by Jane Lambert

A Is for Atom Finds Quiet Strength in “Closer”

A Is for Atom first caught my attention through his ability to turn big, uncomfortable ideas into something deeply personal, and his new single “Closer” continues that tradition in quietly compelling fashion.

Where some artists respond to modern instability with just more noise, this track takes a different route and focuses instead on what happens when two people try to stay connected in a world that seems determined to pull them apart. Set against a backdrop of emotional static, empty rhetoric and everyday pressure, “Closer” is almost a reflection on intimacy as something you have to actively protect.

What makes the song work so well is that it never slips into sentimentality. There is uncertainty here, hesitation as well as an awareness that words can do damage as easily as they can heal. The narrator and their partner aren’t presented as flawless or heroic; they are restless, imperfect and occasionally unsure. Yet, rather than retreating into distance the song frames closeness as a conscious choice. In that sense, “Closer” is a lot more about romance than resilience.

The musical arrangement here is understated but the beats move with a gentle urgency, guitars shimmer and recede, and the overall production leaves space for the lyrics. There is subtle tension running through the song, and a general sense that things could easily unravel. But, they never quite do. This give the music a quiet strength and reinforces the idea that togetherness does not have to be loud to be powerful.

Like much of A Is for Atom’s work, “Closer” succeeds because it captures the feeling of trying to hold onto something meaningful while the world remains unresolved and unstable. In doing this, it becomes a small but significant reminder that connection when chosen deliberately, can still cut through the noise.

About A is For Atom

Mike Cykoski is the creative force behind A Is for Atom, a literate indie rock project that layers songwriting with electronic innovation. An NYU graduate with a Master’s in Music Technology, he has also studied at Juilliard, Harvest Work and Dubspot.

Mike has performed internationally, with highlights in Ireland, Mexico City, Toronto (NXNE, Canadian Music Week), and major U.S. hubs including New York City and Austin. His previous EPs, Song for You (2014) and Last Man on the Moon (2017), earned critical acclaim, establishing him as a forward-thinking voice in contemporary indie rock.

Now with latest release “Enola”, A Is For Atom is using autobiography to fuse social critique, and innovative sound design into a track that will resonate with many listeners.

Keep up with A is For Atom on the Website

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02.17.26

by Jane Lambert

Matt Alter Keeps It Real on “Train to Nowhere”

“Train to Nowhere” is a song that moves with purpose, one that understands the weight of its own narrative without overdoing it. From the opening intro, Matt Alter manages to balance reflection and momentum in a way that is deliberate and effortless. And it’s a track that is built on experience.

Sound wise, there is a familiar warmth here for anyone who remembers Technicolor from Race to the Finish. The guitars glide with understated polish, the rhythm section keeps a quiet tension humming beneath the surface and Alter’s vocals have that this lived in quality he has always had.

Lyrically, the song navigates that strange, uneasy space between forward motion and uncertainty. It’s about being on a train and not fully knowing the destination, about the moments when life keeps moving even when clarity feels far away. Here, Alter simply presents this feeling, and it is enough. It is this honesty which he pairs witih exacting musical choices that makes the track a welcome addition to your playlist.

From the forthcoming album I’m Lonely… It’s My Fault, which drops beginning of March, Matt Later promises a record that will continue to explore personal and introspective terrain. “Train to Nowhere” is one of those tracks that is a natural evolution of Matt Alter’s songwriting voice, both for longtime listeners and new fans alike.

About Matt Alter

Based in North Carolina, Matt Alter is a singer songwriter who layers melodic rock with personal themes.

After years of balancing a demanding medical career with his passion for music, Alter returned to songwriting with renewed focus, releasing a steady run of solo albums including The Bitter Pill, Race to the Finish, and Did I Offend You?, the latter produced by Tavis Stanley of Art of Dying.

His work is shaped by real life experience and a commitment to craftsmanship, resulting in songs that are grounded and authentic but which also demonstrate skilled musicianship. With his upcoming album I’m Lonely… It’s My Fault, Alter continues to refine his voice as a songwriter.

Find out more on the Website

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01.29.26

by Jane Lambert

First Look with NuVoice’s Faith Adjacent R&B Debut

NuVoice introduces itself with “My God Don’t Play”, a debut single that clearly defines the project’s direction from the start.

Built as a harmony focused vocal collective, NuVoice leans into R&B and gospel adjacent traditions without positioning the song as worship or testimony. Instead, the track functions as a statement of intent which is measured and very much centered on message rather than personality.

The song’s lyrics frame faith as something steady and ongoing. There is an emphasis on endurance and focusing on trust during uncertain periods, but the writing stays general avoiding detailed storytelling or sharp emotional turns. It’s this approach that keeps the song open and broadly relatable, although it also means the lyrical arc is consistent from beginning to end. Listeners looking for escalation or contrast may find the track overly even paced, while others may appreciate its sense of continuity.

Musically, the focus is clearly on the vocal blend. The harmonies are arranged with care recalling R&B groups where cohesion mattered more than spotlight moments. David Stone’s contribution adds texture and warmth, providing additional weight without shifting the overall balance.

