After making her entry on the blog, scooping the Song of the Day spot with single ‘House Wife’, singer/songwriter EMILI returns with a stunningly ethereal single, ‘Izabela’, released last Friday (19th September), across all leading platforms.
The single is arguably Emili’s most personal work to date as it was written for her sister. While it touches on heavy themes of domestic violence, ‘Izabela’ serves as a love letter and a comforting hug to her sister, wishing her a safer, happier, more magical life.
‘Izabela’ is the second glimpse into Emili’s upcoming album, slated for release in early 2026, and follows the release of the project’s first single, ‘Just Chill’.
Canadian singer-songwriter GENA PERALA unleashes a bold, cinematic anthem with ‘Machete’ — a fearless blend of grit, glamour, and emotional intensity that cuts straight through the noise.
‘Machete’ wasn’t part of the original recording plan. “I already had more than enough songs,” Gena says. “But after our first day in the studio, I played a rough idea for the band. Within 20 minutes they had cooked up this killer arrangement—I knew right away the song had to be on the album.” That night, Gena finished writing the lyrics. By the next day, Machete had fully taken shape.
The track draws from a personal story of subtle but persistent bullying Gena faced as an adult in a sport she loved. “It wasn’t always overt, but the exclusion was real. One night I came home and thought, ‘Do I quit? Or do I fight for myself?’ I wrote this song. Needless to say, I fought.”
Sonically, Machete is a smoky slow burn—badass, brooding, and a little dangerous. With its spaghetti western swagger and femme fatale energy, it’s no surprise fans have said it sounds like it belongs in a Tarantino film. “I love the way it turned out,” Gena says. “There’s nothing else on the album—or anywhere—that quite sounds like it.”
The cover art adds another layer of personal history to the release — a photo taken by Gena’s father somewhere on the carnival in rural Manitoba. It features a young Gena, her brother, and the gypsies, capturing a moment that feels both timeless and dreamlike. “It’s wild how well it fits the spirit of the song,” she says. “Something about that image—the little girls with the guns. It’s a paradox: innocence armed with defiance.”
‘Machete’ follows the release of Gena’s first two singles, ‘I’m Gone’ and ‘Goodbye Friend’ offering a bold new glimpse into her upcoming album.
The woeful yet stunning combination of the piano and orchestral tones introduces ‘Sapling Tree’, the latest single from THE SPIKES, the musical project of multidisciplinary artist Iago Haussman. As the track unfolds, Iago’s deep, emotive vocals rise with intensity, anchoring the song’s emotional depth in a hauntingly beautiful sonic landscape.
Originally conceived as a meditation on the fragmented memories of a lone traveller — glimpses of love, tragedy, birth, and nostalgia —‘Sapling Tree’ evolved into something far more expansive.
Iago further explains of his latest offering: “At first it was a singular journey through a distant place. Then I thought it should be a journey through life. Many places. Life events. So, the journey becomes diverse and random… but all these random images are brought together by the chorus, which is saying, no matter how crazy everything gets, it’s all part of the tree of life. There is order in the Universe. This tree will keep on growing. Like the wind will keep blowing. The sun will keep shining. The waves will keep rolling. It’s a metaphor for everything that has certainty and will keep going,”
Following the success of his previous releases — the hypnotic ‘Dancing (In the Palm of My Hand)’, whose music video is approaching 40,000 views, and the chilling, thought-provoking ‘Guns for the Children’, with over 20,000 views — Iago continues to blur the lines between music, poetry, and visual art.
With Sapling Tree, listeners are invited not just to hear, but to feel. Every note, every lyric, carries the weight of heartbreak and resilience. Yet, within the melancholy, there is a whisper of hope — a reminder that when life is thrown into chaos, there is always something or someone to hold onto.
“The Sapling Tree provides that order in the chaos,” Haussman reflects.
So why not take a moment — and a breath — and listen below. Let ‘Sapling Tree’ root itself in you….
As he prepares to release his twelfth studio album Spirit’s Not Broken, Irish troubadour BEN REEL offers a heartfelt preview with his brand-new single ‘I Will’, available today (12th September) on all major streaming platforms.
‘I Will’ radiates the warm, golden tones of ‘70s soft rock, laced with a smooth, soulful disco groove. Ben’s unmistakable raspy vocal — often compared to the likes of John Hiatt and Roy Orbison — brings a raw emotional edge to the track, elevating its tender declaration of love. The single continues Ben’s rich musical journey that spans rock, folk, soul, and Americana — a unique fusion that earned him the title “the Irish Springsteen.”
With a career spanning over three decades, Ben has performed extensively across the globe and has made notable appearances on BBC, RTÉ, and Dutch NPO Radio. He’s shared the stage with artists such as Jools Holland, The Cranberries, Nanci Griffith, and Eric Andersen, carving out a respected space in the international music scene.
His 2020 album The Nashville Calling topped the Euro Americana Chart, and his recent releases — Locked in & Live (2022) and Come a Long Way (2023) — further cemented his reputation as a fearless, ever-evolving artist.
Slated for release on 23th January 2026, ‘Spirit’s Not Broken’ promises to be one of his most dynamic to date. Opening with the raw rock energy Ben is known for, the album flows seamlessly into soulful and R&B-inspired grooves, channelling the spirit of Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Van Morrison, and Sting. It’s a journey that balances grit and grace, offering a powerful reminder in a divided world: to simply love one another.
Rising acoustic and indie pop singer-songwriter SOFIA LILY follows up her stunning debut single ‘All We Have Is Now’ with her deeply moving new track, ‘Montana’. Known for her raw lyricism, stripped-back melodies, and a voice that lingers long after the last note fades, Sofia once again delivers music that feels like a personal conversation with the soul.
Blending the tenderness of country storytelling with a pop sensibility made for heartfelt singalongs, Montana captures the bittersweet emotions of losing a friendship — a kind of heartbreak rarely spoken about but universally felt.
Drawing comparisons to Kacey Musgraves, Gracie Abrams, and even touches of Miley Cyrus, Sofia Lily’s ethereal yet grounded vocals glide over delicate acoustic guitar and layered melodies, building into a chorus that feels both intimate and anthemic. With just her second release, she continues to showcase limitless potential, cementing her place as an emerging artist to watch not only in the U.S. but globally.
She shares; ‘“‘Montana’ is about the kind of heartbreak no one prepares you for—when a friendship ends. It’s about learning the truth, letting go, and realizing that not everyone who walks with you is meant to stay.”
With ‘Montana’, Sofia Lily continues to carve out a unique space in today’s indie pop scene. Her ability to transform deeply personal experiences into universally relatable music has already begun to resonate with listeners worldwide. The single showcases her growth as both a songwriter and performer, proving that even early in her career, she possesses a rare emotional depth and authenticity that few artists manage to capture.
Sofia Lily has this effortless ease to craft emotional landscapes. ‘Montana’ is a testament to her gift for storytelling, pulling listeners in and refusing to let go until long after the note ends. Have a listen below…
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