Dyo may have made a living out of writing for others, but I couldn’t imagine this song and these words being performed by anyone else. Her voice pours out with clarity, distinctive intonation, and self-assuredness.
Why We Like It: XN’s “Babe, Now I’m Leaving You”
Methodical but dynamic. Vulnerable but forceful. As a self-producing vocalist and songwriter, XN skillfully balances dichotomy throughout the 3:08 run-time of “Babe, Now I’m Leaving You”.
Why We Like It: Keea’s “That’s a Body”
The first thing you notice about this track is the bounce – undoubtedly West Coast with the smooth operations of Keea’s flow over top.
Why We Like It: Tony Pops’ “U & Me”
Tony Pops’ blend of blues, psychedelic rock, and r&b does a tremendous job at drawing in a listener and making them an active listener.
Why We Like It: Mark James’ “SYSTM OVLD”
Mark James III uses contrast in a very intentional way in this song that builds a memorable experience for the listener – although that experience is bound to differ every time you spin it again.
Why We Like It: Chloe Castro’s “Drunk”
With a powerful voice that shows impressive range, Chloe Castro invokes the legacy of alternative vocalists like Amy Winehouse to keep your ears intrigued from the get-go.
Why We Like It: Scowt’s “Feet to the Pavement” (Single)
As of this minute, the track has 270 plays on SoundCloud with, at the very minimum, 15 of those plays from yours truly. I generally try to be as precise and specific as possible while answering the question of “Why We Like It”, but this song makes it hard – I love every bit of “Feet to the Pavement”.
Why We Like It: Jon Blok’s “Super Cali”
Oftentimes it takes some time for new artists to get the “mixing and mastering” process to where it needs to be with their music, but the levels and clarity on this track are perfect. The real earworm, though, is the hook..
Why We Like It: SEB’s “I’m All Yours” (Single)
From subtle changes to the musical key within the beat to experimenting with rhythm and time signature in the bridge, SEB gives this track the subtle musical details that keep you coming back – even if it’s his voice that brings you to the table in the first place.
Why We Like It: Chuck Mercer’s “Bulletproof”
The bass line carries the track forward and brings it from atmospheric soul to a hugely accessible concoction of lo-fi funk. Chuck also gets the mixing just right on this track – but the real cherry on top is his light, focused-but-whimsical lyrics that skip across the top of it all.
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