Sara Rachele and the Skintights – “When You’ve Found It Out” (audio) (premiere)
“When You’ve Found It Out” is a wandering behemoth of a song, equal parts immense rocker and wispy pop specter.
Will Rivitz
Will Rivitz is a student at Princeton University in New Jersey who plans to major in computer science. He's written for various Internet publications since 2012, and his ramblings can be found on Sputnikmusic (under the last name Robinson), The 405, The Daily Princetonian, and the Nassau Literary Review. He's still shedding the last vestiges of his teenage/post-teenage angst, and asks that those who roll their eyes at any that makes it into his writing kindly hold their tongues.
Ethan Burns – “22 Knots” (audio) (premiere)
The pained trudge of "22 Knots" is rock in its most troubadour sense, the sound of getting away from the grind just to stay lucid.
Stewart Eastham – “In the Morning” (audio) (premiere)
Rather than the tortured wanderings of rural America, "In the Morning" is a brief respite from the trials those entails, an acknowledgment that, no matter what, we can always dance.
Christian Lopez Band – “Stay With You” (live) (exclusive download)
Christian Lopez Band's “Stay With You” is a lush beauty, warmth seeping out of every pore.
Juliana Wilson – “Blah Blah Blah” (audio) (premiere)
"Blah Blah Blah" is a promising start to a very young career, and its well-composed maelstrom of angst, swirling guitars, and atmospheric expansiveness is a treat to hear.
Gravel Kings – “Come As You Are” (Nirvana cover) (audio) (premiere)
Gravel Kings shows that Nirvana’s overwhelmingly sad ethos translates well into the often overwhelmingly sad realm they inhabit.
O.L.A. – “Best That I’ve Felt” (video) (premiere)
"Best That I've Felt" is a sugary slice of tropically-infused pop house, bouncy synths drawing equally from Kygo’s “Firestone” and Edward Maya’s “Stereo Love” with just a dash of ZHU’s percussive melodies.
Stop Light Observations – “Aquarius Apocalyptic” (audio) (premiere)
“Aquarius Apocalyptic” takes its time to start rocking, but when it finally bursts forth, its tremendous horsepower is well worth the wait.
Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley – ‘The Country Blues’ (album stream) (premiere)
Virtuosic country duo Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley are ready to thrill audiences with their new LP The Country Blues.
Loch Lomond – “Pens From Spain” (video) (premiere)
"Pens From Spain" is sedate, carefully expanding folk, slowly but surely allowing light and color until the whole thing is in bloom.
Audrey Spillman – “Hot As Hell” (audio) (premiere)
It might not be the most effusive piece, but its slow release makes its heat that much more appealing.
The Silks – “Live and Learn” (video) (premiere)
"Live and Learn" is the kind of Americana-worshipping blues rock that will never go out of style.