Ervin Munir and Kate Swanson Team Up For “Lifeline”

Ervin Munir

There’s a sincerity to “Lifeline” that hits deep wit Ervin Munir teaming up for this new with Kate Swanson. The track opens with piano, then Kate Swanson’s voice comes in, and it’s the kind of vocal performance that makes you stop what you’re doing and actually listen. There’s a calmness to it, but also real strength underneath. When Ervin joins her for the chorus, their voices work together in a way that feels smooth, like they’ve been singing together for years rather than this being their first collaboration. It starts…

The Here And Now’s “Riptide” Hits Hard

The Here And Now

The Here And Now aren’t trying to ease you into anything with “Riptide”. This thing comes out swinging from the first second, and Cherry Terzza’s vocals make sure you’re paying attention whether you planned to or not. What really works here is the directness. The metaphor is right there in the title, and the band leans into it with confidence. We’ve all had that person or habit or situation that we know is bad news, but we keep going back anyway. The track captures that feeling without getting preachy about…

“Thank You” by Educatable Marks a Careful Step Forward

Educatable

It is the first time I reviewed a song by Educatable and it is refreshing to find an artist who doesn’t let tragedy end the story. Ricky Barson’s journey with Educatable has taken him from drummer to frontman, and “Thank You” feels like the moment where he’s finally comfortable in that role. The track itself is immediately pleasant. It’s got that summer festival energy, the kind of indie pop rock that makes you nod along without really thinking about it. You can hear the Coldplay influence in the way the…