Kick and The Hug is an American Indie rock band, hailing from Boulder Colorado. Their first single, “Girl You Changed” is from their debut album release this summer.
“Girl You Changed” is a song that has Festival headliner written all over it! Vibrant, with punchy staccato strings, guitar and a chorus that is altogether catchy and reminiscent of modern 90’s rock. Lead singer / guitarist Doug Murray and drummer / keyboards Sam Young used to play in 1990’s Boulder outfit, The Winebottles. Murray and Young are joined together with base player Mike Ferguson (also strings and vocals), and lead guitarist Tyler Skye.
““Girl You Changed”, is a song about a fan who “appears from the past” to support her favourite band, us … who literally have not released a song in 25 years, coupled with the excitement of seeing one of our favourite bands (like Wilco, Band of Horses, or Local Natives) play a live show in a small club. Only this time WE’RE on stage.
On this track, and the band’s upcoming debut self release, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Kick and the Hug, “ Tyler Skye, has worked his magic on a great production.
Marius Billgobenson is back with another jazzy, soulful single “Joy”. This is the second single released off his upcoming album The Spirit Love. “Joy” is a feel-good song expressing the happiness one feels about someone who has been a constant ally and friend through time. For Marius, this constant support comes from his love for God. He is who gives Marius joy at any given time and day.
“Joy” combines Marius’s talents in the jazz genre, but also touches into some gospel elements which gives the single a more graceful flow. Marius also adds a little R&B flair to this song as it is much slower than his typical songs. His voice is silky smooth alongside this slow, feel-good song. It appears Marius is using an organ for his keys, which is common in gospel music. Marius creates an incredibly catchy chorus that allows the listeners to sway along to and fully take in the meaning behind this song.
When listening to “Joy”, there is a great similarity between Marius’s work and other iconic soulful jazz artists. The first artist that comes to mind when listening to this song is Marvin Gaye. Marvin Gaye is a legend in the jazz genre and has frequently made fast, upbeat jazzy songs as well as slow, R&B inspired songs. Marius exudes a similar vibe to that of Marvin Gaye both in his vocal production and in the instrumentation. Marius adds multiple layers of vocal tracks for the chorus which not only creates the illusion of a gospel, but also expands the dimension of the single. Similar to Bill Withers, Marius uses his voice to create a sensational sound experience. His addition to vocal layers allows the song to stand out among the pool of soulful, jazzy songs released daily.
Marius has a very strong talent and continues to impress us with every song he releases. Marius pays homage to the Congos in his music as he implements many unique sounds and instruments native to his homeland. Marius writes beautiful songs tied to the concept of love and the different forms it takes. Marius releases music in hopes that many people will relate to the emotions portrayed in his lyrics and want to spread the message of love to many others. “Joy” asks the listener to truly feel the happiness and safety that comes from someone who is always there for them and to then spread that same feeling to others. Marius creates very down-to-earth music and “Joy” is no exception. This song is an exquisite work of art.
Actor, recording artist, music producer and songwriter, Ámaris Wen, is a rare commodity. From receiving formal training in drama school, to releasing her first album in 2014 (Geiko-Female Electronic Dance Music), and working for major record labels as a playlist manager, Ámaris is a jack-of-all-trades. A London-based artist with a genre focus in R&B, Electronic and Neo Soul, Ámaris has created a genre-defying sound that is welcomed by many. Past successes of Ámaris also include her two albums: Neon Colours (2017) and Dream World (2020), along with her music video, No Signal (2021), and appearance in the short film, Supernova.
The single, Endless Possibilities,focuses on the numerous opportunities to protect our environment and planet. Singing, “Endless possibilities polluting the earth before you speak”, Ámaris is reminding her listeners that many factors are negatively impacting our planet, and it is up to us to take action by contributing to our environment while opportunities are still present. Drawing influence from chillwave, synth pop and the 90s/2000s, Ámaris intertwines beats and sounds into Endless Possibilities that deliver a vibe similar to the sounds of Zapp and Alexander O’Neal.
Ámaris contends, “Endless Possibilities is about chances, about opportunities that we should take to look after the environment, and our planet, while we still have these opportunities.” She also expresses her desire to deliver an important message, while creating “a song that brings you feel-good vibes, and the warm, nostalgic feeling of the music I listened to as a kid.”
Extremely vocal on the protection of oceans, along with being an ambassador for Big Blue Ocean Clean-up (a non-profit organization), Ámaris’ passion for conservation of the planet is undeniable in her music. Her new track, Endless Possibilities, is available to stream on SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Music.
