“Judge Me Not” is a club dancer with a trance groove, and intricate chord changes that sound movie-score-esque. The layers keep coming as the track progresses, designed for listeners who are fastened in for the ride. The quality is great, pro sounding, ready to be blasted in your car on a long drive. The music is instrumental, eerie and hypnotizing.

“Groove It” has some dirty snare hits, wild changes and a head-bobbing tempo. The grainy, bassy, synths add a somewhat “industrial” sound to this through-composed epic dance music. It’s half club-music and half experimental-art music.

“Forever and Ever” displays some extremely refined musicianship - in the flawless rhythmic execution of the acoustic guitar to the pitch-perfect and emotional vocals. James Taylor fans, Jackson Browne fanatics and anybody who loves the 60’s, 70’s or a good clean songwriter will be quite pleased. Love is the topic of focus, and this older gentleman seems to feel it in his soul. The recording is awesome, with tight drums, piano, bass and guitar all balanced perfectly. This pop/country ballad would fit right in on radio rotation with contemporary and classic artists. The lead guitar lines are tasteful and elegant, the song is pretty much pure authentic magic through-and-through.

Welcome in the new face of youthful Christian gospel music, as Huntsville, Alabama’s Dana White is making his mark on the community with a vibrant, exciting new flow. With a powerful, smooth voice, this inspired singer is churning out music with both catchy beats and an important message for young people across the country.

While he clearly draws influence from classic R&B legends, White mixes in some hip hop flair and bouncy rhythms to give each track an infectious edge. Songs such as “Rain” and “Journey” are clear standouts, containing hard hitting lyrics filled with personal reflection and faith.

If you think you know world music, think again. Attacking the genre with poignant subject matter and an in-your-face attitude, Atyeb Ba Atum Re is crashing through borders and boundaries with her latest effort, Sex n Race. Primarily using spoken word set over experimental and fascinating background music, her artistry has progressed since childhood, culminating with this breakthrough record.

Focused on hot button issues such as race, gender, and culture, Atyeb utilizes her personal experiences from America’s civil rights movement in the 1960’s to deliver passionate and thought provoking poetry. Listeners seeking socially conscious, innovative music will be drawn to her immediately, finding it difficult to leave the excellent confines of Sex n Race.

Chicago’s latest and greatest gospel artist is exploding upon the Midwestern scene, releasing two brand new singles chock full of soul, harmony, and emotion. Daryl J’s breakout tracks, “Glad to See You” and “Gotta Let Go” are beginning to flow across the greater Chicago area, delivering powerful lyrics riddled with faith and positive energy.

A liquid smooth combination of soul, R&B, and traditional gospel propels each of Daryl’s songs, which can be as catchy as they are heart wrenching, flowing with silky keyboard rhythms and occasionally funky drum beats. He also defies typical song structure and length, as both singles weigh in at around nine minutes apiece, giving the listener more than their money’s worth.

Middle school seems like so long ago, but I remember it like it was just yesterday. The boy of my dreams was in love with bands like Black Sabbath and Metallica. I on the hand was standing proud with my Backstreet Boys notebook in hand. It is a wonder we are not together over a decade later. While I wasn’t heading to the pit when I was younger, thanks to MTVs TRL, I got to know a variety of bands and even came to appreciate the likes of Korn and System of a Down. My brother was a metalhead as well, so when I started to listen to Approaching Dawns music, I was not that scared…As some might be. It is that abrasive style of metal that sounds like car crashes, but soothes the soul to those who find solace in the riffs. Songs like Grimoir and 21st Century Darkside are great examples of what Approaching Dawn is all about. Other songs that keep the adrenaline going are Syndrome, Copy of a Space and Death Contest. If you are not open minded and rather head to see Michael Buble, then this is not for you. Approaching Dawn is more for the folks who cannot wait for Ozzfest to be revived this May. Sounds like you, then check them out. If not, move along, nothing to see here. (https://www.reverbnation.com/approachingdawn)

Coming up from the Washington Heights area of New York’s South Bronx is the multifaceted rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur Kill Pretty. Sporting a flow as hard as the city streets and a head turning style, the songs utilize a mix of old and new school influences which keep the feel refreshing and exciting.

With a powerful voice and a raw flow, Kill Pretty has developed a no frills, no nonsense style of hip hop, skipping the soft choruses and sappy love songs while sticking with an in-your-face attitude. If you’re looking for singing, dancing, rap-pop hybrids, you’ve come to the wrong place. Especially fiery tracks include “You Not the Boss of Me” and “My Dreamz.”

Welcome in another multi-talented, versatile artist from Los Angeles, California, who is taking on the local music scene with an attitude and conviction well beyond her years. Leah, formerly known as Sixx Carter, unleashed her breakthrough EP Girl Next Door, delivering each and every track with a sultry, sexy flair backed by straight forward rock melodies.

Utilizing personal experiences and reflections as the backdrop for her musical landscape, Leah remains exciting and edgy throughout the record, wailing away on the guitar and keyboards while weaving her way through each story. With a clever mix of contemporary rock, pop, and an alluring approach, this is one Southern Californian artist to keep your eyes on.