Reviews

There’s no easing into “Living Without You” by Rëa. The track opens in a slow, foggy haze of ambient noise, like smoke after a fire, setting the stage for a confessional that’s as guttural as it is cinematic. Her voice enters high, breathy, defeated, and desolate voice comes as if…

Released on July 11, 2025, “Thunder” by Valeriya Force is a fierce, sultry explosion of Latin rhythms, empowered lyrics, and pure feminine fire. Opening with a slick, head-nodding groove, the track immediately seduces with its humid tropical vibe. Valeriya’s voice enters low and smoky, sensual yet commanding, her delivery flowing…

Mitchell MacDonald’s latest single, “Home to You” is a warm, gut-honest country ballad that rides in like a memory you didn’t know you missed. Hailing from Pictou County, Nova Scotia, MacDonald blends timeless and tender old-school country storytelling with the emotional candor of today’s Americana troubadours. Raised on kitchen party…

Chicago-based rapper Pronto Valid ditches the expected drill sound and dives headfirst into house-infused territory with his newest single, “UK V!BES.” Released on July 4, 2025, the track is a high-energy, no-brakes fusion of UK house and hip-hop. Teaming up with producer Zeelaa, the duo cooks up something electric that…

With Last Days, Danish-born, Vietnam-based artist Marshmallow Tinderbox unleashes a gripping, genre-warped exploration of sorrow, rage, and resistance. Recorded entirely in his home studio between December 2024 and May 2025, this 10-track alt-rock album gets political and emotional with unflinching commentary on a collapsing world. The album’s haunting opener, “The…

Oaken Lee’s Home (is a folk-rock mixtape) captures the restless, tender, and sometimes haunting relationship we have with the idea of home. Melding acoustic guitar, field recordings, and modern textures like drum machines and distorted bass, Lee curates a warm, introspective soundscape for intimate ponderings. Let’s look at “One Summer…

French band Myselfson returns with a potent, genre-blending opus in a 74-minute concept album, Resistance. Here, melodic synthpop meets sharp-edged electro-rock, channeling personal introspection and urgent social commentary. Emotionally raw and politically charged, this sophomore release undergoes inner turmoil and collective resistance, drawing on ‘80s musical aesthetics while pulsing with…

Awakening 1 by Beyond The Rubicon lands like a lightning bolt of melodic conviction for up and coming compelling trilogy of EPs. The duo, Paul Griggs from the UK and Paul Mahieu from the Netherlands, come out swinging with Awakening 1, a three-track sampler. Opening with “Backfire,” the EP wastes…

With Cold Feet, Calgary’s The Dust Collectors deliver a warm, earthy, and deeply felt sophomore album that sinks into the bones like a familiar conversation by a crackling fire. Released June 27, 2025, two months ahead of schedule in anticipation of their performance at the Calgary Folk Music Festival, the…

In “Flow Like a River,” Forrest Hill meditates on letting go, accepting all of the nuances, only to be held back by negativity. As the centerpiece of his upcoming album Beyond the Veil, the track arrives after a long journey through disillusionment, cynicism, and inner conflict. Released ahead of the…