by Shannon Smith
In naming their fifth studio release Lucius, the band (Jess Wolfe, Holly Laessig, Dan Molad, and Peter Lalish), invites us to listen and look inward, at them, and consequently, at ourselves. This self-titled album, released May 2, 2025, emerges like a handwritten letter sealed in wax, unfiltered and vulnerable, its sonic palette washed in sunlight and shadow. Recorded between Altamira Sound and Sounds Like a Fire in Los Angeles, it balances the intimacy of home recording with the glisten of professional touch, mirroring the album’s central theme: to be both raw and refined, honest and shaped.
Like striking a match in the dark, [...]
By Shannon Smith
Jessie Murph’s latest single, “Gucci Mane,” released on April 4, 2025, via Columbia Records, represents her continued presence on the scene. At 20 years old, the Alabama native explores a personal theme, reflecting on her upbringing, familial relationships, and the complexities of newfound success. The track notably interpolates Gucci Mane’s 2009 classic “Lemonade,” providing a familiar backdrop for Murph’s engaging singing.
Murph has rapidly emerged as a genre-blending artist, seamlessly integrating elements of country, pop, and hip-hop into her music. Her debut album, That [...]
by Shannon Smith
In the still hours of the early morning, when the world softens and streetlights shimmer like distant memories, Biig Piig’s debut 11:11 arrives as a conflicted confession and celebration. The album’s title, a nod to the mystical “angel number,” suggests that every moment, every stray heartbeat, is part of a larger, unscripted narrative. Here, Jess Smyth unfolds a story of restless nights and fleeting clarity.
The record opens with “4AM,” where her signature whisper‑sung vocals float over a beat that mimics the slow pulse of a city in transition. It’s as if she’s confessing in the [...]
by Shannon Smith
In her debut album, Louder, Please, Rose Gray presents a vibrant homage to the world of club culture and dance-pop to create a space where nostalgia and modernity intertwine. Gray’s roots in East London nightlife, with its primal pulse of heavy dance drums, the deliverance of crowded dance floors—infuse her music with a sense of the raw energy swirling in the crowd of gyrations. Clocking in at a sleek 41 minutes, the album is an exploration of Europop, acid house, and nu-disco, drawing inspiration from icons like Kylie Minogue and Robyn while carving out Gray’s distinct voice in a crowded dance-pop [...]
