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Man at Sea releases moving piano-based EP "In The Light Of A Dying Star"

Photo credit. Lucy Ridges Many of you may know that discovering hidden talents and inspired songwriters is the thing I enjoy the most. When I first met Man at Sea (moniker of David Hewson) exactly one year ago, he was just at the beginning of his journey but it was clear to me how much talent he still had to unveil to the world. David bravely moved from musical/drama theatre to solo songwriting with the aim to pursue his real passion: creating immersive piano music experiences. After a resurgent desire to make songwriting his career, 2024 has seen the release of three brand new acclaimed singles, culminating in his second full professional EP, "In The Light Of A Dying Star" . I had the opportunity to interview him for the release of "Love & Anxiety" in 2023 (you can read it here ) and I'm delighted to introduce now his new 5 songs EP, released last week. In a music panorama where thousands of songs are released every day, most of which very similar to each

Mrfy's Law releases chill jazzy/funk debut album "Sonic Seven"

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Mrfy's Law Hailing from Orange County, California, singer and multi-instrumentalist Mrfy's Law (pronounced "Murphy's Law") is an all-round artist. She is not only a talented songwriter, but also a model, musical dancer and actress. Her multifaceted skills allow her full versatility and a very diversified type of voice that have become her signature features. Mrfy's art also includes influences from her Filipino-American heritage, making the Californian songwriter a distinctive and original figure in the indie music scene. With roots deeply embedded in jazz, pop-funk, neo-soul and R&B, her sound is a vibrant blend of genres that resonates with authenticity and passion. Drawing influences from artists like Hiatus Kaiyote, Cleo Sol, Erykah Badu and Daniel Caesar, Mrfy aims to deeply connect with listeners with her introspective lyrics and harmonious melodies.  Mrfy's Law releases her debut album "Sonic Seven" today, a chill and feel-good soun

"Secret Garden", the new darkly romantic chamber-pop by Petra Jasmiina

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Petra Jasmiina (Photo credit: Victor V. Gurbo) The fabled novel "Secret Garden" was one of my favorite books when I was a kid but forget about it, Petra Jasmiina's newest release of the same name has nothing to do with childish memories and sunny gardens!  Get ready to enter a much darker place with her audio-visual storyscape opening a gateway to a hidden garden - a secret oasis filled with lush greens, peculiar creatures and alluring flowers, each more beautiful than the last. But in this garden no bloom or petal is quite as it seems - something dark grows here, as well... "The gate is wide open... walk in if you dare" "Secret Garden" is a great example of Jasmiina’s artistic signatures:   her knack for escapist storytelling in song and on screen, as well as her niche genre, best described by her collaborators as "fairytale pop". The inspiration for the song came from a friend’s retelling of their art therapy session that evo

"Permanent Recovery", the new EP by Mara Sol: a cathartic and emotional journey through human relationships

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Mara Sol Rising folk/rock singer-songwriter Mara Sol guides the listeners in a brave journey through the complexity of human relationships in her sophomore EP "Permanent Recovery" . The California songwriter is eager to connect with the listeners by touching profound chords in their hearts, with the hope to offer a cathartic outlet for those navigating challenging experiences like those narrated in the EP.  After releasing a number of songs focused on love relationships, Mara Sol felt the need to expand her songwriting. She started to explore who we are as humans through the different relationships in our lives. She says: " In this EP I tell personal stories about friendships, sisterhood, and even relationships with parents. They flow in an unique story of past trauma and the coping process that comes with that. Writing these songs was a healing exercise for me, a recovery journey that I am compelled to share with others. I think sharing stories can help us connect wit

Midwerstern Gothic storybooks meet 80s rock opera in Brian Bacon's new album "Murder of Crows"

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Brian Bacon A creator to his core, Brian Bacon ’s dressed up style of folk rock finds an almost miraculous balance between nostalgia and bold originality. At age 50, Brian left Cleveland, Ohio where he had lived for over 20 years raising daughters and moved into a tiny home in Nashville found on Airbnb to record an album with a producer he met on Instagram, the result was his second album, "Murder of Crows" .  Produced by Nick Bullock and performed by a band of professional studio musicians in Nashville, "Murder of Crows" is a ten-song road trip into a woodsy Midwestern Gothic storybook full of poetic character stories like something you would expect from a rock opera or modern musical. Listening to the whole album you'll have the feeling of being seated in the front row of a Broadway Musical, captured by the storytelling and the engaging rhythm. Its intricate arrangements of vocals, synths, guitars, strings and horns reminds me a lot of 80s pop/rock music that

Get lost into dreamy vocals and captivating harmonies in Lyla DiPaul's new Ep "Something To Lose"

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Lyla DiPaul (photo by Chloe Bergman) Lyla DiPaul has only ever had one dream; to sing and play guitar. In 4th grade, when her older brother began to teach her to pick out songs by Taylor Swift and Green Day, Lyla knew she was hooked. Inspired and indulged by the artsy DC suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland where she grew up, Lyla began performing original music at local festivals by the time she was 11 years old.  Although passionate about songwriting, Lyla felt hesitant to pursue a career in music. A mostly self taught musician, Lyla recalls feeling like she wasn’t good enough to make her dream a reality. It wasn’t until entering college at Loyola University New Orleans that she found confidence. " I was scared that I didn’t have enough experience or understanding of music theory to really take the leap. When I arrived at school I was all set to study Environmental science. Very quickly I noticed the number of people around me who were boldly pursuing their dreams ". By her se

An healing journey through music: "Ocean Inside Of Me", the latest album by Luna Keller

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Luna Keller Growing up between two cultures and surrounded by music, Luna Keller is a singer-songwriter with a unique perspective fuelled by her curiosity and a deep connection to her emotions through songwriting. Her family moved from Germany to Spain when she was just 6 months old. As a result she grew up far away from most of her family and traveled often from a young age. Music was always a part of her life starting with her parents singing and playing the guitar for her to fall asleep and leading to her eventually falling in love with songwriting. Through it she found a true connection to herself, going as far as calling her songs "friends" that help her process life. Strong messages, honest lyrics and emotional vocals define Keller’s sound. I had the pleasure to interview her on Instagram about her journey and her latest album. Luna is definitely the most inspiring and prolific songwriter I've ever met - she enchants the listeners with her lyrics and her voice, g