In a beautiful fusion of indie-folk and ambience with touches of R&B, Michael-Andrew Spalding gives us his debut album, atlasTELAMON, the name coming from a poem penned by the Cincinnati singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist himself. With imagery driven lyrics and a musical landscape that's as all-consuming as the vocals it accompanies, "YOU" highlights everything Michael-Andrew brings to the table. While its easy to get caught up in the sound, the lyrical themes of "YOU" are also worth exploring. If you close your eyes you can almost see it playing out. The song starts out the way a movie does in media res, throwing us into the climax before revealing how we arrive to it. Spalding sings of being underwater, and in the next breath tells us of his desire to go to the water. These lines expose the truth behind the concept that at times the very thing we desire has an overtaking power unbeknownst to us. Still the songs ends with the urge to go to the water, as if calling us back to that time of naivety and innocence when we filled our minds with picturesque thoughts and ignored whatever harsh realities may be a side effect. This is "YOU" by Michael-Andrew, and we're nothing short of impressed.

Indie-pop queen Maggie Rogers is back again with yet another song that's easy to love. While definitely still on the mellow side of the equation, Maggie Rogers has mastered the art that the great Robyn set a standard for just 8 years ago with her song "Dancing On My Own", which is singing hard truths with an upbeat motion. Whether you're just tapping your hands or nodding your head, "Fallingwater" has the same movement depicted in its title. Riddled with drums and claps "Fallingwater" keeps a steady rhythm that carries the song in its quiet and louder moments.  "Hold on I thought that I was doing so well like everything was under a spell." There is something about being able to listen to a song that resonates with you personally but also lifts your spirits at the same time. As Maggie reflects on the state of her own well-being and a past relationship, there is a fearlessness in her voice as if she is not scared of her realizations but rather just happy to have made them.

Brookyln's very own Daisy the Great recently released their latest single "Company." It's a song mixed with melodramatic lightness and harmonies but also full of a lot of heart. These girls sing of the introspection that comes with being young. From trying to be prepared for everyone's questions about your life plans ("They're about to ask you 'who do you want to be? What are you doing here?'") to your own self-judgment ("If I liked being alone maybe I'd have some thoughts on my own"), it's clear that these waters of being a young adult are hard to navigate. Still, in the midst of this, we find people or even just one person that we actually do want spend time with. "Company" speaks to that strange juxtaposition of being in a world where you want to hide from most people, but simultaneously want to be evidently visible to one person. "I want your company." In a sweet and all-too-real way, Daisy the Great gives us yet another song that makes us feel a little more understood. New Yorkers can catch them at the Knitting Factory on June 28!

"Constellate" is a song full of wonder and cosmic whimsy. Nashville-based Lauren Strahm has made a name for herself by putting out a great collection of songs that can be found on shows like Queen Sugar and Pretty Little Liars. With a voice that bridges the gap between gentle and brave, she sings the kind of songs that are full of honesty and resilience, showcased so prominently in "Constellate," her first single off of her upcoming LP Portals. With an atmospheric sound and lyrics that capture the essence of finding of the light ("We're spinning cause we know now, we survive/ and now we get to fly"), Fleurie perfectly captures that space that occurs when you finally emerge from rock bottom and get sight of land once again. "Constellate" is bound to make you feel a little lighter, while simultaneously getting you pumped for what's to come from Fleurieland.

On the surface, Little Man from the Radio’s “7” is a blissful lo-fi summer bop, perfect for enjoying the sun. However, if you really tune-in to this track, you’ll find melancholy undertones in the lyrics that may go unnoticed in its warm melodic splendor. “Never was certain, you loved me the same,” he sings, right before you’re hit with a wash of harmony and a positively catchy chorus that you can sing with a smile until you forget about the ways of an ex-lover.

Charlottesville's Juliana Daugherty is forging her way onto an emerging indie scene and while it's easy to blend here, she creates the kind of songs that won't let her. With a classically trained background and an MFA in poetry, it's clear that Juliana's relationship with music and words are rooted deeply within her. "Light" the title-track off her debut album set to release on June 1, centers on the idea of finding the light and expelling truth in the midst of the lies and darkness within depression. "Wait, it lied to you/There's nothing it won't do/There's nothing it won't steal." Juliana sings of the darkness in one line and then of the light in the next, exposing how easy it is to bounce back in our heads. Even still, "Light" ends with hope and somehow the idea in itself seems more plausible when she's singing of it. Juliana said she wrote Light in part to "strip mental illness of its power," claiming "there is nothing useful or beautiful to be gleaned from the experience of depression." Although it's easy to believe the narrative that depression should be leaned into if we want to produce anything resembling creativity, Juliana urges us to consider the opposite, making us realize how important it is to produce art that is more inspired by the hope of the light rather than the comfort of the darkness. This is definitely one album we'll be counting down the days for. 

Sofia Wolfson’s “Write it Down” is an honest profession of frustration set to a sweet and snappy tune. Wolfson is sassy and fun, and also innately good at capturing the writer’s blocks of our lives. Her lyrics surreptitiously detail the obstacles we face in our day-to-day; and, set to music, help us deal with the prospect of change. In her own words, “The song kind of deals with my frustration of feeling like I'm saying the same thing over and over in my music. I was going through some changes in my relationships and a lot of the music that came from that time was an attempt to cope with that loss and the prospects of change.” Working through our roadblocks is more manageable with Wolfson’s music — we’re grateful for that and are looking forward to hearing more from the artist.

West Palm Beach, FL native, David Urbinati recently released his first full-length album, WAVE.S, a collection of music that depicts his own emotional waves through song. "Overtake Me" is the first single off the album, with a mixture of buoyant electronic vibes and a message of self-empowerment, David creates a sound that is raw without being heavy. It's both an earnest and refreshing take on a song of self-empowerment and within it lies a steady mantra of overcoming rather than be overtaken. "I feel the fight is getting older/ Still I won't let it overtake me." Be sure to check out this song and the rest of his album on all streaming platforms. 

Nashville's Juan Solorzano is a jack of all trades. While he's usually producing or playing on tracks for artists such as Molly Parden and Becca Mancari, the release of his new song "Should've Been You" makes him the one who's front and center. "Should've Been You" organically exists in a world full of rhythmic precision, instrumental experimentations and layered harmonies that can only be created by a true song-crafter. With the common theme of a faulty romance coupled with talk of "taking trips to the nebula" one could say that there are elements of magical realism within this song making it seem multi-dimensional but yet still intrinsic. Grab your headphones for this one and see just why it's the kind of hidden treasure we love to discover around here.

Morgxn's "Carry the Weight" is an uplifting and hopeful anthem for anyone that needs a pick-me-up. The track, released a few weeks ago via wxnderlost records, makes a strong case for pushing through, sticking with your gut and making your own way in the world. A simple, but powerful message. Similarly, Morgxn's Soundcloud bio gets straight to the point: "no struggle = no process"; a powerful reminder that experiencing adversity may help us learn, grow and prosper.  

“Arrows” is the standout track from Haux's sophomore EP Something to Remember. With the synth-folk tendencies of Vancouver Sleep Clinic and Novo Amor, Woodson Black of Haux sets himself apart with his reflective songwriting and minimal production. This sub-three minute track is Black’s meditation on the permanence of death and living without regret best summed up in the closing lines of, “If you leave, don’t forget/ If you love, don’t regret/ If you leave don’t forget, all of the love that you left.” A bit of warning — this is a tearjerker and I may have cried in public writing this review. ‍‍Haux is going on tour for the EP this summer starting in Europe in May and then to the US in June.