Janet Noh has become a regular on these pages. While in L.A. for NAMM and then GRAMMY week, I crossed paths with Janet more than once. There’s a fun story behind this… While at NAMM, my wife was excited to see a certain artist perform on the Sheraton stage. Being the awesome husband I am, […]
Beyond the Spotlight: Bobbo Byrnes and the Realities of the Touring Circuit
Despite spending more than two decades on the road, playing everywhere from dive bars to festival stages across the U.S. and Europe, Bobbo Byrnes has largely remained just outside the traditional spotlight. Which makes his new book Too Many Miles: On the Road with an Unofficial Rock & Roll Goodwill Ambassador feel not only overdue, but necessary. It’s a document of the kind of career that rarely gets written about, even though it represents the reality for most working musicians.
Too Many Miles casts a wide net, chronicling Byrnes’ evolution as a touring artist through years of constant movement. This isn’t a rise-and-fall story or a neatly packaged industry success narrative. Instead, it’s a long haul account of building a life in music the hard way: through house concerts, radio appearances, long drives and the word-of-mouth touring network that exists far below the mainstream radar.
George Collins Bottles the Spirit of Paradise on New Release “My Island Life”
Before we even get to the breezy groove and sun drenched sound of George Collins’s brand new single, “My Island Life,” it’s worth talking about something that seems to run through much of his music. That unmistakable sense of gratitude for the moment.
Collins has a talent for writing songs that feel grounded in appreciation, little musical snapshots of life’s better angles. His songs remind us that joy often lives in the simplest of places.
And with “My Island Life,” that joy isn’t subtle. It’s practically swaying in a hammock between two palm trees. From the opening line, “Under my mango tree / No place I’d rather be,” Collins paints a picture of tropical contentment that’s as vivid as a postcard from paradise.
Matt Alter Charts an Honest Course with “Train to Nowhere”
On his latest single “Train to Nowhere,” Matt Alter once again proves that he doesn’t need big gestures or flashy production to make an impact. Here he leans into what he does best with honest songwriting, emotion and confidence.
Instead, he leans into what he does best: honest songwriting, lived in emotion, and a quiet confidence that comes from years of refining his craft.
The song arrives as the next preview from Alter’s upcoming, fourth solo album I’m Lonely… It’s My Fault, produced by Tavis Stanley, is scheduled for release on March 5, 2026. “Train to Nowhere” continues his thoughtful, single by single rollout, before the full record arrives. It’s an approach that mirrors his creative process, allowing every song to feel fully formed and intentional.
Rene Lopez Digs Deep on “Goin Back To Lovin’”
Bronx born singer-songwriter Rene Lopez has never been one to smooth the edges, and his latest single, “Goin Back To Lovin’,” leans fully into that. Out now, the track offers a stripped down, emotionally direct look at what happens when the bravado fades.
Built on a gritty blend of outlaw country, Latin soul and rock & roll, “Goin Back To Lovin’” finds Lopez confronting his own missteps head-on. The song doesn’t shy away from broken bridges or hard earned lessons, but instead it follows the quiet determination of someone choosing to stop running and start rebuilding. The groove is not forced, and Lopez’s vocals are close and conversational, like a late night confession shared over a drink at a neighbourhood bar.
NuVoice Introduces a Grounded Vision of Faith on New Release “My God Don’t Play” feat. David Stone
NuVoice is a newly launched vocal collective built around harmony driven R&B together with gospel adjacent themes, and “My God Don’t Play About Me” serves as an introduction to the project’s overall approach.
Taking inspiration from classic R&B vocal traditions while keeping the production contemporary, the track positions NuVoice as a group focused more on tone and message than individual identity or performance.
Eric Selby Finds His Flow on New Release “Five.”
I love records that feel familiar without being predictable. Some of the best music usually lives somewhere in that in between spot between comfort and curiosity, and Eric Selby’s new record Five. achieves exactly that.
The album’s opening track, “The Water,” sets the tone perfectly. It’s a song built on longing not just for a person, but for the calming pull of water itself. Selby has said that he feels most at peace on the beach, and here he captures that almost primal draw towards lakes, rivers and oceans. Deep, sometimes overwhelming, always moving. This is songwriting that doesn’t need to explain itself. Selby says about “The Water”:
Ian Ward’s New Single “Spend All My Time” Frames Love as a Choice
That sense of trust feels earned. Ward is a Brooklyn based singer-songwriter, actor, and creative entrepreneur whose career spans more than two decades across music, theater, and film. He made his professional stage debut at just eight years old and grew up immersed in performance, eventually appearing on Broadway, touring internationally as well as working across television and film.
Interview with Dani Felt – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Happy Holidays to you and yours! In this interview spotlight, I catch up with Dani Felt to chat about her Christmas release, AI in music, favorite artists, and more. Full Q&A along with links and music below. Let’s get this hot topic out of the way from the start. What are your feelings on AI […]
“What Fun” – ellakate’s Latest Single Knows Better
ellakate’s new single “What Fun” hits like the kind of realization you don’t want to have but can’t ignore anymore. The song drifts in quietly, all dim lighting and low pulsing production, and before you realize it, you are knee deep in the emotional static she’s been living in.
There is a heaviness under everything here, but ellakate lets the discomfort just breathe.
