Rosie H. Sullivan – “Don’t You Wanna Feel It”
-This song has a real up tempo energy that feels genuinely inspiring. Don’t you want to feel the excitement of life? Don’t you want to feel the excitement of a “moment,” which for me seems to be coded to a relationship here? This song has some 90s vibes in the production. It feels like the kind of song you dance around in a circle with your best friends, everyone smiling. You recognize that you won’t be here forever, so you just feel in that moment. The wild thing about nostalgia is how you can connect with the vibes without being able to physically return to that moment. I have pictures in my mind’s eye of moments from my own life that this song brings back to me. What a gift.
Alex Siegel – “AIM”
-I can’t decide if this is a soulful pop song or a poppy soul song. Maybe there’s no difference… nevertheless, this track feels like almost a modern day yacht rock tune. The production is smooth and engaging, inviting listeners right into the pocket of the rhythm section. I appreciate that it has some magical production moments (is that a Theremin or a synth?)… yet it doesn’t feel experimental or overly avant garde. It feels comfortable and familiar, all the while nudging the listener to connect with sounds we might not hear regularly (a water droplet? LOL). When it comes to lyrics, it seems to be about trying to be someone else just to please a potential partner. I would strongly advise against that course of action, but nevertheless it is common (and relatable), which oddly fits with the instrumentation here. This track is just a whole adventure; spin it.
imstillFranci – “Peace Without a Fight”
-My reaction to this song has been unique, seemingly different with every listen. I’ll tell you the moment… and it’s almost a singular moment… that made me really like this song. There’s a chromatic chord progression at the end of the chorus. It gets me every time. I think there’s a lot of vocal talent and the composition is creative, but there’s something about the emotion in that line that gets me every time. I’m not sure, genre wise, how to even understand this song. It’s definitely indie pop, but it has aspects of arena pop alongside gritty almost alt-rock stylings; the end result is an expression that feels deeply emotional. It’s a call to arms, so to speak, about not choosing to fight. It’s an aggressive call to peace and whether you apply that to an unsettled relationship or geopolitical conditions, it’s relevant.