The Walls Are Way Too Thin - EP
Holly Humberstone
Singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone has already made her mark in the world of pop music at 21 years old. Her debut single, Deep End, was released January 30th, 2020, and has already surpassed 13 million streams on Spotify. Born and raised in a small town in England, Holly did not expect to receive the praise and fame she did after releasing only a few singles. She now has over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and shows no sign of slowing down her music production. When listening in on an interview with Holly, she explained that the timing of the global pandemic also gravely affected her understanding of how large her audience had grown in such a short period of time. It was hard for her to comprehend how many followers had heard her voice when she seemed to be consistently surrounded by so few people. She is now beginning the early stages of her tour and is thrilled to be in front of a live audience experiencing all the emotions of being an artist that she missed out on in the past year.
Holly Humberstone grew into her fame by creating personal lyrics that seem to be relatable to almost anyone- specifically other young women. She describes her music as “reading someone else’s diary without permission.” Essentially, we are reading Holly’s diary when listening to her tracks. In her upcoming EP, Holly has a song titled Haunted House. In her lyrics, Holly describes her transition from moving out of her childhood home in a small village in England, and into a life where that very home has a deeper meaning than just a house. Her writing beautifully describes the way life changes and the constant desire to hold onto the past a bit longer than needed.
While her open writing is what has made Holly’s audience so comfortable with the presence of her music, Holly often surprises herself with how transparent she is in the music she writes. “I find it so important to be vulnerable so I can express my most authentic self,” Holly explains, understanding the necessity to speak truth through music. She has always been comforted by the way music validates her emotions and wants to help others by making them feel less alone in their struggles. Writing music is incredibly beneficial for Holly’s own mental health. To her, creating comes without pressure and acts as an outlet that she knows will increase her own, and others well-being.
With her new EP coming, we can expect a similar lyrical style from Holly with a new perspective on life. She wrote this EP while living alone for the first time in a new city, feeling isolated from her friends and family. Holly writes with a heavy and open heart, taking inspiration from other young and emotional female artists such as Gracie Abrams and Phoebe Bridgers, and also channels inspiration from 80’s music, more specifically Prince. With songwriting being her truest passion, we can expect the project to inhabit her proudest work, as she explains, “there is no better feeling quite like finishing a song”. This dedication is what has drawn so many to every piece she has released.
When it comes to music, we are all continuously drawn to a sense of familiarity in both sound and lyrics. Holly’s ability to be so personable to a wide group of people demonstrates a raw talent that will carry her throughout her growing career. We are looking forward to the release of “The Walls Are Way Too Thin” and are even more excited to watch Holly flourish as an upcoming artist.
(Interview courteous of °1824 x Universal Music Group, check out their Instagram: @1824)
Featured Tracks: Scarlett, Please Don't Leave Just Yet
Sidney Giles and Aerin Schnaid
With U
Levi Thomas
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, 19-year-old Levi Thomas has made his debut in the music industry after dropping his first single, “With U”. Encapsulating an indie yet psychedelic feel, “With U” brings together an upbeat rhythm with modern heartbreak. As we dive into Levi’s inspirations and aspirations for his career, it becomes evident that this teen is full of passion and drive, ready to continue his journey in music making.
What made you decide to start producing your own music?
It started off with boredom. When we were sent home from school at the beginning of 2020, I didn't have anything to do with myself, so I downloaded Ableton and used my midi keyboard to start making beats. The single being released is actually one of the first beats I made. I made it in about an hour and went straight to Bere’s to start producing on my first day back in San Diego.
Which artists are your greatest inspirations for this project?
I could go on forever, there's hundreds of people who inspire me inside and outside the industry, but if we're talking music, I’d say Dreamer Boy, Kevin Parker, and Dominic Fike. Fike is a rockstar and I try to channel his energy when I make beats. Another inspiration is Harry Styles because of the way he carries himself and the impact he has made in our generation through style and self-expression.
Where are you from and how has it impacted your style?