International superstars, SB19, reveal their first extended play, Pagsibol, now available on all digital music services via Sony Music Philippines. Consistently trending across all social media platforms, fans have patiently waited for the five-member group to drop more music. With popular already released singles such as “What?” and “MAPA” that received over 20 million streams collectively, SB19 has solidified a positive worldwide reception with their discography.
Pagsibol features six tracks including three that have never been released before. SB19 released the megahit “What?” earlier this year and most recently collaborated with Filipino folk pop band Ben&Ben to release an official band version uploaded onto their YouTube channel for “MAPA”. Other tracks include “Mana” that is short for “Manananggal” which is a Filipino mythical creature that can half its body into two – the idea behind this concept for the track is that even if you are soaring high with achievements, you still keep your feet on the ground. “Bazinga,” a powerful hip-hop track that demonstrates the group’s diversity by blending multiple sounds from strong rap verses to an electronic drop to the boys singing along with a guitar. For “Ikako,” the beautiful ballad shows off SB19’s charming vocals and rap skills. As the final track, “SLMT” is a high-energy, atmospheric vibe perfect for the summertime with the boys vocalizing to a relaxing tropical beat that is a solid ending of the extended play showcasing the multiple talents of this pristine group.
Earlier this year, SB19 made headlines once again with the release of their already released single “What?”. The blockbuster pop anthem dominated Twitter and YouTube trending list in the Philippines for several days, with #SB19WHATMVOutNow taking the top spot on the former’s worldwide trends for hours. To date, the music video of “What?” has reached more than 11 million views on YouTube in less than 3 months, becoming one of the most viewed MVs in the Philippines in 2021 thus far.
SB19 made history as the first Filipino act to be nominated at the prestigious 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA)—the show aired live from the Microsoft Theater on May 23 on NBC. The multi-awarded boyband went up against Ariana Grande, BTS, BLACKPINK, and SEVENTEEN for Top Social Artist, a fan-voted category whose winner is determined based on streaming and social engagement, as well as global fan voting.
“We are honored to release our first extended play,” says the group SB19. “We really appreciate our fans from all around the world and are continuously working hard to make new music for them. We have achieved so much because of them, especially this last year and are super thankful to be where we’re at.”
The acclaimed pop group is no stranger to earning recognition overseas. The quintet, which is composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken, and Justin, has consistently paved the way for Pinoy-Pop (P-Pop). Thanks to their tightly choreographed sets, captivating stage presence, and top-notch vocals, the award-winning group’s performances online and offline have gone viral and gained traction on various social media sites.
With the release of their 9-track album, Get In The Zone on July 31, 2020 via Sony Music Philippines, SB19 quickly rose to prominence with its eloquent showcase of dance-pop, R&B, hip-hop, and ballad. The songs in the debut record have amassed more than 50 million streams on Spotify and YouTube combined, making SB19 one of the most commercially successful groups of the last two years.
SB19 peaked at No. 2 in Billboard Social 50 chart, just behind BTS and above global superstars BLACKPINK, EXO, and Billie Eilish, and reached the top 5 of the Billboard Emerging Artists chart a week later. Two months after the record’s release, SB19 hit a No. 2 peak in Billboard LyricFind Global due to the renewed attention that their previous single “Go Up” has been getting more than a year after it was released. On the Billboard Year-End Charts Social 50 Artists, SB19 extended their record as the only Southeast Asian act to reach the top 10, ranking 6th overall.
Kevan Kenney of MTV US revealed that SB19 is the Most Requested Artist of the Year for 2020 on MTV Friday Livestream, topping the charts for 24 weeks straight. The Filipino group was also MTV Asia’s Asia Spotlight Artist of the Month for August 2020, and the majority of its music videos reached No. 1 on several music channels, including Pinoy MYX Top 10 and MYX Daily Top 10. ShowBreak, their mini-variety series, which run for 4 seasons, have racked up more than 13 million views so far.
The globally recognized group also achieved a record for the most awarded act in the Philippines for 2020, reaping accolades from various award-giving bodies in music and entertainment.
In terms of reach, SB19 has brought pride to the Philippines with their growing global audience from UAE, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, China, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Fan-initiated billboards across Asia, from South Korea to Japan, the Philippines to Hong Kong were set up in various strategic locations to coincide with the boyband’s promo campaigns. In China alone, SB19 caught the attention of music fans when a random person uploaded a version of “What?” on the social media site, Weibo with Chinese subtitles. The music video ended up as one of the most searched tags on the platform, and managed to rack up millions of views on a daily basis.
