Gena Perala unveils her sophomore album, ‘Somewhere New’

GENA PERALA has released her sophomore album, ‘Somewhere New’ last Friday (13th February), across all leading music platforms. Produced by Erik Nielsen, the 12-track album was recorded at Afterlife Studios and finished at Smooth Operator Studios, the result of nearly three years of work, shaped slowly by people in a room making music together.

‘Somewhere New’ is about motion rather than milestones—leaving without spectacle, choosing yourself, and continuing forward even when it feels like pushing the same boulder uphill, again and again. There’s no grand arrival here, no welcome-home party. Just quiet resolve.

The sense of time passing is embedded in the album itself. Songs like ‘Baby Girl’ were written years ago, while others, including ‘Machete,’ came together in the studio. “Letting the band shape and challenge the songs in real time was one of the great gifts of making this record,” Perala says.

“Somewhere New is a journey—about who we were, who we’re becoming, and learning to accept ourselves somewhere in between,” she continues. “I’ve often been described as disarming, difficult, or defiant. Those words are usually meant as insults, and this record spends a lot of time sitting with that—what it means to take up space, to stay true without explaining or apologizing, and to stand your ground, especially as a woman.”

Nielsen’s production keeps the focus on feel, leaving room for silence, tension, and breath. In an era dominated by speed and polish, ‘Somewhere New’ leans into something increasingly rare: musicians listening to each other in real time. The songs linger in the spaces between messages, the silences left by ghosting, and the quiet work of staying present in an increasingly online, distracted world. Rather than rejecting modern life outright, the record gently asks what we lose when attention becomes fractured—and what it means to seek real connection anyway.

Subtle instrumentation deepens that sense of forward motion. A string quartet threads through the album with visceral tension, while pedal steel appears on nearly every track, bending and holding emotion in place. Nielsen’s role was often one of restraint, continually reining things in and giving the songs space. The result is a sound that feels intimate and expansive, guided more by instinct than excess.

The album’s cover image reflects that same spirit. Shot by Perala’s late father, the photograph captures a hot air balloon, carnival swings, and light caught at just the right moment—fleeting, weightless, and quietly beautiful. Motion suspended in time.

Raised traveling the carnival circuit with her family, Perala has long been attuned to impermanence, memory, and the strange comfort of movement. Those early experiences continue to shape her songwriting—work that finds meaning in the everyday and beauty in the overlooked.

‘Somewhere New’ is a record about arrival—not at a place, but at a self. No ceremony. No applause. Just forward motion as quiet cause for celebration. Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Machete, Lucky One, Goodbye Friend, Losing Ground, Baby Girl

Connect with Gena Perala via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GenaPeralaMusic/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/genaperala
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@genaperala
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@genaperala

Source: Gena Perala

Gena Perala shares reflective single, ‘Baby Girl’

GENA PERALA returns with ‘Baby Girl’, a tender, wandering single about youth, time, and the people we become along the way.

At its core, ‘Baby Girl’ explores a universal truth: we never quite feel as old as we are, and life moves faster than expected. Built on reflective verses and a chorus that balances innocence with emerging wisdom, the song moves between the baby girl we once were and the person we’re still becoming.

Perala’s lyrics are quietly profound, conversational, and slyly charming:

“Here’s to life and here’s to luck / sky ain’t falling so there’s no need to duck”
“All I know is I don’t know much / But I’ll try anything once”

“It’s one of the first songs I ever wrote,” Perala says. “A bit of a rambler, but a really sweet one. It’s about how fast time goes by, how you keep trying, and the people you want to keep moving with. Fans have been asking for this one for years, so it just felt right to finally release it.”

‘Baby Girl’ is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Connect with Gena Perala via:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/GenaPeralaMusic/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/genaperala
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@genaperala
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@genaperala

Source: Gena Perala

New Lease Music’s Top Ten Singles of 2025

Hey guys, it’s finally here – welcome to NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Singles of 2025!

Inside, you’ll find an eclectic mix of records you’re bound to love. Expect Drum ’n’ Bass like you’ve never heard before, full-on indie rock, soothing R&B, and some heart-tugging singer-songwriter gems.

So why not have a listen below and enjoy! If something catches your ear, leave a comment and let us know your favourite. Thank you for listening and make you keep your eyes peeled for new releases coming soon…

10. SPRING CLEANING -EMEREE

9. ADDICTED – OBSIDIAN CANE & GIZELLA

8. IZABELA – EMILI

7. NIGHT OWL – SLEEPY DAYS

6. CONERSTONE – ROSS FLORA

5. LUCKY ESCAPE – MARYAIANNE & ME

4. NEVER CHANGE – OBSIDIAN CANE & GIZELLA

3. BETTER WITH TIME – STEFANIE MICHEALA

2. LUCKY ONE – GENA PERALA

1. BITE ME! – AMITY

New Lease Music’s Top Ten Albums of 2025

Hello guys, Happy New Year! I hope you all had lots of fun over the festive period!

It’s that time again when NEW LEASE MUSIC picks out the top releases of the year! Today, we start with the Top Ten Albums of 2025 where – as always – you’ll find a selection of earworthy collections. So if you’re in the mood to move your hips to the infectious rhythms of Afrobeats, Afro-fusion and EDM, you’ll find some here to keep you dancing. Prefer something more laid-back? We’ve also included albums steeped in the intimate vibes of indie rock, pop, singer-songwriter, and hip-hop—perfect for reflective moments and late-night listening.

