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Tiffany Stanley  Credit: @monetngo on IG Love, loss, and the yearnings for answers of who we are; these are all themes in Monét Ngo’s music and debut EP, ‘After School Club.’ From humble beginnings as a Vietnamese-American music teacher, Monét Ngo has really made a name for himself in the indie community. His song, Ruby Sparks, became a stand out track in the TikTok community and around the internet. He has captured everyone’s attention with his relatable lyrics and charming personality. These are some of the many aspects that shine through on his debut EP, ‘After School Club’ which was released in 2022. Spanning 8 tracks, ‘After School Club,’ is the indie-pop record of your dreams; the dreams of love and the inevitable heartbreak (on songs like Ruby Sparks and Real Ass Love Story), the dreams of a future (Lonestar and Strawberry Fields), and more. Monét’s lyrics shine through brilliantly through a bedroom production. His voice also has a unique rawness to it. On top of the distant guitars, space-y synths, and soft drumming it makes everything feel so real, raw, and relatable. You feel as if you are living in his dreams. There isn’t a lot of music that cultivates this type of vibe but Monét finds a great way to showcase to listeners. ‘After School Club,’ is Monét Ngo’s brilliant brain in music form. With it full of songs that really feel relatable and emotional, it’s an EP that you can really get lost into. It’s an escape. Monét still may be a bit of a hidden gem but this talent definitely can’t go unnoticed. ‘After School Club’ is really made for you to listen to on repeat.
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Priyanka Jaisinghani  Kallisti's debut single, "I Wait," is a masterfully crafted work of art that offers a tantalizing glimpse into the musical universe of this emerging artist. Hailing from New York and a recent Berklee College of Music graduate, Kallisti demonstrates her remarkable talent and training in every note of this track. It's an auditory delight that beckons you to immerse yourself in her artistic vision. If you're curious about what Kallisti has to offer, "I Wait" is an absolute must-listen. From the very first notes, Kallisti's voice envelops you in its silky, buttery smoothness. The opening line, "he looks me in the eyes," immediately captures your attention, leaving you eagerly anticipating what lyrical gems she'll unveil next. Kallisti effortlessly navigates the song, her vocals flowing seamlessly as if singing with such precision and grace were second nature. Throughout the track she graces us with tasteful and impeccably executed vocal runs that leave listeners in a state of sheer admiration. A moment in the song that stands out to me is at the beginning of verse two when the music momentarily recedes, leaving us with only Kallisti's voice accompanied by a bassline that follows her vocals. It’s such a tasteful moment and indicative of great music production. Moreover, the groove coursing through the song compels you to bob your head in rhythm, making it impossible to resist the music's infectious pull. Credit for the impeccable music production goes to Cam Arthur Pepe (@camarthurpepe), a producer with whom I've had the pleasure of collaborating with in the past, and "I Wait" serves as a testament to his extraordinary talents. For a debut single, "I Wait" marks an astonishing beginning for Kallisti, leaving us craving more of her musical offerings. It offers a taste of what's to come from this promising artist. To stay updated on Kallisti's future releases, make sure to follow her on Instagram @kallisti.i. Tiffany Stanley  Bz-Boys are a 5-member group consisting of vocalists Bon, Hamin, Seunghyun, and rappers, Double.D and Taewoong (who is currently serving in the military). They debuted in 2019 under Chrome Entertainment and have released 4 EPs one of which was a pretty solid hi, ‘Find you.’ Now, they are back and ready to steal your heart with their EP ‘OUTLAW.’ ‘OUTLAW’ spans 4 tracks with 3 of the tracks being re-releases of their previous title tracks. This EP shows all sides of them and the chilled-out EDM sound they have exhibited in their past projects. The title track, ‘OUTLAW’, has an intense instrumental that builds up to an insane chorus. It gets your heart racing with their catchy raps and climactic vocals.This track will definitely inch its infectious beat and melody into your brain and will not leave. It will be stuck in your head for days. The next tracks, ‘Find you’ and ‘Close your eyes’, fill your heart with their nostalgic sound. Their lovely vocals are one of the stand-out factors on these tracks. They leave a lasting impression and really make you ascend as you listen more and more. Lastly there’s the closer, Burn it up, that’s an EDM stunner. It starts slow and soft but then it just explodes into this catchy chorus that will make you dance until you can’t anymore. It rounds off the EP nicely and really implants Bz-Boys into your heart. Despite most of the EP being re-releases, ‘OUTLAW,’ honestly showcases who Bz-Boys are. As someone who didn’t really know them before, this EP was a perfect introduction. Bz-Boys have all the talent to take them far. Their vocals and raps are so solid and cohesive that it makes me wonder how they haven’t made waves. If you want an album full of bops and vibes then look no further. ‘OUTLAW’ definitely deserves a spot on your playlist. What is your favorite track on ‘OUTLAW’? Priyanka Jaisinghani  Credit: @ashtonedminster Instagram Dallas based artist Ashton Edminster has recently released our newest ‘on-repeat’ song. Her latest single “Headin Out” is sure to be your next playlist add. The song starts off with a really distinct and captivating intro, full of sound effects such as typing and starting a car. As soon as she starts singing, Ashton pulls us in with her beautiful tone and imposes a feeling of longing upon us, setting the tone for what this song is about. As you keep listening you realize Ashton wonders if the person she longs for will reciprocate her same feelings and show up for her. She wonders if they would be ‘headin out’ to her as soon as she asks. The uncertainty behind the questions she sings leaves behind a feeling of heartache. As the song continues Ashton introduces some extremely luscious harmonies, reminiscent of the stacked harmonies which were heard throughout most of the R&B tracks from the 90s. She also sings such beautiful runs so effortlessly, like flowing water. Personally, I also really love the panning on the vocal adlibs which lets us hear certain vocals in only one ear or the other. Overall, I love the sound design and textures in this song. I’ve actually had the pleasure of seeing Ashton perform live at the South by Southwest Festival in 2017 and she sounds just as amazing live, if not better than her recordings. One of her prior releases that made me a huge fan of hers is her single “Deep.” I highly highly encourage you to listen to that song right after listening to “Headin Out” if you’re a fan of R&B music and the beautiful harmonies & runs you heard in “Headin Out.” Go show Ashton some love and follow her @ashtonedminster to stay up to date with her latest releases! |