by Jane Lambert

Ammar Farooki’s “Twelve” – An Album for Those Still Searching

Some albums are collections of songs. Others feel more like conversations. Ammar Farooki’s Twelve falls firmly into the latter camp, and it’s an album less interested in telling listeners what to think and more concerned with asking the sort of questions that tend to continue long after the music has been heard.

Written and recorded between Brooklyn and beyond, Twelve finds Farooki wrestling with themes of identity, loss, love, spirituality as well as personal transformation. That might sound heavy – and, at times, it is – but this is not an album that disappears into its own philosophy. Instead, it uses those bigger ideas as fuel for songs that remain remarkably human and relatable. Whether reflecting on the uncertainty of leaving behind a stable corporate career to pursue music or exploring the ways people search for meaning in an increasingly chaotic world, Farooki approaches every song with honesty rather than certainty.

Musically, the album occupies a fascinating space between indie rock energy and singer songwriter intimacy. There are moments that soar, moments that simmer, and moments that seem content to simply sit with difficult emotions. Tracks such as “Wanderer” embody the album’s central theme of growth through self-discovery, using driving guitars, keys and an uplifting sense of momentum to capture the experience of shedding old identities and stepping into the unknown. Throughout the record, the arrangements serve the songs rather than the other way around, which is a surprisingly rare quality these days.

Farooki says about The Wanderer “The song is really about me growing as an individual, as an artist, and leaving everything I knew to be comfortable and familiar behind to pursue the dream of being an independent musician in NYC. This song as well as all the other tracks were composed, recorded and produced by myself, Diane Desobeau and Sarmad Ghafoor.“

What makes Twelve particularly compelling is that it never feels confined by geography or cultural labels. Farooki’s story may stretch from Lahore to New York City, but the questions he asks belong to everyone. Themes of belonging, purpose, heartbreak, and reinvention are presented not through the lens of nationality, but through shared human experience.

There is also a poignant emotional thread running through the album. Twelve is dedicated to the memory of Farhad Humayun, the legendary Pakistani musician, composer, and producer who inspired Farooki to pursue music more seriously and whose passing in 2021 left a lasting impact. That sense of loss and artistic purpose quietly informs much of the record, giving it an emotional depth.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Twelve was entirely self-funded and self-produced. In an era when artists are often encouraged to chase trends, Farooki has done the opposite, creating a body of work that feels uncompromisingly his own. The successful Kickstarter campaign behind the album, recognized as a “Project We Love”, suggests that listeners are responding to that authenticity.

What Twelve ultimately offers is something increasingly valuable – space to reflect. It invites listeners to sit with uncertainty, embrace complexity, and perhaps discover something about themselves along the way. Music that challenges, comforts and connects in equal measure is a rare thing. Ammar Farooki has managed to make an album full of it.

About Ammar Farooki

Ammar Farooki is a Brooklyn based singer-songwriter originally from Lahore, Pakistan. His music brings together the musical traditions of indie rock, folk, and introspective songwriting. After gaining recognition in Pakistan’s independent music scene, Farooki released his debut EP Songs From the Cave in 2019, earning coverage from Rolling Stone India, Forbes, as well as other international publications.

Later that year, he relocated to New York City on an artist visa and has since become a regular presence on the city’s live music circuit, performing at venues including The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, Pianos, and the American Folk Art Museum.

While his journey spans continents, Farooki’s music is rooted in universal human experiences, creating songs that transcend borders and cultural labels. His recent album Twelve, is his most ambitious work to date. It’s an entirely self produced collection exploring philosophy, spirituality and the search for meaning in an increasingly complex world.

Keep up with all things Ammar Farooki on his Website

05.29.26

by Jane Lambert

A Song in Motion -Wayward Sparrow Finds Form in “Gravel and Broken Glass”

If there’s one thing that runs through certain strands of Americana and modern folk songwriting, it’s the sense that stories don’t always arrive in straight lines. Many of them settle into meaning slowly. “Gravel and Broken Glass,” which is the latest single from Wayward Sparrow, leans into that idea with confidence creating a song that is as much about atmosphere and suggestion as it is about traditional song structure.

