Singer-Songwriter Archives

Navah Sea – “Navah Sea”

The eponymous album ‘Navah Sea’ by British producer/songwriter Phil Simmonds discusses themes of love and the evolution of relationships, self-reflection and personal growth. The album is pleasantly eclectic with a bit of a chamber pop throwback vibe a la Sgt. Pepper’s and Pet Sounds. Phil’s soulful, melancholic vocals create a dreamy vibe throughout the album. This vocal aesthetic is most potently expressed in the song “Maybe You Could Change the World”, a beautifully poignant ballad about a father’s mixed feelings of hope and concern at the birth of his child. The moniker, Navah Sea was originally created by Phil Simmonds to highlight his skills as a singer and artist after being widely known for his production and songwriting. As a producer/songwriter, he worked on Eryn Allen Kane’s critically acclaimed “A Tree Planted By Water”, and with artists like Kareem Lomax, Masego, Snoh Allegra, Nao and Lucky Daye. Starting off as a touring musician in his teenage years, Simmonds later transitioned into a musical director for Jessie J, Conrad […]

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Beth Crowley – “I Didn’t Ask For This”

Based on the fantasy novel A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Mass, which follows two characters and their complicated relationship as they battle monsters and find love amongst deception, singer-songwriter Beth Crowley’s new single “I Didn’t Ask For This” is absolutely enchanting. The dark and melancholy tone of the track is simultaneously heartbreaking and triumphant, a signature style for Crowley: I’m sinking downIf you only knew how hard it isFor me to climb outI’m kicking and screamingBut no one can hear meSo what happens nowThe shadows are creeping inI didn’t ask forI didn’t ask for this The prodigious Nashville-based artist is known for her eclectic indie-pop songwriting, most of which is dark, ethereal and cinematic. With over 159k followers and 30 million views on her YouTube channel and 378k monthly listeners on Spotify, she’s solidified a loyal fanbase through her unique songwriting approach. Crowley’s music is primarily inspired by young adult serial fantasy novels like Dark Artifices, Divergent, The Lunar […]

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DLG. – “Enfield”

The debut EP Enfield by Tejano artist David de la Garza, better known as DLG., is a journal of his personal development. Each song was composed in a different place — either mentally, physically, or in the case of “Tortuga” temporally, having been recorded when he was just 14. The concept is to not just showcase a collection of new songs, but to document his growth as an artist over time. Behind the lush grooves, the songs deal with the notion of stepping into the unknown and knowing that it will change you. DLG. focused on these themes of self-empowerment and the progression of life as he continued to grow and develop as a musician himself. “The Storm” specifically was made almost entirely with sounds from objects in my bedroom. The kick drum is me literally kicking a microphone, the snare is me slamming a book shut, and lots of other small weird sounds. […]

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Navah Sea – “Roll Call”

This month UK record producer Phil Simmonds (aka Navah Sea) released “Roll Call”, the third single from his forthcoming eponymous debut album. Flexing his producer muscles and perhaps adding a bit of playfulness to the album, “Roll Call” features psychedelic elements like tape manipulation, whimsical percussion and Baroque Pop strings on the chorus. The song’s lyrical narrative speaks to the evolution of young love and how maturity influences relationships throughout adulthood. The theme of growing up and reassessing life runs throughout the album. Widely known for his production talents, Phil Simmonds created the Navah Sea moniker to highlight his exceptional songwriting skills and soulful vocals. The British-born producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter has been a hidden gem within the music scene since his teenage years as a touring musician. After coming off tour, he became musical director for Jessie J, Zak Abel, and Conrad Sewell while scoring credits and collaborations with established artists like Kareem Lomax, Masego, Snoh Allegra, Nao and Lucky […]

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Alejandro y Maria Laura – “Lagrimón”

When you make music with your life partner, it gives you the freedom to expose your most vulnerable side. Having done so for more than a decade, Alejandro y Maria Laura have developed a unique sonic language. In their new single “Lagrimón” (or “big tear”, in English), Maria Laura takes the concept of a big tear and weaves it into a metaphor for the deep sadness and longing she feels for her mother. As her emotions build, her lagrimón fills the clouds and grows into a storm. Translated into English: The sky is closingThe big tear is pouring downEvery time I want toWrite a song about youThe sky is closingThe big tear is pouring downLet it fall, let it rainLet the heart heal itself Originally from Lima, Perú but now living in Mexico City, this singer-songwriter/producer duo incorporates Latin American folklore and elements of classic film score into their signature sound. Their intimate and […]

