Day’. It’s no easy listen. Even the singer-songwriter admits performing it live remains a daunting prospect. Yet its presence in the world ensures no one needs to bear that emotional weight alone. In under four minutes, The Every Glazer turns the inexplicable into a resonant, empathetic encounter.

One More Day was officially released on November 15; stream the single on Spotify and YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Indie Pop Meets Folk Symphony: The Dynamic Contrasts of Woodstone’s ‘Touch of Adrenaline’

Posted on 13 December 2024
Woodstone

Woodstone, a rising indie pop singer-songwriter from New Jersey, offers an emotive glimpse into his forthcoming fourth LP with the release of ‘Touch of Adrenaline.’ The track captures the essence of early 2000s indie pop while throwing back a little further to 90s Britpop, evoking memories of Plain White T’s and stoking the nostalgia of Oasis while infusing his own raw, heartfelt style.

This intricately crafted track intertwines folk elements with chamber pop strings, allowing contrasting layers of ornate orchestration and winding folk guitar lines to showcase Woodstone’s skill in bending and blending texture and tone into affecting aural contours. Reflecting on the ephemeral nature of intense feelings, Woodstone demonstrates a sophisticated approach to scintillating the senses of his growing fanbase.

Woodstone Said:

“Touch of Adrenaline is about a relationship with an end date, with both parties knowing it will end, and the last fleeting moments being marked by intensified emotion. 

The single explores what it really means to truly feel and be present with someone you love for the last time while conveying an image of romance in the midst of a dystopian world. 

Like all songs on the upcoming concept album, it was inspired by a relationship that could have worked but wasn’t the right time, and life forced us to drift apart.”

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Touch of Adrenaline will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, from December 13th, with Woodstone’s fourth album, Glass Skin, set to follow in early 2025.

Follow Woodstone on Instagram to stay up to date with all of his latest releases and news.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

kidd noir – gravitational; a séance of semi-lucid seraphic reverie

Posted on 28 November 2024

kidd noir’s single ‘gravitational’, taken from her hotly anticipated debut EP ‘Year 19’, is a séance of semi-lucid seraphic reverie with a palpable sense of emotional turbulence woven within its ambient aesthetics. In contrast with the transgressions in the indie dream pop production, kidd noir’s honeyed-in-harmony vocal lines never falter from their soft, almost reticent register.

As intimate as a nocturnal diary entry, ‘gravitational’ pulls you through the corridors of kidd noir’s psyche as the instrumentals caress you with their candid touch and the stream-of-consciousness vocal delivery reaches the epitome of unfeigned expression. Her ability to console coming-of-age pain within her debut EP abstracts the alienation commonly associated with trying to figure out the world and where you fit within it. Yet, the appeal of kidd noir’s sound extends beyond a younger audience; the meditations within gravitational speak a universal language.

The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist picked up her first guitar at age nine and never looked back; by 18, she earned her stripes as a producer, ensuring that no one else’s touch graces her sound, which synthesises alt-RnB, pop and indie influences with personal experience. With Year 19 as the crowning point of her career so far, there’s never been a better time to sink into her discography.

Stream kidd noir’s EP, Year 19, on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cormac is a conduit of pure poetic longing in his Broadway-esque cover of ‘Days Like These’

Posted on 27 November 2024

Cormac’s cover of ‘Days Like These’ sounds as though it has been simultaneously torn from a Broadway musical and a heart-wrenching 80s blockbuster. Adding to the dynamic appeal of the poetically meditative release are the tinges of alt-country, which wind their way into the scintillating production through guitars that wrap around Cormac’s arcanely pure harmonies.

As a conduit of poetic longing, there are few artists who can arrest your psyche with as much intimacy as Cormac. There’s also no escaping the festive nuances, made tangible through the twinkling glimmers in the single; it is as though the progressions are guided by a north star.

As the youngest singer ever to sign with the global label Decca four years ago, Cormac Thompson has continued to be one to watch. Having forged his path as an independent artist, he won ‘Artist of the Year’ (Young Adult) at Nashville’s Josie Music Awards in 2023, and he’s nominated again for 2024. Cormac has continued to enthral audiences, releasing two albums, amassing over 2.2 million Spotify streams, and racking up over 8 million views on YouTube.

Days Like These is now available to stream on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Candour cascades in John O’Brien’s acoustic folk-pop ballad, Can’t You See That It’s Me

Posted on 25 November 2024

With all the emotional intricacy of Buckley, the spacey etherealism of Bowie and ELO’s tender hits, and the all-encompassing soul of Tom Waits, John O’Brien’s latest single ‘Can’t You See That It’s Me’ pulls you into its evocative core.

The acoustic folk-pop ballad invites you to live vicariously within the lush layers of this stripped-back exposition of the heartache which ensues when romantic expectation forces us to feel as though we’ve fallen short despite giving our all to fulfil desire and sate our own.

if you don’t feel a cascade of emotion fall over you to the tune of John O’Brien wearing his heart on the acoustic guitar strings that drift into the euphonic atmosphere, you can probably consider your soul defunct.

As a performer, recording artist, and songwriter with over four decades of experience, O’Brien has graced stages worldwide—from the US to Madrid, Amsterdam, the Caribbean, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Equally as successful on the airwaves and radio waves, hits from his acclaimed LPs have amassed millions of Spotify streams, while his 2022 UK tour saw his hit ‘The Spider’s Love Web‘ climb to #2 on the UK radio charts.

Can’t You See That It’s Me was officially released on November 15; stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sylvie’s Songs & Bryon Harris stir the soul with strings and sympathy in their affecting folk symphony, Heart Break Like Mine

Posted on 25 November 2024

‘Heart Break Like Mine’ by Sylvie’s Songs feat. Bryon Harris enmeshes animal activism with affecting artistry. Dedicated to the 1.7 billion animals confined in factory farms each year, the single urges listeners to become more ethical consumers, and to part with their dollars through empathy.

From the first pull of the classical strings and the opening lyric, “I want your heart to break like mine,” the track makes no bones about pulling all the evocative punches. In the same vein as The Smiths’ ‘Meat is Murder’, this classical folk ballad grounds you in the atrocities we often turn a blind eye to; it’s an aching reminder of the suffering we perpetuate.

Sylvie, a highly accomplished musician and songwriter with a deep passion for folk and Americana music, brings her wealth of experience and accolades—including Gold Medals for Best Lyrics and Best Songwriting from the Global Music Awards—to this powerful piece. Her classical guitar training from the prestigious Hartt School of Music and the New England Conservatory shines through her intricate playing. Having performed at esteemed venues and festivals throughout New England, Sylvie’s dedication to her craft is unmistakable.

Bryon Harris complements the track with his emotive depth, exemplifying his commitment to using music as a medium for awareness and change. With a background in classical music, Harris adds a rich authenticity to the song. Now based in Austin, Texas, he is at the forefront of a new wave of protest music addressing issues like factory farming and climate change.

Together, they have crafted a fervent call to action and catapulted a catalyst for change onto the airwaves which demands your conscience.

The official lyric video for Heart Break Like Mine is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast