The Spikes, the inventive alter ego of multidisciplinary creator Iago Haussman, has launched his gripping new single, “Weapons for the Youngsters,” now obtainable to shock your system on all streaming platforms. Accompanied by a stark, black-and-white music video—nalw stay on YouTube. The monitor delivers a chilling reflection on violence, misplaced innocence, and the cry for assist falling on deaf ears. It’s the darkish societal patterns that go down dying sentences to future generations.
Based mostly within the U.S., Iago’s work is formed by each his European roots and his firsthand experiences dwelling in America. “Weapons for the Youngsters” doesn’t come from a spot of judgment—it’s born from heartbreak, disbelief, and the need to spark reflection in a rustic he calls house. “Once I moved to the U.S., I used to be shocked by how normalized gun violence had turn into—particularly college shootings,” says Iago. “Someday I used to be in Walmart and observed the toy aisle was actually two toes from the gun part. That second stayed with me. This tune got here from a spot of disbelief, sarcasm, and frustration—as a result of what else do you do when one thing so darkish turns into a part of the on a regular basis?”
Singaporean dreampop group Blush in the present day announce their signing to Kanine Documents and share the one/video “X My Coronary heart”. The monitor is a slice of undeniably sunny guitar pop that subverts the melancholy message encapsulated within the line “cross my coronary heart and I hope to die on this sick unhappy world that’s by no means mine.”
“X My Coronary heart” is accompanied by a vibrant visible that takes a macabre spiral from wistful lovesickness into darkish romantic delusion.
Olie Beckett is a 15-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer carving out his place within the subsequent technology of pop. Impressed early on by Marshmello and raised in a musical family, Olie rapidly discovered his voice by vocal classes, choir, and manufacturing instruments like Logic Professional X. Mentored by a musical theater vocal coach and a composition instructor, he developed a method that blends emotional storytelling with glossy, self-produced pop.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Harry Kinds, SZA, and Rosalía, Olie handles each a part of his music—from lyrics and melodies to instrumentation and vocals. His songs discover coming-of-age themes with a sound that’s each polished and private. For Olie, songwriting is a sensory expertise pushed by ardour, and that spark is current in each monitor he creates.
If nerditude had a proper title, it could be Grace Morrison.
She’s a bit of little bit of the whole lot—pianist, accordion participant, Renaissance Faire performer, cranberry grower, reader of historic nonfiction, espresso devotee (she sells her personal espresso mix), and an unapologetic professional on all issues New England. And someway, all these quirks weave seamlessly into the material of her music, making her some of the distinctive and endearing songwriters round.
Born and raised on the shores of Cape Cod, Grace Morrison has trademarked a sound she calls Saltwater Nation. “I used to be all the time too pop for folks and too folks for nation. Finally, I began peeling again the layers of my music to search out out what really made it mine. On the coronary heart of all of it was my deep, simple connection to the Cape Cod shoreline—it’s in my blood, in my voice, in each lyric I write. My music carries the storytelling of nation, the twang, but additionally the uncooked, unshakable spirit of a Swamp Yankee. That’s Saltwater Nation.”
Proudly unconventional, she’s by no means held what some would name a “actual job”, She says “it’s all the time been music and the way fortunate am I that music has given me this wild, unpredictable journey by the human expertise. I wouldn’t commerce that for something.”
Her profession began when she was in highschool taking part in at espresso retailers, the place she sang for ideas—one in every of which got here from none aside from actor James Spader. “I nonetheless have the $20 he left me,” she laughs.
Not lengthy after, she hit the street with Rock 4 Xmas, sharing the stage with legends like Eddie Cash, Joey Molland (Badfinger), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, author of Da Ya Assume I’m Horny), and Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band, co-writer of Jungle Love).
“I used to be 17, on a tour bus with rock icons. You possibly can’t ask for a greater crash course in rock ‘n’ roll than that. I may inform you some tales,” she says with a understanding grin. “It was Spinal Faucet in actual life—actually, somebody from that film was on the tour. However for me, the largest factor was realizing that this life—touring, performing—was potential. All I’ve needed since then was to get again on that bus.”
In these early years, she struggled to outline her personal sound. “My dad was satisfied I must be a blues singer—like he hadn’t even heard my voice,” she jokes. “It took time, however I lastly discovered who I’m as an artist. And that’s Saltwater Nation.”
Refrain of Braveness is many issues. It’s a house created to carry and honour the voices and tales of survivors of violence (our storytellers). We got here collectively as a bunch and have become pals and allies – a supportive household. We created a house to discover a number of the most troublesome experiences one can think about – a retreat – and we did it with love, music, silence, acceptance, steerage, connection, and motion, hand in hand. This mission explores your complete spectrum of feelings which are felt by the distinctive experiences of those we’re right here to honour – our storytellers.