Detroit-based songwriter Rich Clark continues to develop Wayward Sparrow as a fully independent project, self producing and self recording the material with a deliberately stripped back approach to the arrangements. What emerges is not an attempt to recreate a genre in its polished form so much as to engage with its origin: storytelling, space, emotion.

On “Gravel and Broken Glass,” that philosophy is immediately apparent. The song did not begin in its final form. Originally written around a different chord structure, it shifted significantly during the recording process when Clark began experimenting with a new rhythm guitar part. That change re-directed the entire track. What was once a more conventional idea gradually became something darker and more atmospheric, shaped in real time rather than imposed from the outset.

he acoustic guitar carries a steady forward motion, and a Telecaster solo enters midway through not as a climactic moment, but as a tonal shift, slightly distant and bridging sections with a sense of mood rather than spectacle.

Vocally and lyrically, the song continues Clark’s focus on imagery and implication. Rather than spelling everything out directly, the writing leans into suggestion, letting meaning form gradually through repetition and reflection. It’s a style that feels closely tied to the broader intent behind Wayward Sparrow: lyrics that reward patience where interpretation is part of the listening experience rather than something resolved immediately.

Like much of Wayward Sparrow’s work, it feels less concerned with arrival than with the actual journey, much more about capturing the moment a song decides what it wants to be.

About Wayward Sparrow

Wayward Sparrow is the independent music project of Detroit-based singer-songwriter Rich Clark. Self-recorded, self-produced, and self-funded, the project embraces sparse arrangements that put honest storytelling and atmosphere at the forefront.

With a sound centered in folk, Americana, and subtle bluegrass influences, Wayward Sparrow explores the darker, often unspoken corners of life through music that is intimate and deeply human. Clark’s work has been described as “whiskey lamentations and hymns of the hopeless.”

Follow Wayward Sparrow on Instagram

Stream music on Soundcloud and YouTube Music

05.27.26

by Jane Lambert

Animals in Denial Channels Chaos and Cultural Friction on Latest Release “We’re Dangerous”

“We’re Dangerous” arrives like a signal bleeding through from somewhere slightly off-grid. It’s too loud, too dense, too emotionally charged to behave itself in the way modern alt-rock often politely insists it should.

Animals in Denial don’t seem interested in that politeness anyway. Christian Imes builds this thing like he’s holding multiple ideas in his hands at once and refusing to drop any of them, even if they clash, even if they spark, even if they threaten to overload the system.

There’s an almost basement level urgency running through the track, the kind you used to hear when bands had something to prove and not much interest in smoothing the edges for wider consumption. Guitars are stacked and slightly unruly, not in a sloppy way, but in a way that feels human with small variations left in the mix, textures allowed to overlap instead of being neatly separated into their own lanes. It doesn’t sound “produced” so much as assembled under pressure like the song might have broken out of the room if it had been given just one more pass.

And yet, for all that abrasion, there’s something strangely controlled underneath it. The drums hold steady like a metronome refusing to be dragged into chaos. The bass sits deeper in the structure, doing its job without calling attention to itself. It’s the tension between those grounding elements and the surrounding noise that gives the track its shape. Without that discipline, it would collapse into pure distortion.

“We’re Dangerous” is a song about being misread. About generational friction. About the way language gets flattened when one group looks at another and decides it already understands them. But unlike a lot of modern “statement” tracks, it doesn’t reduce that idea into slogans or clean takes.

There’s a moment in the track where everything feels like it’s pushing slightly out of alignment with layers pressing against each other, vocals cutting through. That’s where the song really clicks.

And that’s something a lot of modern alternative music seems to have forgotten how to do. “We’re Dangerous” does the opposite. It leans into friction. It lets the rough edges stay visible. It trusts that intensity doesn’t need to be smoothed in order to be understood.

Is it chaotic? Absolutely.
Is it controlled? Just enough.
Is it necessary? That’s the real question.

Because somewhere inside all that distortion and density, there’s a clarity and the sense that this is what it sounds like when someone refuses to simplify themselves for easy interpretation.

It’s loud, it’s uncomfortable, and it doesn’t apologize for either of those things.

Keep up with Animals In Denial on the Website

Stream music on Spotify and YouTube Music

05.08.26

by Jane Lambert

Where Folk Meets Jazz and Memory in Bruce Rosenblum’s New Album “Never Too Late”

Some albums announce themselves loudly, demanding attention from the opening seconds with oversized hooks or layers of production designed to overwhelm the listener. Bruce Rosenblum’s new album Never Too Late takes a very different path.

