Emma Jayne is an Emmy-nominated pop-soul artist blending heartfelt songwriting, humor, and queer storytelling from Brooklyn, NY. Emma Jayne GENRE: Indie Soul Pop RIYL: Orla Gartland, Carole King, Ingrid Michaelson Recent Releases: Down To Earth Emma Jayne (they/she) is an Emmy-nominated composer, singer-songwriter, and comedian based in Brooklyn, NY, creating music rooted in connection, humor, and emotional honesty. With over 3 million streams across 15 releases, Emma’s work blends Adult Contemporary warmth with pop-soul accessibility, balancing heart and wit in equal measure. Their music has landed on Spotify editorial playlists including Fresh Finds Pop, alongside high-profile achievements like composing for Hallmark and Coca-Cola and winning Battle of the Instant Songwriters on The Tonight Show. Whether writing for screen, stage, or streaming, Emma brings an instinctive melodic clarity and a deep commitment to storytelling. A Boston University graduate, Emma extends their impact beyond music as the co-founder of Future Perfect Records, a residency for queer youth musicians in partnership with The Future Perfect Project. Through mentorship and advocacy, they actively shape space for LGBTQIA+ artists to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Currently working on their second album, fueled in part by the Music Forward Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award, Emma’s songwriting continues to evolve toward deeper vulnerability, bigger hooks, and bolder emotional truths. Their artistry is dedicated to authenticity, possibility, and showing up fully as yourself.

Ben Parks is a cinematic alternative pop artist exploring identity, faith, and transition through his Ecotone series and synth-forward storytelling. Ben Parks GENRE: Cinematic Pop RIYL: Perfume Genius, Caroline Polachek, Moses Sumney Recent Releases: Ecotone, Pt II Ben Parks is an artist living in the space between transformation and becoming. About two years ago, he released Ecotone, Pt. I, a project that marked a departure from his roots in Gospel music and introduced a new, 80s sci-fi–laced sound. What followed was a period of profound personal change: moving from the South to California, coming out, and rediscovering himself both as an artist and as a person. Rather than rejecting his past, Ben’s work bridges it. Ecotone, Pt. I explored the fragile, in-between terrain of transition, where faith, identity, heartbreak, and longing coexist. The project captured the emotional reality of trying to hold onto spiritual grounding while learning how to live authentically on the margins—a story that resonates deeply within the LGBTQ+ experience. Now, with Ecotone, Pt. II, Ben enters the final chapter of this series. The sound is more assured, the world more fully formed, and the questions more intentional. Still cinematic, still searching, the new songs explore what it means to arrive in a new landscape while carrying the echoes of everything that came before. It’s less about uncertainty and more about clarity earned through survival.

Calista Kweon is a Nashville-based artist blending jazz, alternative, and indie influences through introspective songwriting. Known for singles “Delay” and “Daffodils.” Calista Kweon GENRE: Singer-Songwriter RIYL: Lizzy McAlpine, Holly Humberstone, Laufey Recent Releases: What Matters Based in Nashville, Calista Kweon is an up-and-coming artist bending borders between jazz, alternative, singer-songwriter, and indie music. Through an introspective lens, she reimagines sonic and lyrical storytelling, exploring hidden musical language to unlock core memories and give shape to emotions that often feel unexplainable. Kweon’s songwriting is deeply reflective, using sound as a way to slow down, observe, and process the constant motion of life. Her previously released single, “Delay,” cinematically captures an attempt to detach from reality and quiet an ever-spinning world, while her newest single, “Daffodils,” grapples with the meaning of constant change during a transitional season of life. Influenced by artists such as Laufey, Tiny Habits, Adam Melchor, Phoebe Bridgers, Ryan Beatty, Olivia Dean, and Sarah Kingsley, Kweon blends warmth, vulnerability, and restraint into a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. What began as a mechanism to escape uncertainty has evolved into a mode of transportation—inviting listeners into her detailed, complex, and emotionally rich world.

Step into Jeremy Zucker’s sold-out night at Brooklyn Steel through the lens of photographer Stephanie Axelrod. Explore the full gallery capturing his heartfelt performance, striking visuals, and electric connection with fans. Jeremy Zucker Brooklyn Steel in NYC Photos By: Stephanie Axelrod

SHY FRiEND is a queer, prairie-based alt-pop and punk artist creating brutally honest, dramatic music fueled by feminine rage and radical self-expression. SHY FRiEND GENRE: Alt Pop/Indie Rock RIYL: Amyl & The Sniffers, Pussy Riot, K.Flay Recent Releases: 'No One, No One' SHY FRiEND is what happens when a queer, prairie-based, chronically online, and toxically self-determined artist collides with the realities of the music industry in late-stage capitalism. Their work is brutally honest, tragically dramatic, and powered by unapologetic feminine rage. Blending alt, pop, and punk energy, SHY FRiEND creates music that is cathartic, confrontational, and emotionally charged. Since 2023, they have been transforming the Alberta music scene into a kind of church for queer, alternative, pop, and punk misfits—a space to gather, feel seen, and scream it out together. At the heart of SHY FRiEND’s world is their mantra: “TO BE CRINGE IS TO BE FREE.” It’s both a philosophy and a battle cry, rejecting shame in favor of self-expression, vulnerability, and excess.