I'm from Los Angeles, California. Being in LA has helped me stay inspired. Going on drives into the city and around the canyons is a big part of my inspiration for music in LA. Hearing Kid Cudi rap about the places I grew up in reminds me that I am gaining inspiration from the same places that so many other huge artists have been inspired by. I’m also lucky to have grown up there because I have been able to see so many live shows. I love being in LA, but moving to San Diego for school has added a new aesthetic to my life, it's always so beautiful here. In my single I talk about reminiscing on the past, which was inspired by my time living on my own and experiencing true growth.
Any other meanings to add about the song?
I thought of the melody before I thought of the words, just like spit balling and freestyling. It's more about reminiscing about the past, not necessarily a specific moment.
How has this single helped you grow as an artist?
I would sing in high school but it was never my work, so I feel like this is a coming of age moment that truly forced me out of my comfort zone. I finally realized, who cares, this is fun and I'm making a song I think is good. I also have an appreciation for good music thanks to Current Wavve.
What are your goals after the single drops?
I don’t expect much, I talk to my friends who helped with the single like Spencer, Noah and Bere, who say it’s going to be huge. I mean, that would be awesome, but I think our generation has this impression that you can make a catchy song and it'll explode all over TikTok and social media, but I don’t think that's how it works. This is the beginning of the journey, and it's only up from here.
Any final words you want to leave us with?
I feel like my single isn't the best body of work I made but it's the best place to start. This is a little taste of Levi Thomas.
When’s the next drop coming?
Soon. It is in the works.
Aerin Schnaid and Sidney Giles
Look Easy
Kaytranada, Lucky Daye
Although quarantine has caused a stand-still in our everyday lives, artists have more time now than ever to express their creative sides. KAYTRANADA's single, Look Easy, was a pleasant yet surprise drop after the release of his monumental album, Bubba. He is constantly showing us that he will never disappoint with the unexpected new music up his sleeve. Lucky Daye's smooth vocals flowed perfectly with KAYTRANADA's mastered, chill electronic, head-bopping beat. Who's going to surprise us next?
Aerin Schnaid
THE END OF EVERYTHING
Noah Cyrus
In her second EP, THE END OF EVERYTHING, Noah Cyrus undeniably expresses herself and the hardships of a 20-year-old by bringing together a wide range of genres and creating eight raw songs full of emotion and pain. With hints of country twang, emo-pop, and inspiration from The Beatles and Lana Del Rey, THE END OF EVERYTHING became and eclectic EP where the youngest Cyrus hoped to create beauty from her roots. With this EP, Cyrus addresses her issues with mental health, relationships, and eventually the fate of herself and the rest of the world. Closing her EP with the track The End of Everything, Cyrus nearly takes your breath away with the opening verse of "Everyone you love is gonna die." A dramatized but powerful line, Cyrus breaks the hearts of her listeners by stating one of the most simple yet disregarded truths of the universe. With her angelic voice and moving lyrics, Noah Cyrus has created a truly breathtaking EP enveloping the adversities of mental health and depression.
Sidney Giles
I Leave Again
Petit Biscuit
Petit Biscuit and Shallou is a collab that the world of tropical house has been waiting on, and the release of "I Leave Again" will certainly leave everyone satisfied. Sharing a similar style of low-fi melodic beats, Shallou's soft vocals alongside Petit Biscuit's dreamy beats created a relaxing and hypnotic track that makes you want to drive down the coast with the windows down. While the new release is an overall feel good track, the lyrics capture the pain of a loss of love. Backing up the incredible cover art, "I Leave Again" depicts the burning flames in the relationships that life brings us all, and the way in which some love stories end with an extinguished flame. Check out our playlist Dreamland on Spotify for more tracks from Petit Biscuit, Shallou, and similar artists.
Sidney Giles
Maybe We Could
Kllo
On July 17, the electronic duo will be releasing their new album, Maybe We Could, but gave us a taste of their new found impression with the release of two singles off the album, Still Here and Insomnia. Their electronic and alternative mashup introduces their ability to make an unfamiliar sound seem near to their fans. It is an intriguing approach to the release of new work, as it gives us a taste of their future projects in their careers. Especially the single Still Here, it is a peculiar sound that makes you want more, and we are at the edge of our seats to see what they have in store.
