Joy Oladokun and Adekunle Gold Find Spiritual Release on “Sage”
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ve found myself searching for spiritually positive music lately, not necessarily music that preaches or promises easy answers, but music that somehow leaves a little more light in the room than it found. There was something about Joy Oladokun’s “Sage,” a…
Rivkah Reyes Steps Out of ‘School of Rock’ With “Menace”
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll admit it. When I first saw the press release for Rivkah Reyes’ new single “Menace,” there was one line that immediately got my attention: “School of Rock’s Katie goes from bassist to frontwoman.” Wait. Katie? I had to look up…
Good Neighbours Get Intoxicated by Infatuation on the Undeniably Fun “Mary Jane”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are songs that demand a little time before they reveal themselves, and then there are songs that make their intentions known almost immediately. Good Neighbours’ new single “Mary Jane” falls firmly into the latter category. Within the first listen, I…
New Translations Chase a Feeling on “Modern Lovers”
LOS ANGELES, CA- There’s something especially satisfying about a song that makes you wait for it. For nearly the first minute of New Translations’ “Modern Lovers,” the Nashville quintet keeps things remarkably restrained. A steady kick drum establishes the pulse. A simple bass line…
Miles Caton Finds Strength in Vulnerability on “Lean On”
LOS ANGELES, CA- “Lean On” is my introduction to Miles Caton. That probably puts me a little behind the curve considering the year he has been having, but there is also something refreshing about encountering an artist without much in the way of preconceived…
2hollis Returns With “Hurt,” a Glitch-Fueled Electronic Banger
LOS ANGELES, CA- I’ll admit it: it took me a while to come around on 2hollis. His music never struck me as immediately accessible, and I wasn’t sure I fully understood the appeal at first. But every so often an artist releases a song…
MARIS Doubles Down on Emotional Catharsis with “Losing People”
LOS ANGELES, CA- Earlier this year, I came away impressed by MARIS’ single “MOSH★PIT.” While its title suggested chaos and unbridled energy, what stood out most was the conviction behind it. MARIS wasn’t simply writing glossy pop songs. She was chasing emotional highs and…
The Linda Lindas Embrace Growth on ‘Closer’ Featuring Hayley Williams
LOS ANGELES, CA- The first time I saw The Linda Lindas perform was five years ago at Head In The Clouds. At the time, the quartet was only 13 to 16 years old, but they were already impossible to ignore. Armed with an unapologetic…
Forest Introduces Her Debut Album Swan Dive with Haunting New Single “Anchor”
LOS ANGELES, CA- For those discovering Forest for the first time, Swan Dive feels (based on the singles that have been released thus far) less like a conventional debut album than an introduction to an artist already possessing a remarkably defined creative identity. Scheduled…
Hemlocke Springs Builds A Whimsical Pop Universe At Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are artists who perform concerts, and there are artists who invite audiences into fully realized worlds. Hemlocke Springs belongs firmly in the latter category. Before a single song was performed at the El Rey Theatre, the evening had already taken…
