Olivia Rodrigo, The New York Times, and a Cultural Banana Republic

Shaping up to be a Taylor Swift protégé in more ways than one, 20-year-old pop star Olivia Rodrigo is giving the Ticketmaster servers a run for their money lately. Just days after announcing a 57-date world tour, she quickly expanded it to 75 shows, with an overage of demand that has created nothing short of a mania.

Rodrigo is fresh off the release of her sophomore album, GUTS. Unlike her debut, the similarly titled SOUR, which saw the then Disney graduate halted into full-blown pop stardom, GUTS has real momentum – largely because Rodrigo, and her sole collaborator, Daniel Nigro, are apt at taking note.

SOUR’s energy peaked with its thrashing opener, “Brutal.” While not perfect (talking about those programmed drums in particular), “Brutal” showed a punk rock side that most weren’t expecting from the 18-year-old whose crowning jewel before SOUR was a musical extension of the Disney hit, High School Musical.

From there, the album slumped out. Barring its apex, “Deja Vu,” and the sneaky indie pop deep cut “Jealousy, Jealousy,” the rest of SOUR suffered from ballad-itis. None of the songs were bad in a vacuum, but as a whole, discounting the Paramore knockoff, the album lacked bravado and energy.

GUTS doesn’t have this problem.

Wasting no time getting into the instantly classic “All-American Bitch,” then headfirst into what is undoubtedly one of the most interesting rock tracks of the year in “Bad Idea Right?,” Rodrigo and Nigro hashed out a definition quickly. GUTS, coincidentally enough, has more guts than its predecessor.  CONTINUE READING

Watch out for the up-and-coming singer-songwriter Julia, also known as ‘Jules,‘ who has just released her new song ‘steering wheel.’ Fans of soft indie folk and singer-songwriters will enjoy it, as well as those who are sitting in a coffee shop, imagining their next big dream. The Jake Feeney produced track could find a home on several Spotify playlists, including ‘Chill Singer-Songwriter,’ ‘Acoustic Café,’ and ‘Your Coffee Break.

Jules says, “The way the new version of the song carried a different feeling actually reflected transformations happening in my own life, it’s like this song followed me through the years, in a way it came along and changed with me. It’s also a reminder that making bad art is part of the process you never know how it could catch a new inspiration one day!!’

The singer-songwriter from Toronto has a style, reminiscent of artists like Billie Marten, Samia, and Clairo.

Singing and writing have always been an essential part of her, whether she shared them with others or not. Her love for these passions grew as she discovered more about herself and has continued to grow. Even though her great-grandmother was a professional singer during World War II, Jules and her siblings kept their singing talents hidden.

The Kindest People releases the alternative indie song Catacombs. It’s fun, playful, and puts you in a decent. A perfect dreamy song for dark times. Fans of Hippo Campus, Generationals, Paul Simon will enjoy.

The Kindest People, a four-piece indie/garage rock band hailing from the mountains of Johnson City, Tennessee, are known for their unique blend of slick, catchy melodies and a wide array of instruments that come together to craft their distinctive rock and roll sound. They straddle the line between modern pop, 60s garage ,and 90s alternative.The Kindest People have managed to amass a diverse catalog, with each album having its own sound.
Starting with the sun-soaked surf rock vibes of “Versions” in 2016, they transitioned to the raucous garage rock of “Versions II” in 2018. By 2020, they had delved into Appalachian and blues-inspired tracks with “Companions.” Few artists can delve into different genres and make it work, but this band can.

Estella Dawn releases the raunchy track ‘Yes Chef‘.

Estella Dawn sings effortlessly, reminiscence of Tove Lo, but less sad are more happy. “You don’t owe me anything But good head, That’s the terms and conditions That we both set, Spending all this change Got my heart spent, I want you to want me You don’t owe me anything But good sex”

Estella says about the song, “An age-old narrative, an informal arrangement brings contentment to one individual while stoking desire for more in the other.”

A singer, songwriter, and musician from New Zealand now living in the US, Estella writes, records, and helps produce all her songs. Her singing style is similar to popular artists like Sia, Adele, and Halsey, and her songwriting takes inspiration from artists like Billie Eilish and Lady Gaga. But her music’s unique lyrics and melodies set her apart from comparisons.

Connor Kauffman has released “Far Too Late,” blurring the line between pop and rock and reminiscent of the late 90s and early 2000s pop-rock artists. With nearly 500,000 Spotify monthly listeners, his tracks have found a home on Spotify’s playlists “Alternative Beats” and “Pop Rock.”

Connor Kauffman was born in Connecticut and started making music just a few years ago as a way to express himself. With no prior experience, he taught himself everything. He writes, sings, masters, mixes, and produces all his own work. He’s really good at it, and his top songs now have millions of streams each. His most popular song, “Bleed,” has nearly 20 million streams on Spotify. Check out his Spotify and social media accounts and listen to “Far Too Late”.