Get to know Toronto-based DIY electronic pop artist Analias with the direct “Stay Away”

ANALAIS, “Stay Away”

I’ll say it right now – “Stay Away” is one of my new favourites. It’s brought to you by enigmatic singer/songwriter/producer Analias (as in “an alias”), who has been releasing music for the last three years or so and previously was a contestant on France’s “The Voice”. What I like best about “Stay Away” is its well-produced breezy synth melody, which is in turn countered by some direct and sincerely sung lyrics as the singer clearly doesn’t want someone close to him to get hurt. The chorus is “stay away / stay away from all the fuckboys” and it packs a unique and unexpected punch. So as is, you won’t hear the song on the radio, but then again readers of this blog know that the best songs aren’t on the radio anyway! But if you’ve ever known someone who’s about to enter a life of trouble, “Stay Away” could’ve been their musical guide. Analias has also achieved another feat with “Stay Away” – making you want to hear more from him.

UK-based singer/songwriter @iamAlicePisano channels dating app experiences into bubbly new single “Boys Like You”

ALICE PISANO, “Boys Like You”

A while back I introduced you to Italy-born, UK-based pop singer/songwriter as someone to listen for with her acoustic track “September”. “Boys Like You” shows another side of Alice, as she channels personal experiences with dating apps into a sympathetic song that masks regular heartbreak and lack of self-confidence behind rebellious lyrics, punchy beats and a deft synth melody. It’s Avril Lavigne meets Lights via Dua Lipa and Becky Hill, so-to-speak, with Alice’s highly likeable vocal and personality leading the way. She’s already scored quite a following on Tik Tok, so I’m sure we’ll hear much more from Alice Pisano.

Go on an adventure with NYC producer @BudCahillmusic and the progressive house of “Jupiter Outlaw”

BUD CAHILL, “Jupiter Outlaw”

Officially called “Storybook Volume III: Jupiter Outlaw”, you’ll find that NYC-based electronic producer and violinist Bud Cahill wants you to create your own personal journey through his music. “Jupiter Outlaw” is an progressive house instrumental that begs visuals, and industry sync coordinators would have a field day placing the song in a video game, short feature film, or even a commercial. Bud is obviously very heavily influenced by trance, techno and other electronic music sub-genres, and his music in “Jupiter Outlaw” opens the door to whatever kind of fantasy you want to envision. The song has a majestic flow to it, not so much caught up in the bass end of melody as it is the higher tones, which balance quiet and bold as well as some interpolated medieval-sounding female vocals. Check out either the edit above or the extended version below, and you’ll find lots to enjoy.

Meet NYC-based electronic producer Greg Oakland with his new trance delight “Sanguine Energy”

GREG OAKLAND, “Sanguine Energy”

NYC-based Greg Oakland is new to the electronic music recording scene but with “Sanguine Energy”, it’s obvious he’s been carefully studying the experts of the trance sub-genre, which could include Above & Beyond, Gareth Emery, BT, and early Tiēsto and Armin van Buuren. “Sanguine Energy” is a complex instrumental that combines lots of the best elements of current trance music and in turn fits like a glove. It also makes a strong impression because of all of the detail that has been captured, which allows the song to ebb and flow and generate spontaneous reaction from its listener. You’ll find the sly edit above but the full, almost 7 minute version below. Let “Sanguine Energy” take you away to a special place where you will move and groove and enjoy. Very well done!

Nashville-based @AJSmithmusic releases uplifting, anthemic “We’re All Gonna Die”

A. J. SMITH, “We’re All Gonna Die”

You never know what Nashville-based, Denver-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist A. J. Smith has up his sleeves. He surprises us again with “We’re All Gonna Die”, which is an unexpectedly uplifting track about recognizing your mortality and figuring out what to do about it. The anthemic rocker, which will appeal to fans of Sam Fender and The Killers, also has an intriguing video which finds A. J. thrashing about against a green screen while film clips depict fights, battles and a car chase. I haven’t figured out what that all means in relation to the song, but maybe you will! The song otherwise is all about A. J.’s unbridled vocal and a chorus that just doesn’t miss.