Aerin Schnaid
Dream World
The Growlers
The Growlers most recent release of singles "Dream World" and "Random Everyone" have brought a more upbeat and positive tone to their more common goth rock style. "Dream World" is a relief to the often harsh realities that The Growlers portray in their tracks, with lines like "You can find love in the middle of a war" and "Go make your own world". Not only do the tracks on this short EP show an evolution in style for The Growlers, but the bright and graphic art of the album cover brings light to the bands often dark and dull covers. These new tracks by the Growlers are must listens, and hopefully just a sneak peak of a new and more lighthearted album from the much loved beach goth group.
Sidney Giles
rebellious (ft. Yuna)
Adventure club
In 2013, Adventure Club burst into the EDM world with their most popular track, Gold (feat. Yuna). Seven years after their first EP, Canadian duo Christain Srigley and Leighton James paired up with Yuna once again to create another angelic duet. Rebellious is a powerful dance track, encouraging listeners to stand up for themselves against those who are treating them wrong. The soulful energy behind Yuna's voice backed with the dynamic instrumentals of Adventure Club created a beautiful new single, setting the bar high for the unreleased tracks from Adventure Club's upcoming EP.
Sidney Giles
Three. Two. One.
Lennon Stella
After 8 years of being in the entertainment industry, Lennon Stella introduces her debut album, Three. Two. One. She was able to get experience in the past by touring with multiple artists and get her footing in the industry, allowing her to build the confidence to release her first full-length indie pop album. Three. Two. One. was a way for her to express her true self and show the world was she is capable of. This introduction Stella was hoping to showcase is without a doubt shown in the album by including a personal feature of her sister, motivational breakup anthems, and even a bit darkness (which is not usually seen in her work). She closes the album with the heartfelt and catchy single, Goodnight. It sheds light on the feeling of not wanting to let go of something, saying goodnight rather than goodbye, which could be referencing her connection that she has with the album. But she hopes her fans could draw parallels to their own lives, feeling the lyrics to become stronger together. Three. Two. One. is authentically Lennon Stella, and should be seen as an announcement of her passionate and confident self. Music certainly appreciates true expression.
Aerin Schnaid
Living in a ghost town
The rolling stones
Not even a world pandemic can stop The Rolling Stones. Last week they released a new track for the first time in eight years, which they completed while they were all at a safe distance apart. The track, Living in A Ghost Town, is full of grimy lyrics and instrumentals, keeping up with their style of classic rock and roll. The song "was written about being in a place which was full of life, but is now bereft of life so to speak," says Mick Jagger, which is a perfect way to describe the life that we have all been thrown into. While the song was written before we were all encouraged to isolate ourselves, the band completed this song before the rest of the tracks they plan on releasing because it related too well to our daily lives. This track is the first of several more, as The Rolling Stones are taking this time off to create more magic.
Sidney Giles
To feel alive- EP
Kali Uchis
Kali Uchis has been under the radar since her album Isolation, in 2018. With only features in 2019 on Free National's debut album and Kaytranada's single, 10%, on his Bubba record, she laid low releasing only one personal song, Solita. Uchis said to her fans on social media, "recorded all of it alone, in my room, last week because I won't roll out my real album right now, but wanna give my babies something". If this is a sneak peak into the style of her upcoming album then we are definitely in for an amazing ride. The artwork of the EP mimics Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's cover art, if you take a look without the censorship, foreshadowing the confidence she's about to bring with the full LP. Give it a listen to feel alive!
Aerin Schnaid
Everybody Business
Kehlani
Kehlani hits us with another classic, acoustic single. With the slowed down melody from The Neptunes Frontin', she includes vulnerable lyrics that many can relate to. The music video for Everybody Business is as authentic as her writing being shot in her own backyard, visually relaying the heavy feelings this song gives you. Kehlani's music has evolved as she goes through life, and this sneak peek proves we should be anticipating an album well worth the wait.
Aerin Schnaid
Window
still woozy
Keeping up with his style, Still Woozy's newest single Window is another alternative hit featuring Sven Gamsky's fruity voice with a fusion of acoustic and electronic sounds. With hints of pop in this track, Window is a tune that you cant help but sway along to, and is sure to be a hit between a wide range of ages. One of the hottest new acts in 2020, Still Woozy's name and album artwork perfectly define his style of music, where a dreamlike acoustic act is brought into the alternative world.
