JULIE EDDY returns with ‘What If We Don’t,’ a country track that hits every emotional note exactly where it should, delivering a song that feels both classic and deeply personal. At its core, it’s the battle between what you know you should do and what your heart keeps pulling you toward. Logic versus emotion, caution versus hope.
The opening verse immediately sets up that tension: “I know I should turn and slip out the back door / You should pretend you didn’t see me walk in/ We should keep it surface-level, short and simple / If we can’t help but stumble into talkin’”
The vulnerability in the writing makes the story feel real, while the delivery keeps it undeniably country: honest, heartfelt, and easy to picture playing through the speakers of a late-night drive home.
The chorus arrives and completely opens the song up. It’s emotional, catchy, and impossible not to sing along to by the second listen. “Cause what if, what if, what if we do? / Give it one more shot, baby me and you / See if lightning strikes twice in the same spot / Start falling again and we never stop…/ It’d be safer to leave it in the past we both know that’s true/ But what if, what if we don’t? / Cause what if we do”
Speaking on the track, Eddy shares, “‘What If We Don’t’ was written as the opposite storyline to ‘Two Truths & A Lie.’ Since that song resonated so strongly with fans, we wanted to revisit the scenario of running into an ex at a bar, but offer an alternate ending. Instead of playing games or pretending you’ve moved on, this story is about being honest and laying all your cards on the table — admitting you still want another shot at the relationship and hoping it could turn into something lasting.”
’What If We Don’t’ showcases Julie Eddy at her strongest: vulnerable without losing confidence, emotional without overcomplicating the message. It’s relatable country storytelling with a modern edge, and it’s more than ready to make some noise.
’What If We Don’t’ was released last Friday, 26th June across all leading music platforms. Have a listen below…
Singer-songwriter and Americana troubadour DANIEL LEYES releases his collaborative LP ‘Medicinal Americana’, cultivated and produced by the the late songwriter and roots, Americana, and folk-rock legend Todd Snider. The album is available on all digital streaming platforms, and you can find it HERE.
Daniel Leyes has a life story worth telling, and an album, ‘Medicinal Americana’, that brings that story to life. Born and raised on Staten Island, Leyes grew up immersed in the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s, from Motown to Led Zeppelin. He’s been playing guitar and writing songs since his teens, steadily shaping the voice he carries today.
Everything shifted for him in 2017, the first time he heard folk-Americana legend Todd Snider, specifically the song “Conservative Christian.” Leyes recalls, “My life is divided into two parts: before I heard Todd and after I heard Todd. After that chance radio encounter, my life would never be the same.”
Their friendship truly began years later, in 2023, when Leyes attended a songwriting camp hosted by Snider. The two quickly bonded, describing themselves as “cosmic old friends,” sharing songs, stories, and plenty of smoke-filled sessions that helped spark the creative energy behind this album. What neither of them knew at the time was that Medicinal Americana would become Snider’s final production project before his passing, adding a deeper emotional weight to the record.
‘Ha Ha Weed Is Legal,’ one of the album’s lead singles, sets the tone with a carefree sense of celebration. Driven by bright horns, acoustic guitars, and an infectious rhythm, it’s arguably the most immediately memorable track. It’s playful, catchy, and almost nursery rhyme-like in its simplicity.
The next single, ‘Stoner Mating Call,’ strips things back. With just Leyes’ voice and an acoustic guitar front and center, the song leans into humor and charm: “If you wanna make love until mañana / In a funky little bungalow in southwest Tijuana / After which we could smoke some marijuana / Honey, I’m the man for you.” Beneath the cheeky lines is a sincerity that makes the song feel genuine and disarming.
Another standout is ‘Astrovan,’ co-written with Snider. Raw and reflective, it shifts focus away from the album’s lighter themes and into something more personal, chasing dreams, regardless of how messy or uncertain the path may be: “I got this dream that I’m chasing / It comes before everything / This simple life I’m embracing / Living every day to play and sing.”
Other highlights include ‘Can You Do It,’ a dark, smoky, blues-tinged track that leans into introspection, while ‘Party’ swings in the opposite direction, building gradually before exploding into a full, high-energy payoff.
