by Shannon Smith
Bella Rios returns with “Options,” a dynamic pop-rock creation that finds her delivering a confident and empowering message wrapped in her trademark catchy hooks. Drawing from her pop-punk influences, Bella captures that familiar bittersweet energy of an on-and-off relationship. The track is a vibrant reminder to prioritize oneself over a half-hearted romance, celebrating self-worth with flair and resilience.
“Options” begins with a stripped-down bass and vocal duet that immediately catches the ear, setting the stage with a sense of intimacy. This pared-down intro contrasts effectively with the [...]
by Shannon Smith
From the moment the snarling distortion kicks in on “Jerkin’,” it’s clear that Cartoon Darkness is an album of defiance. Amyl and The Sniffers charge headfirst into the chaotic void, swinging wildly at anyone foolish enough to step in their way. It’s punk as it ought to be: a defiant shout against convention, a raw howl at the absurdities of the world. The Melbourne four-piece, led by Amy Taylor’s vitriolic vocals, bring a reckless energy that recalls Sid Vicious’ snarling presence, albeit with today’s wit and sense of fun. There’s even a splash of [...]
by Shannon Smith
Megan Moroney’s Blue Christmas… duh brings a fresh, candid perspective to country holiday music, infusing it with her signature “emo cowgirl” style. This surprise EP—featuring two of her new original songs and a take on Elvis’s timeless “Blue Christmas”—showcases Moroney’s knack for blending playful, light-hearted charm with deeply resonant, melancholic storytelling, a combination that has quickly set her apart in the country music scene.
The EP opens with “All I Want for Christmas is a Cowboy,” a fun, honky-tonk romp that captures the magic of the holiday [...]
by Shannon Smith
YANA, the musical persona of Joanna Bieńkowska, emerges as one of Poland’s most intriguing neo classical artists with her second album, Daydreamer. Building on her background as an instrumentalist and composer trained at the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, YANA draws from a rich palette of classical instruments—piano, strings, and electronics—to create works that resonate with emotional depth and cinematic grandeur. Daydreamer presents a larger ensemble than her debut album, Solace, where minimalist piano pieces were interwoven with electronic textures and meditative dialogues. In Daydreamer, YANA explores a journey of the human [...]