So, get tuck in and explore! If any of the great releases tickle your fancy, why not comment below!

Be sure to look out for NEW LEASE MUSIC’s Top Ten Singles of 2025, coming soon….

10. DEEP BLUE – LAVENDINE

9. YESTERDAY’S WEIRDNESS IS TOMORROW’S REASON WHY – ALASKA X ALEX LUDOVICO X JASON GRIFF

8. DO IT – HANSHAKE IN SPACE

7. ALL OF ME – RAPHAEL TATE

6. BLACK RENAISSANCE – NATTY BOI ZOE

5. WAYFINDING – COLIN MANSON

4. A MOMENT ALONE (LIVE AT FACTORY STUDIOS) – JAMES O’HURLEY

3. QUARTER PAST 7VEN – 705

2. LAST DAYZ – JB DAMESENJAH

1. IT IS FINISHED – MIKE BODY

From Passion to Practice: How Music, Singing, and Songwriting Can Enrich Your Life

You don’t need a reason to start. Music doesn’t ask for credentials. It doesn’t care if you’ve played since childhood or if you just googled “how to hold a guitar” five minutes ago. What matters is showing up. That little itch in your chest when you hear a melody that hits? Follow it. Music is less about talent and more about permission. Permission to feel something and give it shape. If you’ve been circling the idea of making music, writing songs, or finding your voice—this is your push.

Start Small With Music

Nobody tells you this, but most people start badly. Fingers don’t move right. Timing feels off. It’s frustrating as hell. And still—people come back to it. They come back because even a few messy notes feel different than silence. You don’t need to be “musical.” You need to be curious. A cheap keyboard, a second-hand uke, a beat-making app—any of it can be your entry point. You can figure the rest out as you go. It’s okay to suck for a while. That’s part of it. Most folks who stick with it started by just embracing music casually. Don’t overthink it. Make a little noise and see where it takes you.

Music Strengthens the Brain

Here’s the wild part: while messing around with scales and chords, the brain is secretly doing push-ups. Patterns start to land. Attention sharpens. Something in your thinking gets tighter, more layered. Problems start to feel more solvable. Listening improves—not just to music, but to people, to space, to what’s not being said. Turns out, playing music boosts brain function. Not just memory and coordination, but the kind of flexible thinking that spills over into everything else. It’s not about turning a hobby into a productivity hack. But if it helps sharpen focus and deepen presence, there’s real value in that.

How Music Habits Shape Life Skills

Creative hobbies bleed. They shape the way stress is handled, the way time is used, even the way conversations are navigated. Building a rhythm with music often leads to building rhythm elsewhere. Showing up for something creative—even when it’s hard—has a carryover. That’s why the discipline of music can pair so well with other structured efforts, including things like structured online business programs. It’s the same core rhythm: set time aside, stay consistent, grow at your own pace. Music doesn’t stay in one lane—it spills into everything.

Why Singing Is Worth Trying

Let’s talk. Not the one used at work. The real one. Singing wakes something up. Breathing deepens. Attention shifts. The day starts to feel lighter. It’s physical, emotional, chemical. And no, there’s no need to be “a singer.” That label trips people up. Just sing. Sing bad, sing loud, sing weird. It moves energy around in ways that defy explanation. The health benefits of singing are more than science—they’re survival. Singing is medicine stored in the lungs.

What Happens When You Sing With Others

Music isn’t always a solo act. Singing with other people is one of the oldest forms of connection. Campfires, choirs, back seats of cars—that’s where shared memory is made. Voices sync up, even when pitch doesn’t. Thoughts drop out. Movement takes over. It’s a reset. No stage required. A living room, a garage, even a group text that turns into a jam is enough. The benefits go beyond social—they’re physical. Group singing improves health and deepens community ties. Heart rates align. Stress drops. People stop holding their breath, metaphorically and literally. Let it be imperfect. Let it be loud. Let it be real.

Getting Started With Songwriting

If playing or singing doesn’t scratch the itch, try writing. Write what doesn’t fit in regular conversation. Write the unspoken stuff. Songwriting doesn’t need to rhyme or follow rules at first. Just chase the sparks. The odd image. The one line that loops. It starts to get messy. Then shape it. Songwriting isn’t about polish. It’s about honesty. Don’t wait for inspiration—just start. If you need a few basics, these simple songwriting tips for beginners can give the process a nudge. Don’t aim for brilliance—aim for real.

Improving As a Songwriter

Once there’s something on the page, sit with it. Don’t rush to perfect it. Just listen. Try a different rhythm. Flip the phrasing. Say it out loud. Then say it a different way. Progress lives in the second and third versions. Over time, a personal style starts to emerge. A rhythm. A pattern. A system for chasing creative moments. For anyone looking to sharpen that system, these songwriting methods that genuinely improve your output act more like fire-starters than formulas. When stuck, use them. When flowing, ignore them.

If nothing else, let music become one of the things that grounds you. You don’t have to monetize it. You don’t have to get good. Just show up and make noise. Let your voice crack. Let your fingers fumble. There’s something real and steady about having a creative outlet that asks nothing from you but attention—and gives you a quieter, stronger version of yourself in return.