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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02.15.26

by Jane Lambert

VIDEO VOYAGEUR: 3 Q’S WITH AMANA MELOME’

With her single “Con C.ALMA” and accompanying video, Amana Melome’ continues to create a space that is both deeply personal and quietly powerful.

“Con C.ALMA” is more than just a song. It’s a reflection of her philosophy on creativity, presence and moving through life at your own rhythm.

Filmed in the flower lined streets of Southern Spain and in her own creative studio, the video captures the calm, colour and intention that define this new chapter of her artistic journey. Rooted in themes of self-trust, patience and inner alignment, “Con C.ALMA” feels like a gentle invitation to slow down and reconnect both with ourselves and with the world around us.

We spoke with Melome’ about the symbolism behind the visuals, the spontaneous process of bringing the video to life and why flowers became the central metaphor for this beautifully unhurried release.

Tell us the story of this song, why did you choose to visualize this song specifically in this way?

Con C.Alma is a song about doing things on your own way at your own pace, without letting the world rush you.

I felt flowers were very symbolic for the sentiment behind the song. You can’t rush a flower to bloom, and you can’t expect one flower to be exactly like another either! Just like people!

The intention was to create a video that felt elegant yet simple, colourful and calming like sunshine.

What was the inspiration behind this new video (visuals, storyline, etc.)?

I intentionally inserted flowers in all of the visuals for this song! I made a wire flower for the cover of the single, I am wearing big flower earrings in the video and I am walking and dancing around the beautiful flower lined streets of Andalusia in Southern Spain.

There is a softness dancing with the boldness of the images, a calm and colourful sultry meets don’t mess with me vibe hahaha! I thought after waltzing around these beautiful streets, orange trees and fountains, ending up in my studio was the perfect ending to the story line.

Lighting my candles and painting, with flowers in my hair. This is my actual studio where I paint and record music, so it encapsulates my essence in a perfect way!

What was the process of making the video?

I had the vision of the vibe I wanted to create, and called in my good friend and amazing makeup artist Kirsten (shoutout to @kirstenpromakeup) who is always game to get creative together!

I pulled the clothes and accessories from my closet. Once I explained my vision, she found a walking map of the flower-lined streets in the area, and off we went!

2 iPhones in hand and a tripod! We walked through all of the areas, I sang the song through once (sometimes twice) at each, and we kept it moving. Once I left her, I drove to my studio…and it hit me: that could be a perfect closing scene! Super unplanned I filmed all of the studio images by myself! Opening the door, to lighting the candles, to painting and dancing in the mirror. I was just imagining fun edits…and I happened to have two big white flowers in my studio (the last of a bouquet gifted to me on my birthday a few days before). I chose my favorite clips and the rest is history!

I am very happy with how the video turned out!

Keep up with everything Amana Melome’ on her Website

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.

Stream NuVoice music on Spotify and Apple Music

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.

Connect with j dylan paul on Instagram

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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

Stream music on Spotify and Apple Music

12.24.25

by Jane Lambert

ellakate’s “What Fun” Is the Sound of Taking Your Power Back

Some songs hit hardest not because they are loud, but because they name a feeling you’ve been living with quietly.

ellakate’s “What Fun” does exactly that. Dark, moody and quietly self-assured, the Atlanta based artist delivers a song that is less like a performance and more like a late night realization finally taking shape.

Listen in here:

“What Fun” explores the emotional whiplash of a volatile relationship. The kind where you start shrinking yourself to keep the peace, second guessing your instincts and replaying conversations long after they end.

ellakate captures that headspace with a striking atmosphere. Her vocals are calm but weighted, as if she is already tired of explaining herself and the understated production gives the song room to breathe without losing its edge.

What makes the track especially resonant is how relatable it feels. This isn’t heartbreak dressed up for drama. It is the slow unraveling of clarity and the quiet relief that comes with recognizing it. The song taps into themes that many people, particularly women, know well – gaslighting, emotional fatigue and the moment you realize your voice deserves space again.

There’s a polished coolness to “What Fun,” but never at the expense of honesty. It’s the kind of song that fits perfectly into a solo drive, a reflective morning routine or the exact moment you decide you’re done accepting less than you deserve.

With “What Fun,” ellakate positions herself as an artist unafraid to sit in uncomfortable truths and turn them into something empowering.

About ellakate

ellakate is an Atlanta based singer songwriter with music that blends alt pop melodies with raw, lyric driven storytelling. Raised in a musical household, and currently a student at the University of Notre Dame where she also fences competitively, she channels her own experiences with mental health, identity and resilience into songs that are full of truth and vulnerability.

Channeling influences from Billie Eilish to Fiona Apple, ellakate is creating music that is bold, romantic and cheekily relatable. She is a fresh, authentic voice in today’s pop landscape. Whether she’s on stage, in the studio or sharing glimpses of her life online, ellakate builds space for honesty and connection through music.

For fans of emotionally charged alt pop ellakate is an artist to watch.

Keep up with ellakate on her Website

Stream music on Spotify and Apple Music