Dasha : Anna Review
by Shannon Smith
There are songs we play to fill a room. Others feel like they fill us. Gush begins in that second, sacred space as each performance but as presence. Even with only two tracks released, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith has offered a doorway to somewhere creative and engaging.
“Gush” arrives with its building of analog sounds, elements of electronica, and a touch of ethereal. The layers grow, gathering in the hollows of the mind, dance beats leaking over the body, not to announce the need to dance, but to remind us it is truly a necessity. The intertwining textures feel aquatic, like a tide rising from within, full of mystery and [...]
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 Steven Miller
If bluegrass is a tradition built on memory, then Live At The Legion is its muscle memory rendered audible. Captured live on April 7, 2024, at Nashville’s American Legion Post 82, this 20-track collaboration between Billy Strings & Bryan Sutton is a showcase of repertoire and its tradition of timing, tone, and touch.
Forget studio polish. This is the sound of two guitars, two voices, and two minds working in millisecond synchronicity. The stereo mix tells you everything you need to know: Strings panned left, Sutton right. It’s a gift to listeners who understand that flatpicking is more [...]
By Steven Miller
The metalcore scene has been eagerly anticipating Spiritbox’s latest full-length album, Tsunami Sea. The Canadian quartet has pushed their sound further, fusing their signature mix of ghostly atmospheres and heaviness with an increased willingness to experiment with textures. The result? An album that surges like its namesake, with a sonic ebb and flow that exhilarates and engages the listener.
Spiritbox consists of vocalist Courtney LaPlante, whose dynamic range transitions between clear melodies and guttural roars, and guitarist Mike Stringer, whose intricate riffing and atmospheric textures shape the band’s [...]
by Steven Miller
John Patitucci’s Spirit Fall is an album based on trio communication, a study of the freedom and responsibility of a chordless format, and what happens when three deeply intuitive musicians explore the boundless harmonic and rhythmic possibilities. Marking Patitucci’s debut as a leader on Edition Records, the album finds the bassist alongside long-standing collaborators Chris Potter (saxophones, bass clarinet) and Brian Blade (drums), exploring a set of nine Patitucci originals and one cover with remarkable spontaneity and depth.
Trio records that omit a chordal instrument come with a built-in challenge: how to create [...]
By Shannon Smith
Rebecca Black’s latest project, SALVATION, offers qualities that make it a compelling listen for pop music fans. Three things caught my ear: bold productions, relatable themes, and a successful artistic reinvention.
SALVATION is a feast for pop and dance-pop fans who thrive on genre-blending and adventurous production. While fundamentally a dance-pop record, it refuses to settle into a singular style. Instead, Black and her team draw on a wide range of influences, with each track having a distinct sonic identity.
She embraces club and rave elements fearlessly: “Sugar Water Cyanide” pulses with techno beats and [...]
Colter Wall is a plains-bred and now based in Nashville-based folk singer. He is blessed with a rich baritone tone and a gift for writing songs that he frames with sparse acoustic instruments. Wall’s music is surprisingly non-commercial in its form and lyrical style.
Songs of the Plains is Wall’s sophomore record. With images of a mythic Canada, a western region of lonesome plains and weathered frontiersmen. The music comes across as honest and his approach to a bigger more complicated story through simple segments of songs is a testament to his evocative style. Wall has caught the ear of Americana luminaries who have stood [...]
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has been performing and studying Bach’s cello suites for almost six decades. The first piece he learned on the cello was from the suite and through his constant dedication and perseverance, Ma has developed a repertoire and connection with this music that is deeply personal. His tone is warm, beautiful and always projecting confidence in its intent.