The tales shared and held at our retreat got a voice and expression by our songwriters. These songs had been captured, recorded, after which despatched to our allies. Our allies echoed these songs and tales with one other tune, written in solidarity, creating a robust musical dialog – a name and response by music and emotion that we look ahead to sharing with you all – Refrain of Braveness is a fluid dialog that holds the wonder and the horrors of lived experiences– it’s an try to search out some phrases and that means, collectively, as a collective.
By sharing these songs of resilience and hope, we search to encourage empathy, ignite conversations, and catalyze optimistic change. We purpose to create a ripple impact that elevates consciousness, breaks down obstacles, and fosters a tradition of respect and help. Collectively, we stand as a testomony to the indomitable spirit of all voices and advocate for a world the place voices are heard, honoured, and empowered.
Beamsville, Ontario’s Riley Michaels is stepping out of the current and right into a dream of the previous along with his shimmering new single, “Ready For You.” Identified for his soulful voice, guitar prowess, and genre-blending model, Michaels now leans deep into retro-pop with a lush, synth-laced monitor that pays loving tribute to the music of the Eighties.
Michaels wrote “Ready For You” not from a private occasion, however from a sense formed by neon-lit nights, boombox serenades, and rain-soaked film moments. The monitor oozes nostalgia with shimmering synths, a LinnDrum beat, and classic tones that effortlessly conjure recollections of a decade he by no means lived by however someway belongs to.
Created in collaboration with bandmate and synth specialist Vincent Petrunti, the tune was primarily recorded in Petrunti‘s apartment and Michaels‘ house studio. The manufacturing breaks new floor for Michaels: it’s the primary launch in his catalogue that forgoes a stay drummer totally, as an alternative embracing the period’s iconic drum machine sound to strengthen the tune’s throwback aesthetic.
Virginia Seashore-born artist Verna Margaret bridges the hole between trendy nation and its conventional roots, mixing traditional instrumentation with honest, selfless storytelling. Her love for music started early—she wrote her first tune at age three, impressed by a child chook leaving its nest. By eight, she was captivated by the world of nation music, discovering consolation in watching CMT and absorbing the whole lot she may concerning the style. From ages 14 to 22, Verna Margaret honed her craft as a part of a rock band, gaining invaluable expertise and shaping her inventive voice. In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles and has since reconnected along with her roots, writing and creating her sound, and chasing the goals that first fashioned in entrance of a TV display. Verna Margaret attracts lyrical inspiration from songwriting legends like John Prine and Lucinda Williams, channels the musical spirit of Jerry Jeff Walker and Emmylou Harris, and evokes the timeless vocals of Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt. These influences have helped her forge a sound that’s each private and common, deeply emotional but refreshingly particular person. Usually retreating to Joshua Tree to write down, she embraces her genre-spanning background whereas staying true to herself, resisting the urge to evolve. Past redefining the sound of nation, Verna Margaret makes use of her platform to advocate for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and communicate out on problems with social justice, together with the dismantling of racist programs. In doing so, she not solely claims her place within the evolving nation music panorama but additionally proves that authenticity and activism can go hand in hand.
Evalyn has spent over a decade reworking private turbulence into pop catharsis. The Los Angeles-based artist, whose work has amassed over 130 million streams on Spotify, returns along with her most formidable mission but—A Quiet Life, an album that captures the existential unraveling of recent consciousness by the lens of impending motherhood.
Identified for wrapping uncooked emotional depth in irresistible melodies, Evalyn first captivated audiences because the voice behind Louis the Youngster’s breakout monitor “Hearth,” earlier than establishing herself as each a sought-after collaborator and formidable solo artist. Her 2018 psychedelic pop opus Salvation cultivated a faithful following, exploring themes of self-rescue that will turn into her inventive calling card. The album’s 2024 vinyl re-release, that includes new materials, proved her enduring resonance with followers looking for depth beneath the dance flooring.
A Quiet Life pushes additional into conceptual territory, drawing manufacturing inspiration from the dissonant frequencies of Aphex Twin, ARCA, and Grimes. Written and recorded virtually totally throughout her first being pregnant, the 13-track assortment mirrors the bodily and psychological chaos of transformation—the nausea of hysteria, the noise of limitless scrolling, the vertigo of dropping oneself whereas creating new life. It’s her most visceral work but, co-created with a few of Los Angeles’ most modern producers to weave a sonic narrative of consciousness, stress, and give up.
