Tag Archives: sponsored

The Days of Aqua Net – After Adam

The Days of Aqua Net is a pop-rock anthem by After Adam, and it’ll be a sure hit with Gen Z.

It’s an innocent recollection of the past, filled with nostalgia, regret and fresh perspectives.

Those were the days of aqua net
Those are the days I’ll never forget
I only have one regret
And that’s not kissing you

It reminds me of the kinds of songs that would be played in the disco scenes of children’s tv shows such as Lizzy Maguire.

The song and music video make more sense when you Google what aqua net is. It’s a brand of hairspray from the 1950s that had a huge comeback in the 80s when the trend for big hair returned.

An enjoyable and innocent tune!

This is a sponsored review via Fiverr.

Holly Anna Lisa – Tyme, LiL Flip & Killa Kyleon

Houston-born rapper Tyme has teamed up with Lil Flip and Killa Kyleon and released a new rap single called Holly Anna Lisa.

Jeseka Price of Price Royalty Publishing Company is the executive producer and music publisher of the rapping trio.

Honestly, rap is not my thing. So I probably don’t have the capacity to fully appreciate this song. But I hear that these three rappers are the real deal in the industry.

They speak so fast I can’t understand what they’re talking about. However, I do like the choir in the background. Combined with the high-pitched melody, it creates a spooky feel.

Check their song out on YouTube below, or head to Spotify!

This is a paid song review via Fiverr.

Under the Clocks (Stay) – Echolily

Echolily is a doctor by day and a bedroom musician by night.

Inspired by the likes of Sia and Bjork, this singer/songwriter is incorporating the best of her favourite artists while creating an identity of her own.

The song Under the Clocks (Stay) is an echoey and haunting song with electronic pop vibes. I could easily imagine it being remixed for the clubs!

I love how Echolily has produced the song entirely on her own. It gives the music a raw, independent quality that I really enjoy, because it’s not been overproduced or manipulated too much. I love her description of sound; electronica downtempo, synth pop, trip hop and ‘can you make that more lo-fi please?’.

My favourite thing about this song is the meaning behind it. Inspired by the love of the city of Melbourne, and the overwhelming emptiness of it during Covid. The singer says she met a man while busking outside Flinders Station (the iconic train station you would have seen on postcards), who told her that he used to meet his lover here. He’d just say ‘meet me under the clocks’ of Flinders Station. Hence the song title.

Having visited Melbourne several times, I know Flinders Station well. I totally understand the romance of its architecture, which is why I love this story so much.

Her connection with the pandemic goes beyond empty city streets. Echolily is a frontline health worker, and experienced Covid-19 head-on. I think that brings a new depth to the song.

Check out her song on YouTube or Spotify!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

No Goodbyes – Norman Alexander

R&B singer/songwriter Norman Alexander hails from Queens, New York.

His song No Goodbyes is a catchy yet solemn tune that showcases his natural vocal talent. Despite the electronic tinny drumbeat, Norman Alexander’s voice is a far cry from the auto-tuned, synthetic sounds typical of the R&B pop genre.

A song derived from the loss of his brother and sister, the mournful chorus certainly captures the sadness felt by the singer. I think the emotional heartbreak of the song is a welcome reality check to the genre that’s so often flooded with the far more shallow aspects of life.

An authentic and heartfelt song that is definitely worth a listen. Check it out below!

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Turned to Stone – Lynne Taylor Donovan

I didn’t know there was a Canadian sub-genre of Country music. Yet, here we are.

Lynne Taylor Donovan is a country singer who has written a song called Turned to Stone.

The song itself is a pretty standard country pop song, but the accompanying video was a bit too DIY-looking, which simplified the music too much I think.

The Kim Day (from Kath & Kim) lookalike is a fair singer and is clearly enthusiastic about her music. But the melodramatics and appearance are stereotypical of the Baby Boomer generation, which took away from her vocal talents somewhat.

Having said that, I love the look of that country music bar. It reminds me of the line dancing in Thelma & Louise.

If you’re a country music fan, you’ll definitely enjoy Lynne Taylor Donovan’s song – especially the bridge, which is a very upbeat honky tonk solo.

Check it out here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Bright Light – Neil and Adam

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

The St. Louis-based duo have a few thousand followers across their channels, with Bright Light already receiving more than 8,000 plays.

While Neil and Adam’s song Bright Light does sound quite generic, I suppose that is the essence of the pop genre.

It actually sounds like the kind of song that’s played over the credits of a coming of age movie like Fault in our Stars or The Way Way Back. It’s very upbeat, positive and nostalgic.

Scared of the bright light
Burning in your heart
Waiting for the fist fight
That rages in your heart

With a catchy chorus and smooth vocals, you’re bound to enjoy it! It’s easy to sing along to, and it certainly gets stuck in your head.

Check it out:

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Storm Clouds in the Sky – Rev Peter Unger

Armed with a sliding guitar and a softly-spoken singing voice, Reverend Peter Unger is a hit in the religious community across the US. He’s won several songwriting competitions, and performs much of his work during worship services at churches.

Storm Clouds in the Sky was inspired by the questions asked by the songwriter’s granddaughter about the political turmoil in USA. The song is her grandfather’s reassurance that while things will get better, the actions of the American people will have implications for the future.

His granddaughter can be heard as the backing vocalist, which I think is a sweet nod to the conversation they had that inspired the song.

No doubt, the Covid situation also made for inspirational content for this faith-focussed song, which is why I think this song could be quite relatable to some.

Storm Clouds in the Sky honestly isn’t my cup of tea as the vocal techniques sounds a little old fashioned, but it’s a pleasant reminder that storm clouds come and go but a blue sky will always remain. Check it out here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Unhinge – Panophonic ft Dani Mari

Singer/songwriter Tom Hugo is the frontman for Panophonic, who hails from Philidelphia. He’s written this track, Unhinge, which reminds me of a classic ‘Lazy Sunday’ album jam; it threw me back to the early 2000s.

Described as electro rock/indie pop Panophonic has a unique sound, which transforms triumphantly in this track. It sounds like it should be featured on a coming-of-age film like Up in the Air.

I quite enjoyed this song, particularly the ethereal vocals of Dani Mari.

Check out their new album Awakening here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.

Made It Look Easy – Xavier Toscano

Featuring a rather basic lyrical pattern, sadly this song missed the mark for me.

Yeah, I made it look easy
And all I need is one shot
Because I do it like this
Yeah I do it like this

Based in San Francisco Bay, Xavier Toscano has gained more than 30,000 followers across his social media accounts, so my opinion is obviously not one shared by many!

Didn’t do it to impress
Did it to feel good
And if you dropped your jaw
Well, that’s just real cool

The amount of self-confidence in the song and video makes me feel secondary embarrassment, particularly with the overdramatic background dancers. But I suppose this goes hand in hand with this brand of pop music genre.

Nevertheless, I could imagine Xavier drawing in the crowd festivals, as his songs are easy to sing along to and would definitely create a high-energy and inclusive atmosphere.

Check out the song and music video on his YouTube account here.

This is a paid review via Fiverr.