This latest release draws the listener in through atmosphere, detail and a quietly confident sense of his craft. It is less like a performance looking for an applause and more of an invitation into a carefully shaped musical world.

The album sits within the broad singer songwriter tradition, but Rosenblum doesn’t treat genre as a fixed destination. Folk is the framework here certainly, yet these songs continually allow for other influences to surface naturally. Jazz phrasing winds through the melodies, classical textures deepen the emotions and country folk touches add warmth and movement. Rather than sounding stylistically scattered, the album feels unified by curiosity and by Rosenblum’s willingness to follow wherever each song naturally takes us.

“My Way Home” opens the record with an easy charm that immediately establishes the album’s tone. Written during the isolation of the COVID lockdown, the song explores the paralysis that can come from overthinking life and avoiding difficult choices. Rosenblum delivers it with wit and lightness, and allows the humor in the lyrics to soften the edges of the message. Musically, the New Orleans inflected groove gives the song a relaxed momentum, while clarinet lines drift through the arrangement with a playful energy that keeps everything in motion.

Elsewhere, “Undertow” reveals a more introspective side of the album. Inspired by long walks on nearly empty Cape Cod beaches during the pandemic, the song turns the ocean’s unseen currents into a metaphor for the emotional forces that quietly shape our lives. The arrangement mirrors that feeling beautifully, unfolding with patience and space. Lori Laitman’s flute performance adds an especially haunting quality, floating above the track in a way that feels almost cinematic.

“Tumbling Down” shifts gears again, leaning into a more direct folk-rock energy rooted in social commentary. Echoes of the protest songwriting tradition are certainly present, but the song avoids sounding trapped in nostalgia. Organ and piano textures bring freshness and urgency, helping the track feel connected to the present moment rather than simply reflecting on the past. It’s one of several moments on the album where Rosenblum successfully bridges classic influences with contemporary concerns.

And then there are the quieter pieces, particularly “In Our Garden,” which may be among the album’s most affecting songs. Built around intricate fingerpicked guitar and supported by Rosenblum’s own string trio arrangement, the track reflects on long term love with warmth and maturity. Rather than relying on dramatic declarations, it finds emotional power in small details and genuine feeling.

One of the album’s greatest achievements is the way it balances sophistication with accessibility. Rosenblum’s background in classical music and his wide ranging musical interests are evident throughout, but the songs are not overly produced. Everything is very much rooted in melody, mood and storytelling. Even when arrangements become more layered, the focus stays firmly on emotional connection.

For all its stylistic range, Never Too Late remains remarkably cohesive because every song carries the same thoughtful voice behind it. This is an album shaped by experience, yes, but also by renewed creative energy.

Rosenblum may have returned to songwriting later than some artists, but there is nothing hesitant about the music here. If anything, Never Too Late sounds like the work of someone fully settled into his artistic identity and is making music not to chase trends or expectations, but because the songs still have something meaningful to say.

Connect with Bruce Rosenblum on his Website

Stream music on Spotify and Apple Music

04.28.26

by Jane Lambert

Holding the Moment in A Is For Atom’s “Out of the Blue”

There’s a tendency in modern indie music to either overcomplicate or oversimplify – to dress songs up in layers of production until the meaning disappears, or strip them back so far that there’s nothing left to hold onto. The real trick, of course, is finding the balance. Out of the Blue, the latest album from A Is for Atom manages this really well.

This is not an album built on big statements. There are no obvious centrepieces demanding attention, no moments engineered to go viral or dominate playlists. Instead, Mike Cykoski has created a slow-burning collection of songs that reveal themselves over time. It’s a confident move, and one that gives the record a kind of quiet durability.

The title track, Out of the Blue captures a shift in perspective: that moment when something long familiar suddenly feels different. But it avoids cliché in favour of something more observational. There’s no rush to resolve the feeling, just an acceptance that change has already taken place.

As the album develops, it circles similar themes from different angles. “Closer” explores connection as something active, almost deliberate, rather than something that simply exists. It’s a subtle but important distinction, especially in a world where distance, emotional or otherwise, can so often feels like the default. “Love Birds” takes a softer approach, more tentative, focusing on the fragility of relationships and the space they require to survive.