Multi-platinum Pop trio Cheat Codes, popularly known for their smash single “No Promises” (feat. Demi Lovato), follow their highly-anticipated debut album Hellraisers, Pt. 1 and lead single “Lean On Me” featuring Tinashe, with the release of “Never Love You Again.” The genre-blending single is a collaboration with Grammy award-winning Country group Little Big Town, who recently performed their hit “Wine, Beer, Whiskey” live at the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards. The catchy Summer anthem also features British singer-songwriter and certified hit-maker Bryn Christopher, who’s single with Sigala, “Sweet Lovin’,” reached number 3 on the UK singles chart and has over 500 million streams across platforms.
“ Never Love You Again” is available now on all digital streaming services, found HERE.
British Soul and R&B vocalist Bryn Christopher is known for his impactful voice and songwriting. He has written songs for musicians such as Louis Tomlinson and The Vamps. His debut single, “The Quest,” was featured on the popular medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and his collaboration with British DJ Sigala, “Sweet Lovin’,” reached number 3 on the UK singles chart and has over 500 million streams across platforms. Last year, he released the smash collaboration “No Therapy” with Felix Jaehn, and most recently teamed up with Dillon Francis on “Unconditional.”
“Super excited to collaborate with Cheat Codes and Little Big Town on this song!! It had started out as a pop/dance record so to hear Little Big Town jump on it and turn it into what you hear now, was a dream,” said Bryn Christopher. “I really can’t wait to get to sing it live all together – that will be such a special moment!”
Cheat Codes have always been known to cross into every corner of the genre spectrum with past collaborations showcasing their musical range by working with everyone from Trippie Red and blackbear to Demi Lovato and Sofia Reyes. One genre they’ve never crossed into but always dreamed of is Country and as huge fans of the genre, Little Big Town is one of their favorite acts. “Never Love You Again” marks a new step for Cheat Codes as they enter the Country space and continue to expand their musical diversity with a powerful song that blends each artists’ distinct strengths to perfection – Cheat Codes’ dance pop production, Little Big Town’s intricate vocal harmonies, and Bryn Christopher’s soulful style.
“We love to cross genres with our music and Never Love You Again gave us a natural opportunity to make it happen,” said Cheat Codes. “We hope this song finds everyone enjoying their summer with friends and family! We can’t wait to see you all on the road.”
A therapist and advocate for mental health, Hudson Valley based singer/songwriter and story-teller, Megan Barbera, knows how to bring people together. Drawing in her audience with her detail-oriented lyrics, Megan takes her listeners on a vivid journey with each song she produces. Megan’s past accomplishments include the production of three albums: Zig Zag to the Sea (2010), Bluebird Sky (2017) and All We Cannot See (2021). She has also produced two singles, one released in May of this year (Be Careful with Your Words), and the other, her most recent single, No Ordinary Thing. Megan’s musical talents have also garnered the attention of Examiner.com, Indie-Music News’ Top 25 songs for 2011, and the following brands: Mela Purdie (an Australian clothing line), Naturalizer Shoes and San Miguel Beverage Co.
No Ordinary Thing focuses on the magical art of connection, with Megan reflecting on the time you come across someone (or something) who will accept you as you are. She sings, “You hung out for a while and shared a secret smile; And when you two touched hands you said, must’ve been made for me.” She then goes on to reference the excitement and spur of the moment adventures that you want to go on with the person (or animal, in this case) who accepts you wholeheartedly.
Megan showcases an array of influence the Hudson Valley has on her music: guitar, harmonica, drums, sirens, roosters, birds chirping, muffled conversation in the background, a clap of thunder and the chime from a bicycle bell. The culmination of these sounds also brings out Megan’s influence of folk and roots music, along with her inspiration for local culture, human-animal bonds, personal growth and family life (similar to artists like Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams and Natalie Merchant).
Megan contends, the “song basically wrote itself”, and expresses, “This song was inspired by the bond we share with animals and the lessons they teach us. Each comes into our life offering a new lesson for us to learn about ourselves.” Throughout the song, she gives the listener a sense of excitement about going on an adventure with their furry companion, hoping their fun times will never come to an end.
We love that Megan Barbera is able to connect with her audience through relatable lyrics and catchy melodies. “Every once in a blue moon, something or someone exceptional comes along and loves us wholly and completely just as we are. A little bit of magic that finds us when we least expect it. Serendipity has a knack for finding us. And helping us begin anew. This is No Ordinary Thing.” Megan’s light and playful song, No Ordinary Thing, is available on SoundCloud and will be available soon for pre-order. Be on the lookout for the accompanying music video as well!
Modern Mystery 