As the first release, “My God Don’t Play” establishes a clear foundation for NuVoice as a creative project built on consistency, tone and intention. The single works as an introduction rather than a defining peak, suggesting a collective that is more interested in long term presence than immediate impact.

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01.28.26

by Jane Lambert

j dylan paul – “Love Sonnet for Mikey”

“Love Sonnet for Mikey” is over almost as soon as it starts, and yet it doesn’t feel slight. If anything, the short runtime sharpens its impact. It arrives, says what is needs to say and then departs.

The song is built around a poem written in 2019 after the death of the author’s brother, Mikey. Instead of rewriting the text to fit a standard song structure, j dylan paul lets the poem take the lead here. The lyrics stay exactly as they are, and that decision gives the songa gravity that is totally natural. One line “to help the grass grow arms to cradle you” is echoed briefly like a thought circling back on itself.

“Love Sonnet for Mikey” lives in a quiet corner of indie and electronic music. Synths hang in the background, guitar slips in without calling extra attention to itself and the drums move steadily underneath.

Its the vocals though where the song really takes shape. Paul has spent years releasing instrumental music, and working behind the scenes as a mixing engineer, and it’s this track that really marks one of their first steps forward as a singer. The voice works because it’s not forced or overly produced. It sounds like someone choosing to sing because the song requires it.

The final recording replaces the demo’s programmed elements with live performances – drums by Tim Stefaniak and recorded at New Alliance in Somerville, MA, with guitar by Sherman Tsui. Those choices give “Love Sonnet for Mikey” a physical presence that keeps it grounded, even as the song itself feels almost fragile.

Where this song started out as a personal gesture, it ends up becoming a complete turning point. Short, careful and quietly affecting, it leaves the listener with the sense that whatever comes next is going to matter more because this exists.

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01.26.26

by Jane Lambert

A Is for Atom’s “Enola” Turns Atomic Age Fallout into a Modern Indie Anthem

A is For Atom’s latest single “Enola” starts with a strong electronic pulse that is modern in quality without trying too hard. It’s the kind of groove you can imagine in an indie club or on a late night drive.

But this track quickly reveals itself as more than a beat. It’s built on a concept that feels both personal and bigger than one person. It’s a reflection on what we inherit, what we carry and what we can’t leave behind.

The Atomic Age imagery isn’t just a stylistic choice. It’s a metaphor for the way past decisions continue to echo. The title nods to the Enola Gay, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber that became infamous for dropping the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy,” on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. The aircraft played a decisive role in bringing World War II to an end. But this song is more interested in the fallout, in the emotional residue of growing up in a world that keeps shifting beneath your feet.

Mike Cykoski, the man behind A is For Atom, has vocals that very much sit in the center of the track like a witness to the story. There’s a sense of tension in them as if he is telling you something that he hasn’t fully processed. The lyrics move through scenes that are lived in – cruising through Fort Collins, the guilty of Catholic school upbringing, the adrenaline of rock and roll, and then reframing them inside a country that feels very volatile and unstable right now.

What’s striking about “Enola” is how it balances contrast. It’s nostalgic, but also anxious. It’s loud, but it’s not careless. It’s a song that wants to move you but it also wants you to think. It’s a critique of America, but it’s wrapped in autobiography which makes it that bit more human.

In the end, “Enola” is a strong new release from A Is for Atom because it’s not trying to be anything other than what it is. A thoughtful and bold song that sounds familiar but still manages to carve out its own space.

Keep up with A is For Atom on the Website

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01.15.26

by Jane Lambert

When Loyalty Runs Out – Matt Alter’s Latest Release “Tossed Away”

“Tossed Away”, the latest release from Matt Alter, is quiet, steady and yet painfully relatable. The song is about that moment when you realize that someone has been taking from you without giving back, and finally being able to put that feeling into words.

The music matches the honesty. Both the guitar and instrumentation do not attempt to steal the spotlight but rather allow Matt’s lyrics to really shine:

What really sticks is the writing. The lyrics aren’t complicated, but they are real. You can sense the frustration, the disappointment, the clarity that comes after.

“I was just your stepping stone.

You used me. Tossed away.”

In these striking lyrics you can feel the frustration, the disappointment, and the clarity that comes afterwards. It’s the kind of song that makes you nod and say, “Yeah… I’ve been there.”

Part of what makes “Tossed Away” work so well is the way it was created. Released as part of a single by single rollout, each track got its own space to grow. And you can hear this in the way it is deliberate, punchy, thoughtful but also unafraid to leave some thing unsaid.

About Matt Alter

A lifetime of music has shaped Matt Alter’s journey. From early school bands to picking up his first guitar after high school, music has always been a constant. Even when life and a demanding career as a surgeon took him away from it temporarily.

Returning to the guitar reignited his passion, leading to performances with cover and original bands in Richmond, Virginia, and opening for nationally touring acts.

Now based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Matt Alter has released four solo albums, including The Bitter Pill (2020), Race to the Finish (2021), Did I Offend You? (2023), and an upcoming 2026 release, all reflecting a thoughtful and deliberate approach to songwriting.

Connect with Matt Alter on his Website

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