Estella Dawn gives us new cover of Amy Winhouse Back To Black. Instead of singing the original song and being lazy, Estella gives us her own version, almost creating a new song — and yes, it works!

“Estella shares. “Back to Black has this brutal honesty that just wrecks you—but it’s also so elegant and unapologetic. I didn’t want to just copy it. I wanted to sit in that emotion and let it hit in my voice the way it hits in my chest.”

“This song felt a little scary to cover, honestly,” she says. “It’s sacred ground. But it also felt really important to me. Like… if I was
going to do it, it had to be real, it had to be me.”

Originally from New Zealand and now based in San Diego, Estella has built a fiercely loyal following through a steady release of emotionally resonant music. With over 7 million streams in the past year and comparisons to artists like BANKS, Jessie Murph, and Miley Cyrus, Estella’s blend of grit, vocal power, and lyrical intimacy continues to resonate deeply with fans across the globe. Back to Black is the latest release in a standout year for Estella, who continues to carve out her space in the alt-pop landscape with fearless honesty and unmistakable voice.

Watch out for Jen Ash and her song “I Surrender” — and don’t miss the music video.

Jen Ash is a singer and songwriter. She was born in Lebanon, raised in France, and now lives in Los Angeles. Before music, she was a professional basketball player for 14 years. She changed careers to follow her passion and started making music in 2018.

Her style blends Afrobeat, R&B, and French influence. She sings in both English and French. Her songs often explore themes of love, freedom, and identity. “I Surrender” is about letting go and following desire. The track uses deep rhythms and layered vocals, and would feel right at home on Spotify playlists like Afro Fusion, Chilled R&B, New Music Friday, POLLEN, Women of R&B, French Vibes, Mood Booster, and R&B Weekly.

Her music brings different cultures together and creates a beat-driven, personal experience. Jen Ash is building her sound one story at a time.

Watch Out for Carbon City Lights and the Track “Sky Blue”. Carbon City Lights is an indie alt-rock band from San Luis Obispo, California. Their new track, “Sky Blue,” is a steady, emotional journey. It has a calm, flowing sound that fans of Coldplay or Snow Patrol will connect with.

Lead singer Michael Venia says of the track:

“It’s about wanting to protect the innocence of your loved ones who are able to help you forget about the worries of the world or traumas of your past.”
Venia’s voice leads the track with quiet strength. The band builds around him with space and care. The song moves like a slow tide, never rushing. It’s the kind of track that plays well late at night, or when you’re driving without a map. You can imagine it fitting into Spotify playlists like Indie Chillout, Atmospheric Indie, Late Night Vibes, Feel Good Indie Rock, Sad Indie, Indie Pop & Chill, or Moody Indie Mornings.

Carbon City Lights brings together different cultures and life stories. Venia started making music in Saudi Arabia with an accordion. Over time, that turned into full-band arrangements, a stop on The Voice (Season 21), and playing shows with artists like Brett Dennen. The band recently took home two New Times Music Awards for best live performance and best alt-rock song.

Music has been both escape and healing for Venia, who has faced deep personal loss. His songwriting reflects real life, and “Sky Blue” is a strong example of that.

Watch out for Ian Kaine MacGregor & The Trouble Dolls and their debut single, “Story of My Life.”

The track is a take on heartland rock, mixing storytelling with steady rhythm and punk-influenced vocals. It draws from the sound of The Wallflowers and Jackson Browne, with country touches in the background. The song tells a personal story, carried by a band that keeps the focus on the song itself.

“Story of My Life” fits playlists like Roots Rising, Heartland Rock, Fresh Finds Rock, Rockin’ Vibes, and Alt-Country. It holds space for listeners who follow songs with strong writing and a clear gritty voice.

Ian Kaine MacGregor is also the lead vocal and guitarist of American Jetset, who released the album 1987 in 2024. This new project shows another side of his music.

Lauren Presley drops a new track called “Ghost.” It takes a different turn from her earlier releases, but it still fits with the rest of her catalog—songs built on strong emotion, layered with guitar, synths, and beats. The song is part of her debut EP, Hanging In The Balance.

Lauren is a pop artist based in Nashville. Her sound is shaped by influences like Halsey, Tate McRae, and FLETCHER, landing her in the alt-pop and dark pop space. Her first release, “A Little Longer,” a collaboration with Sam Will, brought in over 1 million streams on Spotify and more than 5.6 million views on YouTube.

Since then, she has been featured by platforms like Notion and Wonderland and was on the cover of Spotify’s Fresh Finds Pop playlist. Her new song “Ghost” would be a strong fit for playlists like sad hour, All New Indie, ALT NOW, Fresh Finds, and dark pop, where moody, emotional tracks connect with listeners.

Check out Hanging In The Balance to hear more.