Then there’s “Babylon,” which shifts the lens outward. Where much of the album feels personal, this track engages with a wider sense of instability: social, cultural and even existential. It’s one of the more expansive moments on the record and, if anything, it reinforces the idea that personal experience is always shaped by the world around it.

“Upriver” adds another layer, bringing in mythic imagery to explore ideas of love and return. It could easily have felt out of place, but instead it fits neatly into the album’s broader narrative. The references may be larger-than-life, but the emotions remain grounded: longing, responsibility and the pull of something familiar waiting at the end of the journey.

Musically, this record has indie rock as the backbone, but it’s softened by electronic textures, ambient details and a strong sense of pacing. Arrangements feel intentional but never overworked. There’s a noticeable absence of excess – no unnecessary flourishes.

This sense is also what defines the album. It trusts the listener to stay engaged, and create music that is more than lasting. These are definitely tracks built for longevity.

In the end, Out of the Blue doesn’t try to answer the questions it raises. It doesn’t tidy up the emotions it explores or force them into neat conclusions. Instead, it reflects the way things actually are as fluid, uncertain, evolving and often unresolved. It’s a record that understands you don’t always need to say more to mean more. Sometimes, saying just enough is exactly what gives a song its power.

About A Is For Atom

A Is for Atom is the Brooklyn based project of songwriter and producer Mike Cykoski, blending indie rock with subtle electronic textures and deeply personal, narrative driven songwriting.

With a background that includes studies at New York University and The Juilliard School, along with experience at Harvest Works and Dubspot, Cykoski brings together technical precision and creative instinct in equal measure.

Known for tracks like “Love Birds” and recent releases including “Enola,” “Closer,” and “Out of the Blue,” A Is For Atom has built a reputation for music that favours emotional clarity and atmosphere.

Find out more about A is For Atom on the Website

04.22.26

by Jane Lambert

When Less Says More – Raffaele Scoccia’s “Silent Mountains” Finds Power in Stillness

Solo piano music has long traded in mood: stillness, space, reflection. But more often than not, it leans heavily on familiar ideas to get there. A few well placed pauses, a gentle motif and the suggestion of depth can sometimes stand in for the real thing. It’s a style that risks becoming more about atmosphere than authenticity.

What makes “Silent Mountains” from Raffaele Scoccia feel different is that it never leans too hard on those expectations. Instead of constructing a mood, it seems to arrive fully formed, as if the music is simply being allowed to exist rather than shaped into something overly deliberate.

The opening moments set the tone perfectly with measured, spacious and quietly assured opening. The melody doesn’t push forward so much as unfold, finding its own path in a way that feels natural and unforced. It’s this sense of ease that defines the piece, giving it a kind of understated confidence that many more complex compositions lack.

As the track develops, there’s a gentle shift in energy, a widening of the emotional frame. Much like the changing light across a mountain landscape, it’s a subtle transformation – noticeable but never overstated. The piece remains grounded in its own sense of calm, never losing sight of the stillness at its center.

And while many piano works aim for a grand emotional payoff, “Silent Mountains” resists that pull. Instead, it circles back inward, returning to its quieter beginnings with a sense of balance and quiet resolution. It’s a decision that speaks to the strength of the composition – knowing when to hold back is often more powerful than pushing forward.

Piano minimalism isn’t new. Reflective, nature inspired compositions are hardly rare. But to find something that feels this genuine, this unforced and this quietly absorbing is exactly why “Silent Mountains” is worth a listen.

About Raffaele Scoccia

Raffaele Scoccia is an Italian composer, pianist and producer whose work moves between electronic music, contemporary composition and minimalist piano. Originally from Trento, he has spent several years in New York developing his sound and collaborating across a wide range of musical scenes, building an international perspective that continues to shape his work.

Alongside his solo material, he has released music under the name Moon Rocket, a project rooted in groove-driven, electronic production that has connected with audiences worldwide. More recently, Scoccia has turned back to the piano, focusing on a more stripped-back and immediate form of expression.

His current compositions are defined by clarity and space, often drawing inspiration from nature and moments of introspection.

Stream music on Spotify and Apple Music