Dedicated to Leyes’ friend Carl “Tinker” West (Bruce Springsteen’s original manager) ‘Medicinal Americana’ is more than just a collection of songs. It’s a journey, one rooted in friendship, growth, creative freedom, and a passionate tribute to Todd Snider’s lasting influence.
It’s ZAVIER QUINN‘s turn in the NLM interview hot seat after his latest single ‘FTS (First Time Secret)’ was crowned the blog’s Song of the Month back in April.
So come and find out more about the talented producer from Los Angeles as he unveils his inspiration behind the mysterious track, plus his plans for 2026…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2026 treating you so far?
ZQ: 2026 has been a year of growth, clarity, and consistency. I’m spending less time chasing and more time building. I decided to trust the process. I have taken time to understand who I am as an artist, what I create, and what stories I want my music to tell. The music is stronger, the vision is clearer, and I have learned to trust my own voice as an artist. That’s been one of the biggest self-realizations this year.
NLM: You released your single, ‘FTS – First Time Secret’ back in April. What is the public perception of the single so far?
ZQ: The response has been interesting because people hear different things. Some hear a breakup record. Some hear confidence. Some hear boundaries. I like that people are finding their own story in the record. For me, that’s the best outcome I could have hoped for.
NLM: What inspired you to produce/write the single?
ZQ: FTS came from a place of recognizing your worth. Sometimes people only value you after you’ve moved on. The song isn’t about anger. It’s about growth. It’s about understanding that not everyone deserves continued access to your energy.
NLM: How would you describe the single’s sound to potential fans?
ZQ: I’d describe it as modern R&B with a cinematic edge. It’s smooth, it’s melodic, and emotional, but there’s still confidence and attitude in it. It’s music for people who’ve lived a little.
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your single?
ZQ: Know your value. Not everyone who misses you deserves a secon d chance. Sometimes growth means appreciating where you’ve been while still moving forward.
NLM: Are there any plans to release an official video for the single?
ZQ: My team and I have discussed a few concepts, and we’re exploring what makes sense creatively. Right now I’m focused on building a complete visual world around not only FTS but the music coming next rather than rushing something out.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on ‘FTS’, who would it be and why?
ZQ: Probably Lucky Daye. I’ve always appreciated artists who can be vulnerable and confident at the same time, and I think he’d bring something special to the record.
NLM: What plans do you have in store for 2026?
ZQ: More music. More visuals. More consistency. My goal is to continue building the Zavier Quinn catalog and connecting with listeners who appreciate authentic storytelling. I’m focused on long-term growth rather than quick moments.
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
ZQ: Search Zavier Quinn on all major streaming platforms. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TicTok and YouTube at @mr.zavierquinn where I share music, creative projects, and pieces of the journey.
NLM: Finally, if music didn’t exist, what other professional would you do?
ZQ: If music didn’t exist, I’d probably be somewhere designing systems or building businesses. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, how people connect, and how ideas become reality. In a lot of ways, producing music isn’t that different—you’re still building something from nothing.
Jharyss (pictured left), Sam (centre) and Preston – aka Nashville trio INDIGO SYNDICATE – have been a regular on NEW LEASE MUSIC’s New Music Roundup. Their music resonated with you guys as their single ‘DND – Do Not Disturb’ claimed the blog’s Song of the Month top spot in May.
Member Sam jumps right into the interview seat to discuss the inspiration behind the single, which forms part of their latest project,‘Briley Parkway’.
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2026 treating you so far?
S: 2026 has been full of work, love, and growth. We have all been more motivated now than ever to continue to spread our positivity to anyone who is needing it. Overall, we’ve been doing the best we can with what we have, and that’s enough to say it’s been a good year for us personally.
NLM: You released your single, ‘DND (Do Not Disturb)’ back in February. What is the public‘s response of the single so far?
S: We have had nothing but positive feedback from friends, family and fans. It seems to be gaining quite a bit of traction with over 30,000 streams on Spotify alone, and we’ve seen a good number of those streams convert to real followers that we are more than happy to welcome to our community.
NLM: What inspired you to produce/write the single?
S: Both us and our fans were craving something you could dance to, so that was our main goal with releasing DND as our first single of 2026. We came with something completely different from what we released in 2025 and are proud to be continuously raising the bar.
