Reviews

Allie Ascentia’s Crossroads is like one of those late-night conversations with yourself that accidentally turns profound. This is a fully solo project—every lyric, melody, instrument, vocal layer, and production choice comes straight from Ascentia’s own hands—and you can hear that level of control in how personal and intentional the album…

Josh Hicks’ “Talk Too Much” lands confidently, owning the room very casually. The 25-year-old Welsh singer has been quietly sharpening his craft for years, and here it shows, not just in his silky vocal control, but in how comfortably he balances charm, vulnerability, and bite. Raised on a heady mix…

“Memories” finds Chris Bull stepping into a more reflective lane, trading the punchy indie-rock energy of his past for something tender and lived-in. Now releasing music under the name Every Other Weekend, Bull shows that he’s been through the wringer and come out with a clearer sense of what actually…

Marianne Joyce arrives with “Inventing Something” sounding remarkably assured for a debut, like an artist who’s been honing her voice long before hitting record. Rooted in indie folk but stretching toward something anthemic, the song feels intimate and expansive, carrying the weight of history while staying firmly grounded in the…

“LoveRise” is that exact moment when the sun hits your face a little too perfectly and you suddenly believe in fresh starts again. Jimi C & The Waves, the Venice Beach–based project of producer and multi-instrumentalist Jimi Cracovaner, kicks things off with a debut that leans hard into optimism. It’s…

Plans to Sand take a familiar ache and stretch it until it really hurts—in the best way—with their cover of “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight.” Based out of Philadelphia, the band had already carved out their own lane through originals, including the well-received So What, before deciding to touch a…

“New Car” finds Vé/Zé—aka Hungarian songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Zoltan Varga—leaning into classic songwriting instincts while keeping his gaze firmly forward. Coming out of Mogyoród, Hungary, Vé/Zé channels the emotional clarity and craft of ’90s AOR. You can hear the honesty coming from writing, playing, and producing everything yourself. Featuring…

Seema Farswani is a singer-songwriter, composer, and producer whose music bridges worlds. Blending the grit of blues, the pulse of pop-rock, and the soul of Middle Eastern melodies, her sound is as emotionally raw as it is globally resonant. Her debut EP Got My Mojo (May 2024) introduced a fearless,…

Teenage prodigies throwing down modern metal that actually hits? Yeah, Black Seraphim are doing exactly that, and they’re doing it loud. Formed in late 2023 across Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Little Rock, this genre-blurring outfit has been turning heads since their earliest shows on the Sunset Strip. Their latest original…

Alice Okada’s debut full-length chapter one: the beach episode, released on January 30, 2026, opens a window to a very specific headspace. This headspace is private, exploratory, and brave. Based in Portland, OR, Okada steps into Jungle and DnB territory with curiosity, pulling inspiration from genre pillars like Shy FX,…