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There’s a wide-eyed charm to 19-year-old Ellis J Barraclough that feels almost disarmingly genuine. The Hull-born singer-songwriter doesn’t play for fame, clout, or charts—he plays because music feels like home. That simple, soul-soothing motivation is at the heart of everything he does, and it’s starting to pay off in a big way.

After more than a decade away from Australian stages, Lady Gaga is making her triumphant return Down Under. The 14-time Grammy Award-winner has officially announced the Australian leg of her critically acclaimed The MAYHEM Ball tour, with three massive stadium shows added to the global run.

Ben Ackerman, a dynamic and passionate solo musician, is the man behind Just Another Day. He is thrilled to announce the release of his highly anticipated new EP, EP1. This heavy metal collection is a testament to Ben's dedication to the craft, featuring songs that are entirely self-written and performed by Ben, showcasing his multifaceted talent.

Miley Cyrus is set to redefine artistic storytelling with her highly anticipated new studio album, Something Beautiful, releasing Friday, May 30, 2025, via Columbia Records. The 13-track album, executive-produced by Miley Cyrus and Shawn Everett, will be accompanied by an ambitious visual film, premiering in June. The cinematic project is produced in collaboration with XYZ Films, Panos Cosmatos, Sony Music Vision, Columbia Records, and Live Nation, with Cyrus directing alongside Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter.

Indie-rock torchbearers The Sherlocks are on a mission to achieve their biggest milestone yet—taking their upcoming album, Everything Must Make Sense!, all the way to #1. Following the band’s highest-ever chart position (#4) with People Like You & Me and their biggest headline show to date at Sheffield’s Don Valley Bowl, the Yorkshire quartet is setting its sights on the top spot with a collection of arena-ready anthems.

A Unique Fusion of Purpose, Melody, and Social Consciousness

In an era dominated by fleeting trends and algorithm-driven hits, Collaborations is making waves as a project that brings depth and purpose back to music. Led by Ed Daniels and produced by Vic Steffens, owner of Horizon Studios, this initiative brings together a diverse group of independent artists under the expert musical direction of Matt Oestreicher. With a deep reverence for the classic songwriting of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Collaborations blends timeless melodies with contemporary voices, creating music that resonates on a profound emotional level.

A heartfelt tribute and a timeless melody come together in the upcoming worldwide release of Young Love on April 4, 2025. This dreamy pop track revives an original/never-published song written in the late 1970’s by the late Dan Wayne Dunlop, AKA FastManDan, and brought to life by his life-long friend and musical collaborator, Thomas Patton AKA TomCattt. 

The Long Road Festival is set to return for its most expansive edition yet in August 2025, with organisers today revealing that acclaimed British singer-songwriter James Bay will close out the festival as Sunday night’s headliner. Bay, a Brit Award winner, Ivor Novello recipient, and GRAMMY nominee, joins a stellar lineup of country, Americana, and roots artists, including previously announced U.S. headliners Drake Milligan (Friday) and Midland (Saturday).

Sydney Schafer, rising star and talented 13-year-old singer-songwriter debuts her first pop single, “Rising Up.” Sydney penned this song as a personal tribute to the hope found when overcoming the pain and torment associated with bullying. The message of resilience resounds throughout the song and shares strength and support to those who have experienced this type of mean behavior.

After nearly four years since his last studio album, country superstar Blake Shelton is making his long-awaited return with For Recreational Use Only, set to release on May 9. This marks his debut album under BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, and fans can already pre-order, pre-add, or pre-save the record.

PDS is an artist collective under HNA Music (BMI) that has produced a wonderfully diverse range of material. This diversity stems from the collective's members, who are multi-talented musicians hailing from various musical genres. 

The legendary Irish band, The Corrs, took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall for a special performance in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, marking a nostalgic and heartfelt return to the iconic venue that played a pivotal role in their career trajectory.

Two artists I will forever love, no matter what anyone says, are T-Pain and Kesha. So when Kesha teamed up with T-Pain for her new track “YIPPEE-KI-YAY,” I knew I had to check it out. I enjoyed both versions—with and without T-Pain—but let’s be real, he never stops delivering vocals, so his version is the one I’ll be playing on repeat.

Ari Lennox has released a new track titled “Soft Girl Era.” At first glance, the cover art led me to expect something in the realm of Ariana Grande—a light, bubbly pop sound. While the track does have fun, airy vocals, it also carries a deep, gritty melodic foundation that caught me off guard in the best way. The production is warm and layered, featuring cowbells, trap claps, heavy bass, and a subtle funk influence that shines through in both the vocals and instrumentation. There are even some unexpected details, like a choir adding richness to the sound—and if you listen closely around 1:50, you can even hear a cat meowing in the background.

Mumford & Sons have officially entered their next chapter with the release of their highly anticipated fifth album, RUSHMERE, out today. To celebrate, the band has also announced a massive North American arena and amphitheater tour set for later this year.

With a sound rooted in classic rock and storytelling that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable, Leonie Jakobi is making waves with their new single, “I Deserve to Shine.” A high-energy, old-school rock ‘n’ roll anthem, the track is an empowering declaration of self-worth and resilience. But this is just the beginning—there’s much more to come, including a debut album later this year that promises to bring the spirit of Springsteen-esque live energy to listeners everywhere.

As part of her Eternal Sunshine Deluxe album, Ariana Grande has released a track titled “Hampstead.” This review focuses solely on this song, but I highly encourage you to check out the other tracks from the deluxe edition as well—they're great!

Janalynn Castelino has released her eclectic new single “But Without You”. With the new song, the global pop singer-songwriter and record producer captures a startling atmosphere coupling it with emotionally exposed songwriting and a sense of vulnerability. It explores themes of love, longing and desire along with harnessing an introspective outlook. Castelino showcases her dynamic vocal range throughout the song, offering listeners a sonic world steeped in the beloved’s absence. Though considered pop, “But Without You" partially draws from soul music as it incorporates emotional depth in the lyrical form with Janalynn’s vocal style being typically expressive. The single is available to stream and download across all digital stores.

Jacob Alon has just released a new song called Don’t Fall Asleep. And to be honest, I almost did—not out of boredom, but because the song is so soothing it naturally invites relaxation. Don’t Fall Asleep is an indie/folk/pop track with a classic set of instruments, complemented by an atmospheric pad that lingers in the background. The guitar plucks through slightly unusual chord progressions, strings add warmth, and the drums propel the song forward like a steady steam locomotive.

The indie rock trio HAIM has just released a new song titled “Relationships.” The track has an innocent, nostalgic feel that reminds me a bit of an old John Mayer love song—not a specific one, but more in the way HAIM phrases their melodies. As a longtime listener, I think this song is a great representation of the band. HAIM often experiments with sounds, song structures, and vocal melodies, yet they always manage to make their music feel familiar and inviting.

Frankie Grande has recently dropped an EDM banger called “Rhythm of Love.” The music video is dark and moody, featuring exactly what the title suggests—rhythm, love, and a whole lot of energy. From the very first beat, the song grabs you with its high-energy production. But what really sets it apart is a major switch-up that completely transforms the track from what you initially expect. The visuals follow suit, shifting from a murky dance club to a gymnastics/disco set, then to a dressing room, and finally, a full-blown theater performance.