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Bronze Radio Return – “Chillers”

Bronze Radio Return is back with a new compilation album Chillers, featuring the best of their mellower organic material from the past decade. The album features a brand new song “Natural Rattle”; a warm and heartfelt song about the everyday woes of life, encouraging us to stay strong through it all. So unwind, but don’t unravelWe can’t help but be a little fragileThrough the clatters and sudden cracklesAre the soundsOf the natural rattleVibrating us allThe natural rattleVibrating us all In the band’s signature fashion, “Natural Rattle” starts off with an open, reverberant soundscape, with Chris Henderson’s finger-picked guitar and piercing vocals shining through like a ray of light after a storm. The song remains calm and subdued until the introduction of a beating kickdrum, quickly followed by lead guitar and bluesy harmonica that lifts the song up into the atmosphere like a tornado. Since its founding in 2007, Bronze Radio Return has gained […]

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Lucy Cloud – “Crash And Learn”

It’s tough to find an 18 year old who thinks much about personal growth. At that age you’re legally an adult, so most teens assume that label earns you wisdom. It surely doesn’t, unless perhaps you fail often at an early age and learn a lot in the process. That’s what was on the mind of Lucy Cloud when she headed down to Music City to write “Crash And Learn” with co-writers Sean Mosely and Justin Morgan. “You’re going to make mistakes. It will happen. You can’t be so hard on yourself. You have to let yourself feel whatever emotion you’re pushing away. You have to allow yourself to feel and to grow. The more you bottle up all the emotions, you’re just not going to learn. Then, they’ll explode, and it won’t end well.” The arrangement for “Crash And Learn” is powerful yet understated, with Lucy’s voice firmly in […]

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Meekoh – “From The River”

Michael Martinez has come a long way since his days of street busking on the streets of Bend, Oregon. More than a decade into his career you can find him in the studio writing and recording with heavy hitters in Los Angeles, producing custom music for brands like LG, Samsung and Facebook, as well as running his own film production company where he directs projects for Marvel and Disney. And on top of all that, he still finds the time to make impeccably written and flawlessly produced Americana records under his artist moniker Meekoh. This week he released “From The River”, the lead single from his upcoming EP “The Sun”. The song was written as a tribute to the love of his life, whose tragic struggle with cystic fibrosis necessitated their retreat back to his home state of Oregon in the leadup to the pandemic lockdown in Los Angeles. “We […]

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Loli Molina – “Visiones Doradas”

In her stunning new single “Visiones Doradas” (“Golden Visions”), singer/songwriter Loli Molina conjures up an introspective journey through the rugged terrain of the Andes region. The overall tone of the song is melancholy, meant to evoke both the harshness and beauty of the environment. The “golden visions” are an apparition, a mirage in the desolate landscape. The poetry doesn’t translate so well into English, but perhaps it’s beside the point. The music tells its own story, as all great songs do. Loli Molina was born in Buenos Aires but is now based in Mexico City. Her deep connection to Latin America, as viewed through the lens of her own Andalucian ancestry, has an omnipresent influence on her sound. Her goal in music is to always transport her listeners to faraway places, bringing these locations to life and showing that anything is possible. Written and recorded in collaboration with Argentinian singer/songwriter […]

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Johari Noelle – “Get Free”

We’re often asked what kinds of songs are in high demand and low supply for sync, and one of them is “sexy but not sexual”. It’s a tricky balance, but you know it when you hear it. Chi-town native Johari Noelle absolutely nails this vibe with “Get Free”. In the opening minute of the song her soft and sultry voice sits atop a subtle dancehall rhythm, then out of nowhere a smooth drum fill launches us into a Badu-esque neo-soul groove. Johari wrote this song to try to bring ease and joy to herself and others, just like that old adage you can’t love anyone until you first learn to love yourself. “My music is about getting out how I feel and being very present in that moment. It’s important for me to embrace myself in a way that empowers me to feel each emotion and remain in touch with […]

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