As a stay performer, Evalyn instructions levels from intimate venues to pageant principal levels. She’s graced Coachella’s Sahara tent with Jai Wolf, carried out at The Greek Theater, and captivated crowds at SXSW and CRSSD. Her collaborations learn like a who’s who of digital music’s vanguard: Dillon Francis, San Holo, Tritonal, It’s Murph and RAC have all tapped into her singular means to inject humanity into the digital realm.
With music featured in all places from HBO to Spotify’s most coveted playlists (New Music Friday, Younger & Free, Metropolis), and help from main publications corresponding to Billboard, Paper and Nylon, Evalyn continues to blur the strains between pop accessibility and inventive ambition. A Quiet Life sees her at her most fearless, inviting listeners to piece collectively their very own that means from the wreckage. True to type, she affords no simple solutions—solely the permission to really feel the whole lot, loudly.
Tristan Tritt is a storyteller of the American expertise, a believer within the energy of simplicity, and an artist who by no means stops transferring ahead. The musician and singer-songwriter is embracing who he really is, together with the influences that formed him. A proud Southerner, the Georgia native is unleashing his personal exploration and mix of various types together with Southern rock, nation, blues and various. This blurring the strains of style recollects the spirit of his musical heroes, The Black Crows, Koe Wetzel, Colter Wall, and Tom Petty however with a recent and trendy edge. “I actually hate the considered being locked right into a class,” he confides.
Born with music in his blood, his father is Grammy-winning nation artist Travis Tritt, a younger Tristan picked up his first Fender Stratocaster at age 11 and by no means put it down. He mastered grunge and alt rock staples like Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Military,” and Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench”, quickly turning that zeal into writing authentic songs. Farthing his craft, he discovered recording engineering in a college in Arizona and surrounded himself with different creatives in California. He devoted each spare second to the recording studio and performing stay, by numerous reveals, rising a devoted fanbase.
In 2022, he launched his first batch of singles “Oblivion” and “Proper On Time”, introducing his hard-hitting rock sound to the plenty. His contemplation on the obsessiveness of social media with “No Filter”, led to reward from American Songwriter amongst others, whereas his 2024 single “Sick of It” has racked up practically 2 hundred thousand performs.
Now, Tristan Tritt is getting into a brand new chapter—a musical rebirth. “For years I had totally immersed myself in Different rock (Particularly from the 90’s), however there had all the time been one thing lacking for me. I’m a proud southerner and grew up listening to bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke, and now unimaginable, new abilities, corresponding to treaty, Oak, revival, Dexter and the Moon Rocks. I like their mix of rock and southern / Texas model, and needed to begin my 2025 journey by paying homage to the rebels of previous and new.”
Teaming up with collaborators Chris Ayer and Jerry Fuentes, Tristan is now leaving his personal distinctive stamp on rock music. With tight musicianship, a whiskey-soaked voice that’s each gritty and soulful, and storytelling that cuts deep, his latest materials is his most genuine but.
His 2025 single “Cease the Experience” is an autobiographical monitor chronicling the grind of chasing a dream- the repetitive onerous work, the fixed tug-of-war between doubt and willpower, and the emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. Melancholic soundscapes and country-western undertones culminate into an explosive, arena-worthy refrain.
Singer-songwriter Ross Flora releases his deeply private new single, “Cornerstone,” a mirrored image on overcoming religious aimlessness and discovering function by the help of these round him. Drawing inspiration from each private experiences and the timeless biblical parable to “construct your own home on the rock,” Flora affords a tune that speaks to the ability of religion, neighborhood, and the unwavering love that gives a stable basis in instances of uncertainty.
In his personal phrases, Flora shares: “I wrote “Cornerstone” as a testomony to a section after I felt aimless and adrift in life. The plans I had laid out for myself, sacrificed and labored so onerous for appeared to be main nowhere, and I used to be spiraling spiritually. Due to the folks and help that entered my life throughout that point, I used to be given a stable basis to refocus my religion and function.”
With its evocative lyrics and poignant imagery, “Cornerstone” explores the metaphor of constructing one’s life on a agency basis amidst life’s trials and tribulations. Within the tune, Flora paints an image of private transformation, transferring from a spot of despair to rediscovering religion and stability:
“I used to be touring additional down a dead-end street
I blew into city having lower than what I owed
Dashing sooner in direction of some extent of no return
Til you gave my soul a spot that felt like house…”
The tune’s refrain captures the essence of the message:
“However the way in which you like is like I’ve by no means recognized
So when the storm rolls in, you’ll be my cornerstone.”
- E mail: neill@outloudculture.com