NLM: How would you describe the single’s sound to potential fans?
S: DND is an alternative, multi-genre bop with a beat-change you’d never expect and lyrics that you can’t help but admire. If you listen to artists like The Kid Laroi or BROCKHAMPTON, you’ll like this one.
NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your single?
S: While we love connecting to our fans through our lyricism, this track was more for the people who simply like a high-energy song they can bop their heads to. The concept is a little darker, touching on toxic relationships, but the song is meant to uplift the listener’s energy through the instrumentation and layout.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on DND, who would it be and why?
S: We all thought The Kid Laroi would make a killer feature on this. The type of drums and topic are perfect for his voice and style. If we could list a second artist, Tank and the Bangas would absolutely murder a verse and really play into the alternative side of this song rather than the pop/rap tones it has. Shouts out to both of the artists mentioned. They’re truly incredible musicians we all three admire and tune into.
NLM: ‘DND’ forms part of your latest EP ‘Briley Parkway’, released last month. What’s the general theme of the project?
S: Briley Parkway is a small project that touches on toxicity in relationships. We wanted to keep dark pop as a recurring genre throughout every song while also touching on different struggles almost every person has gone through when maintaining relationships with family, friends, and/or romantic partners. However, coinciding with our true genre-bending spirit, we made sure each song has its own uniqueness by letting different genres seep through, including rap, rnb, bedroom pop and edm.
NLM: What plans do you have in store for 2026?
S: Maintaining our monthly release schedule has been our top priority. We work a minimum of two nights a week to ensure we can give our fans new music consistently. On top of releasing monthly, we have a few shows coming up in Nashville we are excited to be a part of and will hopefully be coming out with a few collaborations with other local musicians before the end of 2026.
NLM: How can potential fans find you?
S: We are Indigo Syndicate on all of your favorite platforms! You can find us on social media either @indigosyndicate or @indigosyndicatemusic. We also have a website, https://www.indigosyndicate.com/ where you can find information on recent releases as well as upcoming ones. Shouts out to our amazing team at Publicity Nation for making the coolest website a band could ever ask for. We love everyone over there to the moon and back. Besides that, you can find us playing in and around Nashville if you want to. :)
NLM: If music didn’t exist, what other profession would you do?
S: This is such a tough one because we are constantly saying there is nothing we’d rather do. Music is and will always be our purpose. If we had to pick something, it’d probably be related to social work or helping animals. We all share a mission of making the world a better place, so those fields are probably the only other ways we could do so.
We wanted to thank you, Tracey, and the entire team at New Lease Music for continuing to support us on our musical journey. We seriously appreciate any time you’re willing to spend on tuning in to our sound and learning more about who we are as people. Please remember to drink water and as always, spread love, not hate.
The intimate video for XO SOUNDTRACK’s latest single, ;Close’ keeps the focus exactly where it should be — on the emotion of the song and the chemistry within the band. Rather than relying on heavy storytelling, the visuals lean into natural performance moments that feel genuine, relaxed, and connected, giving the track an even more personal edge
That chemistry helps bring the song’s emotional weight to life, balancing the alt-pop atmosphere with something that feels human and real. It’s simple, fun, and effective — the kind of performance video that makes the band feel closer to the listener while reinforcing the addictive energy of the track itself.
‘Close’ is an instantly addictive, emotionally charged alt-pop track that blends shimmering synth textures with a nostalgic groove and an edge reminiscent of LANY and COIN, while still feeling distinctly XO soundtrack. Lyrically, it leans into heartbreak with unflinching honesty: “I tried to call you, but you won’t pick up the phone / I wonder if his house is just a home?” and “Everything I lost reflects in his eyes / You got his body holding you close tonight.” The chorus swells into obsession and memory — “I see your face in the window every time it rains… pacing back and forth until I go insane” — before landing on the raw emotional peak, “I wake up in cold sweats screaming out your name… I’ve got your blood running through my veins.”
What makes ‘Close’ stand out is its contrast — glossy, cinematic production wrapped around lyrics that feel unravelling and human. It’s not just a breakup song, but the lingering aftermath of one. Why not check out the video below…
New Lease Music 