Category: Blog

By Todd Anderson

Dallas String Quartet (DSQ) has released their new album “Love Always”. Through their signature electrifying instrumentation, lush string arrangements, and elegant compositional nods to their classical roots, DSQ deliver a luxurious collection of their string renditions of beloved pop classics such as “10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay, Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams,” and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Weaving classical elements from composers like Bach and Rochmonanof into their pop-arrangements, DSQ curates a floral soundtrack perfect for the most blissful of moments. 

“We started by playing music for, and being a part of, people’s happiest moments, so we wanted to go back to the basics and to the simplicity of that theme and feeling. I envision this album playing in the background during the most peaceful Sunday morning, warm coffee in your cup, and a lot of love in your heart.” – Ion Zanca, Dallas String Quartet 

A fusion of contemporary classical and pop music, DSQ is referred to as “Bach meets Bon Jovi” and is compared to artists like Lindsey Stirling, Vitamin String Quartet and 2Cellos. Using both traditional and electric strings, they are known for their eclectic renditions of everything from Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” to Shawn Mendes to Camila Cabello’s “Señorita” to their recent collaboration, “You Are The Reason,” with The Piano Guys. DSQ has performed for Presidents Obama and Bush, the College Football Playoffs, NBA, NFL organizations and was featured on the most recent season of American Idol. Brands like Cartier, Delta Air Lines, LinkedIn and more seek out this one-of-a-kind quartet. Not to mention Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, who requested DSQ as the entertainment for their July 2021 wedding, gaining the attention of USA Today, People Magazine, E! News, TMZ, Entertainment Tonight and more. 

Keep up with Dallas String Quartet on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok and Twitter.

Listen to “Love Always” on all platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud and YouTube.

Brooklyn-based artist Nkosi Bourne has shared a new mixtape, titled Glimpse. Chock full of emotional tracks that capture vivid lyrical portraits by course of Bourne’s sharp pen game, the project provides a refreshingly heartfelt dosage of East Coast underground hip-hop. Preceded by a series of well-received singles such as “No BS”, “Positive Affirmations”, and “Squares” that flirted with lo-fi soundscapes effectively, Glimpse builds off the poignancy of those singles to make for a richly thoughtful, introspective journey into the mind of the artist.

Songs like the title track opener and closer “Therapy” are glowing and ethereal sonically, while containing descriptive, sharply-crafted lyrics that draw the listener in to Bourne’s inner world. “Drowning” provides a jazzy, nocturnal feel with its smoky guitars and laid-back percussion, providing a solid foundation for Bourne’s smooth, laid-back flows. “What’s A Little Time?” is expressive and experimental, with jaunty, organic percussion creating a more abstract rhythmic backdrop and showcasing Bourne’s versatility.

Overall, Bourne’s new EP is a potent, layered project running with an undercurrent of authenticity, making for an engagingly emotional listen.

Stream Glimpse below and get familiar with the rising Brooklyn artist.

Connect with Nkosi Bourne: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

Florida experimental hip-hop artists JASMINEGOLD, comprised of David Nights and Kj, have returned with a new single called “friendly fire”. Continuing their streak of eclectic, boundary-pushing offerings after the release of their well-received project Serpent, “friendly fire” is a poignant and expressive track that finds them delivering sharply-crafted bars and characteristically outside-the-box production.

“friendly fire” contains refreshing, bouncy production by Kj that opens with sleek reversed keys, before buoyant, airy percussion and 808s moor the beat with rich grooves. Atop the lush instrumentation, Nights delivers engaging, laid-back flows before a beat switch brings in a powerful, glitchy backdrop and he ups the ante with self-contained yet ferocious bars. The second half of the beat is electrifying, with swirling samples and fast-paced, energetic percussion giving it an intense flair.

With the release of “friendly fire”, JASMINEGOLD have also dropped a new music video, which engagingly presents a lo-fi aesthetic. Raw, gritty shots suit the surreal, dark feel of the song, making for a cohesive visual accompaniment. Watch the video here:

The latest from Florida’s JASMINEGOLD, “friendly fire” is another example of their potent left-field sound, and makes for a strong offering following their vibrant album Serpent.