Looking for the next big thing in rap music? Meet Joshua Raw, the Charlotte-based artist who is quickly gaining a following on Tik Tok. With his unique blend of alternative rap and creative beats, Joshua Raw is making a name for himself in the music industry. Explore the talents of this rising star and discover how his words and melodies are setting him apart from the crowd. Joshua Raw With growing popularity from Tik Tok, Joshua Raw is a new face in the rap community. Charlotte native, Joshua Raw has quite a way with words, and creative new beats that bring something new to the alternative rap genre. With lines like “I’m just tryna surf, not like Hawaii but a crowd” from quick tempo “Blowing Steam” to “I wish I was with ya/Kissin’, that’s a tongue twister” in “Puppy” with Max Leonard, Joshua really shows off his versatility across the genre. Currently with just under 83,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, I see a bright future for this highly underrated artist and am excited to see what is coming next from him. It is very clear that this talented artist has a diverse taste in music of his own. On his Instagram, with just under 2,000 followers, he has demonstrated his presence at several live shows. Ranging from artists such as Aminé and Tyler, The Creator to Lizzy Mcalpine and up and boy band WESTON ESTATE, Joshua is engaged in several parts of the music industry even when he isn’t making his own music. His creative lyrics are written and recorded from his own bedroom, but reach listeners around the world, with his current top listening cities being London, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Dallas. In the coming year, I hope to see this expand across the globe with some new killer tracks. Below is the inside scoop on all things Joshua Raw, in his own words: GRRRL Music: How would you introduce yourself to new listeners, or people who don’t know you as well yet? What’s your story, and what should everyone know about Joshua Raw? Photo Credit: Provided By Artist Joshua Raw: Joshua Raw is the future of alternative rap. Just a college kid in his bedroom that thinks he can rap better than your boyfriends favorite artist. I love making hip-hop music and love the genre as a whole 10x more. GM: What do you see coming next for you? Is there anything in the works? What should fans be looking forward to? JR: As of right now I’m dropping a handful of fun rap singles to get the blood pumping but in the not so distant future expect a more serious, conceptual project. It’s in the works. GM: You are a lyrical genius— every line is so creative and sounds very intentional, and it hits me every time one of your songs comes on! Do you have a creative process? What inspires you? JR: I’m not the most vocally gifted so I try to keep my lyrics interesting and unorthodox at times. As far as creative process goes I usually start out by mumbling out the flow of my tracks, then I find the lyrics and subject matter as I go. I’m a big fan of winging it and just letting the song find me instead of forcing anything. I personally love when artists use witty word play or clever phrasing so I try my best to include this in my own work. GM: On your Instagram, you have a whole highlight for concerts you’ve been to, and there are a ton of different artists on there! I saw artists ranging from Tyler, The Creator to Lizzy McAlpine, how would you describe your music taste? As an artist, would you say your personal music taste stays out of your own work, or do you use certain artists as inspiration? What’s the best concert you’ve been to? JR: I definitely indulge in music within the realm of the type of stuff I make but most of the time I listen to artists that differ from my style. I really like trap, bedroom pop, indie and folk to name a few. Since I’m not a huge singer I mostly incorporate the sonic elements into my beat selection when I sometimes collab with my friends to produce the beats I use. I also really gravitate to artists like Lizzy and Quinnies penmanship. My favorite concerts I’ve been to is probably tied with my friend Greek and Lizzy McAlpine. GM: Beyond being a musical artist, you have impeccable style and tasteful creative visions. Do you have any other inspirations, opinions, experiences, interests, etc. that have contributed to this? JR: Majority of my clothes are thrifted so that might be a catalyst for my grandpa/dated looking outfits. But who doesn’t like a good grandpa sweater anyway. Despite being pretty frugal when it comes to clothes I am really into fashion, more specifically 70s men’s fashion. Music is my second love, the first being art and 2d animation, which I still practice and indulge in from time to time. I also really love movies; i wouldn’t call myself a movie buff by any means but I think I have pretty good taste. GM: Do you enjoy collaborating with other artists? We’ve seen you work with Max Leonard and jev. before, is there anyone else you are looking to work with in the future? JR: I listen to a wide variety of music and there's so many elements of different genres that I want to include in my own work. It’s difficult for me to just stay in one lane; I’m still finding my sound. I love collaborating with other artists, I have a million songs with Max Leonard and Garrett Sparrow. I just also worked on a couple of demos with Frank Sativa, who’s having a crazy run right now. I would like to work with other rappers though, like Mavi, Diz, Wiseboy Jeremy or JIMMY to name a few. I love freestyling just for funzies but I prefer to write my lyrics to fully capitalize on having interesting fleshed out bars. Interview & Article by: Zoe Lester Instagram Other Links

