New Music

“The independent artist leans into the nocturnal shadows of modern trap-soul, trading raw emotion for a numb, atmospheric crawl.” Independent artist Ricky Earlywine enters the fray with “move like this,” a woozy slice of alternative R&B that weaponizes detachment. Rather than offering a booming introduction, he kind of slips in through the back door and

Watch out for indie artist Brian Melso, who just released The Endless on January 18. This three-song project looks at the quiet strength in life’s in-between moments. Instead of chasing catchy hits, Melso’s voice stands out for its emotional depth, making it unforgettable like top pop artists today. The track “Dream a Little Dream” highlights

There’s a very specific kind of personality trait that pop music loves to dissect: the people pleaser. The person who says yes when they mean no, apologizes for things that aren’t their fault and slowly realizes, usually after several emotionally inconvenient life experiences, that maybe constantly performing a version of yourself for everyone else is

There’s a long tradition in rock music of confronting your inner turmoil by giving it a suitably dramatic name. You don’t just feel bad; you’re battling demons. Possibly several demons. Maybe a devil or two for good measure. It’s a metaphor that has powered everything from classic metal albums to extremely intense diary entries. Which

There’s a long and slightly ridiculous tradition in pop and hip-hop of songs called Bad Girl. At this point it’s basically a genre title. You hear the phrase and your brain automatically starts filling in the blanks: swagger, a club beat, some vague commentary about attraction mixed with danger, and probably at least one line

Jack Goldstein’s “falling off the earth” is one of those songs that initially walks up to you wearing a friendly, slightly scruffy Americana jacket, shakes your hand, tells you about farming in the 1980s, and then about halfway through, sets that jacket on fire and asks you to think about mortality. It is sincere, ambitious,