Listen to “friendly fire” now:

Connect with JASMINEGOLD: Spotify | Instagram

By Jacob Ezra

Pittsburgh’s Connie Roses has connected with Royal Haunts for a new single called “Bells and Bugs”. Following up his recent single, “The City”, which incorporated influences from hip-hop and punk for a cathartic, raucous listen, “Bells and Bugs” shows a different side of Roses musically, with vibrant, airy sounds and R&B flourishes. “Bells and Bugs” is textural and character-rich like many releases in his discography, yet finds him exploring some new territory, with melodic-leaning vocals and a more laid-back, yet still vaguely unsettling, mood.

Like his previous single “The City”, “Bells and Bugs” expresses frustration, but in a more subtle way, through abstract imagery and sounds that recall a colorful kaleidoscope. The song’s atmospheric synths, watery keys, and bouncy percussion feel minimalistic, yet at the same time create a “sheet of sound” effect, to intriguing results. Atop the vivid instrumentation, Roses and Royal Haunts deliver contrasting yet cohesive performances, finding a natural chemistry as they balance hip-hop influenced deliveries with melodic inflections. Their performances interestingly blend the uncertain with the calm, playing a large role in the mercurial feel that is central to the track.

“Bells and Bugs” does an effective job of balancing contrasting sounds and moods in a cohesive manner, primarily relaxed and expressive yet with a constant undercurrent of something uncertain. The song conjures a feeling of anxiety about existence in today’s chaotic modern world, yet is moored and grounded by rich, sturdy grooves, and a potent vibrancy.

Listen to “Bells and Bugs” now:

Watch the video for “Bells and Bugs” here:

St. Louis-based artist, The Ian Moore, has released his newest single, titled Change. This new offering shows a new side of Ian’s artistic toolbox delivering an ambient pop track as opposed to his more hip-hop leaning catalog. On this new sound Moore says, “I keep trying to evolve and get better with my music and try new and fresh things. I hope everyone enjoys!” It’s hard not to nod your head as you listen along to this one.

Following the release of his 14 track album, INFINITY FOREVER, this track shows Ian’s musical evolution adding a new sonic palette to his catalog. An anthemic and reverb soaked vocal cuts through emotional pianos and synthesizers. The drum pad enters the track and takes the song a dimension further to cement Moore’s lyrics of changing.

“Change is about willing to make a significant change or alteration to the old ways in a relationship in order to turn it into something else for the better,” The Ian Moore says. He said he hopes this song will inspire people to continue following their dreams and pushing through the hard times, even if that hard time is a relationship gone south – the backbone of the new single.

This track aligns with the artist’s core philosophy in why he started making music in the first place. Back in 2018 he started creating as a form of therapy to help cope with the struggles he faced in life. “While it still poses as a form of therapy, it has grown into something much more.”

With previous coverage that includes Rolling Stone India, Hype Magazine, Music Crowns, and more as well as collaborations with artists such as well-known hip-hop act, Futuristic – The Ian Moore continues to evolve.

Listen to “Change” now:

Fast-rising music group Divert have shared a new single called “feeling you out”. Featuring engaging performances from Divert artists TOPFLOOR, WAX, Ghetto Guitar, and Prod Jai, “feeling you out” is a poignant and sharply-crafted track that showcases that this is a group worthy of paying attention to.

“feeling you out” blends genres for a refreshing, idiosyncratic offering. With a driving bass-line that draws influence from punk that pairs with crisp, trap-influenced percussion and raw guitars, the instrumental on “feeling you out” is electrifying and addictive.

A highlight is the track’s vocals, with each artist showcasing kinetic chemistry as they trade versatile yet cohesive verses. Packed full with commanding, memorable melodies that blend elements of punk, hip-hop, pop, and more, “feeling you out” is a song that tantalizes with its enticing, energetic sound.

The latest from the rising music group Divert, “feeling you out” makes for a catchy, focused release and has us excited for what may be coming next from them.

Listen to “feeling you out” now:

Connect with Divert on Instagram HERE.