We recently had the pleasure of chatting with the talented Ali Wolverton to discuss her debut single, "Phantom Pain." Released in July, the track has already garnered over 20k streams, resonating deeply with listeners through its heartfelt lyrics and emotive vocals. Ali shared with us the inspiration behind the song, revealing how she was inspired by the psychological concept of phantom pain and how she applied it to the lingering emotions of a lost relationship. Ali Wolverton “I’ve been obsessed with Billie Eilish since I was 13, and I think that definitely shines through my vocals and production.” - Ali Wolverton We recently had the pleasure of chatting with the talented Ali Wolverton to discuss her debut single, "Phantom Pain". Released in July, the track has already garnered over 20k streams, resonating deeply with listeners through its heartfelt lyrics and emotive vocals. Ali shared with us the inspiration behind the song, revealing how she was inspired by the psychological concept of phantom pain and how she applied it to the lingering emotions of a lost relationship. In this candid interview, Ali opens up about her intuitive songwriting process, her biggest musical influences—including Billie Eilish, Suki Waterhouse, and Lana Del Rey—and the excitement of releasing her first single. She also gives us a glimpse into her upcoming projects, including the release of her next single, "Limbo," on August 15th, which she describes as "Phantom Pain's evil twin." With her unique sound and profound lyrics, Ali Wolverton is definitely an artist to watch. Read on for the full interview! Phantom Pain is such a beautiful song with heartfelt lyrics and a sad girl summer pop vibe! We got to chat via email and zoom with Ali Wolverton about the single, her inspiration behind the song and more! Read it all below and be sure to support Ali Wolverton by following her on social media and you can find her music below! GRRRL Music: Congratulations on the release of "Phantom Pain" in July! Your voice and the lyrics are truly captivating. What inspired you to write this song, and what personal meaning does it hold for you? Photo Credit: Provided By Artist ALI WOLVERTON: thank you so much!! I’m so glad you liked it. in my high school psychology class, I learned about the phenomenon of phantom pain, where a person feels sensations and pain in a limb that is missing or removed. in my song, I applied this concept to a person - they are no longer present, but I still feel them. most lyrics of the song surround my self image: haircuts, clothing, tattoos - to describe how this person has merged into my own identity, and is carved inside of who I am. the song is of course very sad, but I also like to frame it to see how very beautiful it is to carry pieces of everyone I have ever loved. GM: I noticed on your Instagram that you wrote "Phantom Pain" in one sitting. Does songwriting come naturally to you, or was this a unique experience? AW: every song is so different when it comes to the creative process, but my writing is typically more intuitive than intentional. that’s one thing that I’m still getting used to about being an artist - until now, I have never sat down and decided to write a song. they have always just came to me as I go about my life. I truly believe that every song I create is a divine message sent to me, and that I am being used as a mouthpiece to deliver a message that is meant for someone, somewhere to hear. GM: With over 20k streams already, "Phantom Pain" is off to an incredible start! Can you share what the process of releasing your debut single was like? Any advice for fellow artists aiming to perfect their debut release? AW: releasing my first single was a whirlwind of emotions, scary of course but mostly excited! I was so eager to have my first song out so the wait killed me a little, but it was very worth it. I am so blessed to have a team that cares so much about me and my vision, they make me feel so loved & supported which is all I could ask for. my advice to other artists getting ready to release their first song into the world is don’t rush it! listen to your gut, trust yourself, and soak in every moment. GM: Who are your biggest musical influences at the moment? Which artists do you look up to the most? AW: I’ve been obsessed with Billie Eilish since I was 13, and I think that definitely shines through my vocals and production. an artist that’s a newer obsession for me is Suki Waterhouse, I love her huge choruses that transport you to another world and I would love to channel that. but Lana Del Rey is the one who has shaped me most - I actually had the life changing experience of seeing her live and it made me think a lot about the kind of artist and performer that I want to be. GM: Can we expect any new releases or exciting projects from you this year? What should your fans be on the lookout for? AW: my next single, “limbo” is phantom pain’s evil twin and it will be out August 15th!! I’m so excited for her to be out in the world. I’ve made so many songs I’m in love with that genuinely pain me to hide, I cannot wait to switch it up a little with some happy & upbeat songs! I’m still exploring my sound and discovering something new about my artistry with every new song I make, and I’m so excited to take my fans with me on this journey of creating myself! it blows my mind that I live a life where I get to share what I create with the world, these past few months have been so incredible and surreal. Phantom Pain is out on all platforms now, you can support Ali by following her on Instagram and streaming her upcoming release "limbo” on August 15th! Instagram Other Links