Sidney Giles
PDLIF
bon iver
With his newest single PDLIF, Bon Iver has again astounded us with a beautiful symphony of electronic melodies and powerful words. In response to the outbreak of COVID-19, on Iver released this track in an effort to provide support to those working on the frontline of the pandemic. 100% of the proceeds will be directed to Direct Relief, an organization providing to essential workers. The repetition of the line "Please dont live in fear (PDLIF)", and "There will be a better day", bings hope and light into our current situation, and encourages his followers to be free in times of pain. This is a must listen track, especially in times where living without fear seems harder than ever.
Sidney Giles
Get Lost
Gudfella
In his newest track Get Lost, DJ GUDFELLA has created another high energy single produced by Klo with vocals by JESS (@thejessmusic). Get Lost brings together the sounds of the electronic world with a pop melody, creating a catchy tune that is sure to play on repeat while you sing along to the heartfelt lyrics. Watch out for this up and coming artist, as he captures the essence of the electronic scene.
Sidney Giles & Aerin Schnaid
make the most
Lonr. (featuring h.e.r.)
Released on April 3, 2020, Make the Most will put you in all sorts of feelings. The heart-warming lyrics and duet vocals between LONR. and H.E.R. are an incredible way for the artist to express the direction he is heading and what style of music he is looking to put out to his fans. The recurring line "I want to grow old with you, make the most with you, that's the goal" definitely showcases the heart and soul that went into this beautiful single. It is instrumentally and vocally pleasing, something the world did not know it needed, but certainly did.
Aerin Schnaid
help
ghastly
Straying from his typical dubstep sound, Ghastly has dropped his new single, Help. With melodic vocals sung by Karra, this electro pop track is sure to stir up your emotions with the repetitive chorus of "Help, why do I always do this to myself." While Ghastly generally uses his platform as an artist to create music full of rage and intensity, this new track has expressed vulnerability and showed that there is more to his work than riddim drops.
Sidney Giles
neptune
graphic wonder
As an upcoming artist, Graphic Wonder recently his second single, Neptune. Combining the good feels of dance music with intergalactic beats, Neptune takes you on a euphoric ride, bringing vibrancy and visuals into music. This style of futuristic house is a common theme in Graphic Wonder's other releases, creating a unique and euphoric atmosphere in his work. If you like INZO, you should definitely check out this track.
Sidney Giles
It is what it is
thundercat
Stephen Bruner, also known as Thundercat, isa humorist who shares happiness with his fans through comical lyrics and joyful energy. However, this album was his outlet and source of closure for the loss of the legendary artist, and his best friend, Mac Miller. This album is uniquely touching and tells his story, all while staying true to his music sound. Thundercat is someone to look up to, musically and in life. In It Is What It is, he expresses difficult emotions through his unmatchable bass skills, jazz sounds and R&B tracks. Interstellar Love will show you an immense amount of instrumental talent, while track 15, It Is What It Is, connects you to the album and its meaning. This is definitely worth the listen.
Aerin Schnaid
Before love came to kill us
Jessie Reyez
Reyez's intensity and passion continues to be the asset that pulls together her unforgettable lyricism and vocal range. She uses her music as a diary to address her deepest emotions as she navigates through heartbreak and her independence. Her mix of pop and R&B is the perfect sum for her tearful and touching album. Give the newly released project a listen, tune into Roof for a fierce hip-hop track, as well as Kill Us and DO YOU LOVE HER for a hard-hitting R&B sound.
Aerin Schnaid
RIPPLS
Medasin
Medasin has grown popular through the years for his electronic hits including Sunday Vibes and Daydream, and has continued his epic work with the release of his album Rippls. This album rides the chillwave trend, using lofi and melodic beats to create an electronic masterpiece. For relaxed tunes give songs Friends and Melody X a listen, and for a more electropop feel, check out Everytime, featuring Naomi Wild.
Sidney Giles