The latest from @Shoffymusic is a bright dance bop called “Love Ya”

SHOFFY, “Love Ya”

Stepping away from the thoughtful storytelling of recent single “Nightmares in New York” for a second, L.A. based electronic artist Shoffy offers up a bright dance bop this time called “Love Ya”. It’s a straight-forward song about telling your special someone how much they are loved, and how much you want to be around them. It’s also a clever production that abandons its lyrics in favour of its melodic hook for almost the entire last minute of the song. That makes “Love Ya” a bit of an unanticipated rave up. I can see remixers having fun with this one, and not surprisingly the song has already garnered early support, including from Apple music. Oozing positivity, “Love Ya” is from Shoffy’s upcoming album Onward, due next month.

UK-born US-based singer/songwriter @TommyNewport returns with the whimsy of “Tongue and Cheek”

TOMMY NEWPORT, “Tongue and Cheek”

Tommy Newport is a singer/songwriter who is definitely striving to be one of a kind, with enough appeal with his songs not to make him simply a niche artist. He recently supported Australian group Lime Cordiale on a tour, and is back with a new song, “Tongue and Cheek”. This is Tommy’s personable look at not always getting everything right (otherwise it would be called “Tongue in Cheek”), while still making sure you pay attention to what’s going on, which includes having the delight of a new relationship.  You can find Tommy’s music somewhere between Finneas, Foster The People and Conan Gray, with the potential to be as successful as any of them. His easy going vocal style and relaxed sense of songwriting go a long way.

NYC indie rock music project @Reboundernyc releases introspective and funky “Boy Friday”

REBOUNDER, “Boy Friday”

After scoring significant streaming success with the previous infectious single “Japanese Posters” to the tune of around 10 million streams across platforms, NYC indie rock project Rebounder brings you “Boy Friday”. The song may help anyone who is what I call in media res – in the middle of things – in their life, wanting to move forward, but not without remembering the past. So Rebounder manages to successfully channel these complicated thoughts and set it to music. And “Boy Friday” – whose video above offers a travelogue of downtown L.A. – makes a good casual listen, too. It features zippy guitar work and a mid-tempo funky melody, all of which reminds me of Paul Weller’s 80’s pop project The Style Council. Rebounder is led by singer Dylan Chenfeld, who has a likeable voice with a beautiful tone that shifts into slight falsetto, which is part of the song’s appeal. If you enjoy their buddies The Neighbourhood and Alfie Templeman, then you’ll know that “Boy Friday” will go down easy.

Moving on and determination are two key themes of @GreysonChance’s exceptional new single “Athena”

GREYSON CHANCE, “Athena”

After returning home from a successful UK and European tour, Greyson Chance is moving forward boldly with songs from his upcoming album Palladium. He already gave us a taste with the warm and thoughtful softer title track, and now brings us the more ribald, energetic “Athena”. Appropriately, the song is about moving on and being determined to give it all, but still wanting a guiding force accompanying him. So, being a former student of ancient history himself, Greyson calls on the Roman goddess of wisdom and battle strategy to be along for the ride. “Athena” doesn’t mince any words and features one of Greyson’s most engaging vocals, and I’m sure it is going to be a crowd favourite and singalong when he tours North America later this year. 

L.A.-based Canadian singer/songwriter @PeterFoldy is back with his effortless new single “Fun, Fun, Fun”

PETER FOLDY, “Fun, Fun, Fun”

The music world is always a better place when there is a new Peter Foldy song in it! After dropping the auspiciously socially conscious, top notch “Toxic World” months before the pandemic began,  the longtime L.A.-based Canadian talent (who is also a film director and producer) returns with the light and easy-going pop track “Fun, Fun, Fun”. Peter continues the trademark songwriting style that he developed through big domestic hits like “Bondi Junction” and “Roxanne”, with an engaging story as well as a hook that simply doesn’t miss. “Fun, Fun, Fun” accordingly has a tropical, summer vibe and it’s a song that you’ll continue to hum, hum, hum long after the good weather is gone.