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Tinsley is a Seattle-based indie pop and indie rock artist with radio support from KEXP and acclaim from The Seattle Times. Debut album out now. Tinsley GENRE: Singer-Songwriter RIYL: Feist, Sharon Van Etten, The Cranberries Upcoming Releases: 'Bad Enough' Out On 2/13 Tinsley is a Seattle-based singer-songwriter crafting music that feels heartfelt, playful, and emotionally grounded. Blending indie pop and indie rock with an occasional country twang, her songs balance sincerity with warmth, creating a sound that feels both intimate and alive. Her music has earned radio support from Seattle staples 90.3 KEXP, 107.7 The End, and C89.5, alongside recognition from American Songwriter, Atwood Magazine, and Ones to Watch. Her 2023 EP Love Songs was named the number one pick by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame–recognized DJ Marco Collins in The Seattle Times Washington music critics poll. Tinsley has opened for artists including Sam Fischer, Salt Cathedral, Girl Ray, and New Constellations, and has performed at festivals such as Capitol Hill Block Party, The Bite of Seattle, and Belltown Bloom. She began sharing her music through YouTube and Instagram, performing in church bands and acoustic shows around Seattle before becoming a sought-after vocalist and songwriting collaborator within the city’s electronic music scene.

Mieu’s new EP Love So Grand is a dreamy fusion of R&B, city pop, jazz, and synth-pop. Dive into our review and exclusive interview with the duo. Mieu Otherworldly and cinematic, Mieu’s new EP Love So Grand feels like a headrush through a late night in the city—blending R&B, Japanese city pop, jazz, and synth-pop into a soundscape all their own. Now streaming on all platforms, Love So Grand is lush, genre-bending, and emotionally charged. Across the EP, songwriter Shelley Zhao and producer Chris Nocturnes move in perfect sync, effortlessly weaving through the darker edges of pop on tracks like “Butterfly 67,” and embracing bright ‘80s synth energy on “Get Closer.” Pulsating with energy from start to finish, Mieu’s individuality is woven through every track. Whether it’s Zhao’s soft, breathy vocal style or Nocturnes’ jazz-inspired flourishes, their chemistry feels both deliberate and spontaneous—as if we’re hearing a creative conversation unfold in real time. Love So Grand is out now—scroll down for our full interview with Mieu! Instagram Other Links GRRRL Music: Your sound is described as quiet storm, a genre known for its subtle, sensual, and deeply atmospheric qualities. What is it about this mood-driven style of music that resonates with you both? Shelley: We’ve always made sensual and atmospheric music. For a long time we made underground doom music in New York, and when we moved to Los Angeles it felt like time to explore new waves. Chris: For me, it’s the hypnotic groove and the natural ease of the genre that feels fresh. GM: Let’s start with your upcoming EP, Love So Grand. It feels like a soundtrack for those late-night, cinematic moments in life. What was the vision behind this project, and how did it evolve into its final form? Shelley: We wanted to write songs that would could be played in intimate moments, like a late night walk alone in the city. Chris: Or the soundtrack for an arts district dinner party. GM: With so much music today leaning into maximalism and loud production, Love So Grand thrives in its restraint. Do you see this as a kind of quiet rebellion against the over-saturation of sound? Chris: Softness can be a form of rebellion too. It opens the possibility of finding someone who shares your view of the world. GM: Shelley, your breathy, delicate vocal delivery has this effortless coolness, almost reminiscent of Sade. How do you approach using your voice as an instrument in these lush, minimal soundscapes? Shelley: My favorite singers (Sade, Hope Sandoval, Kazu Makino, etc.) have really stylish voices that are uniquely casual and timeless. And I’m a Cancer, so I want to bring out a similar type of delicate intensity to my vocals. GM: Chris, as the producer, you blend jazz samples, UK electronic rhythms, and city pop influences so seamlessly. What drew you to this particular mix of sounds, and how do you go about layering these elements together? Chris: In a sense, making a song is like watching a scene unfold in a movie. A scene has some sort of dream logic that lets the different ideas fit together. There’s no set roadmap for what works. It just has to feel right. Most of the layering was to make space for Shelley’s voice. I used Fabfilter Pro-Q a lot for that. GM: Your influences span R&B, 80s synthwave, Japanese city pop, and jazz. If you could each pick one album that perfectly embodies the spirit of Love So Grand, what would it be and why? Shelley: Sade’s ‘Stronger Than Pride’ — it’s my favorite album of hers and ‘Paradise’ is such a classic. Chris: ‘Melting Moment’ by POiSON GiRL FRiEND — for its enigmatic sound.