LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks featuring Rita De Los Angeles, WestingWay, Maddison Kate, and More!

LITM Singer-songwriter picks Rita De Los Angeles, WestingWay, Maddison Kate, Jacob Ifans and Claudia Tomàs.

1. Rita De Los Angeles - Riding Shotgun

Summer of 2002, an innocent American tourist encounters lifetime love in Germany. Movie script? Not a chance. It's Rita De Los Angeles' life, and her song Riding Shotgun is the song you didn't realize you were going to need for your next torrid romance.

This tune is the sound equivalent of rolling down the automobile window, having wind ruffle your hair, and yelling, "Anything is possible!" With airheaded melodies and a beat that imitates the smooth roll of an open road, the tune encapsulates the free, lovely energy of being in love.

Rita's gentle voice almost hugs you with the speakers. The words paint images of adventure, feeling of spontaneity, and discovering magic in the unlikeliest places. If you've ever been or ever fantasized about being in love, Riding Shotgun will tell you that life's greatest moments catch you when you're not expecting it. Hold on and ride it out!

2. WestingWay - Grace

Westingway's Grace is a genuine Americana treasure that sounds like the sound equivalent of being enveloped by an old friend. The track is all about trying to get through heartbreak and love, and it manages some success at this with sincerity and a dash of rough charm.

The instrumentation is as cozy as a night around the campfire, with pedal steel and acoustic guitars and subdued percussion. The singing of Jon Wheeler is like that favorite, cozy flannel shirt- worn in, cozy, and ageless. It's an introspective song about resolve, where each lyric feels to be ripped from a journal.

Think Tyler Childers meets The Lumineers with a sprinkle of stardust. Grace is the kind of song you’d play while driving into the sunset, pondering life’s ups and downs, and realizing that sometimes, the journey back to love is just as meaningful as the destination.

3. Maddison Kate - A Truth

Breakups are terrible. But A Truth by Maddison Kate puts that heartbreak together, wraps it around empowerment, and serves it with a side of "I deserve better." It's a breakup song, but one that's gentle and thoughtful and reminds you that healing is a process, not a race.

The melody is stream-of-consciousness movement- gentle but insistent- while Maddison's lyrics pierce to the heart: "This wasn't my fault, and I'm stronger for it." Her voice is gentle strength, the kind of friend who has seen the worst and sits beside you now saying that you are alright.

Whether you are currently going through heartbreak or years down the line, A Truth is a reminder that the best tales begin when one chapter closes. Grab some tissues and let this one remind you that resilience is the ultimate glow-up.

4. Jacob Ifans - Sun Don't Shine

Jacob Ifans' first single Sun Don't Shine is like drinking a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon—comforting, nostalgic, and ever so slightly melancholic.recorded during a chilly winter in a caravan, the song is lo-fi romanticism and raw-around-the-edges intimacy that can't be mastered.

The song begins all dreamy, waking from a dream sort of way, and gradually gains focus as it plays out. Ifans' subtle vocals are stunningly framed by a gentle female harmony, building a cozy, layered world that's like wrapping yourself up in a snuggle blanket for your soul.

Ideal for the indie-folk aficionado, the song's rawness is its beauty. It's coarse around the edges, but it's only because it's truthful. Sun Don't Shine is not only a song, it's a soft transfer of human contact in an age of clamor. Include it on your rain day playlist and be enchanted.

5. Claudia Tomàs - I've Seen You Lose

Claudia Tomàs' I've Seen You Lose is an ode to weakness and courage. It's the song that reaches you, even when you're sobbing in your PJs alone with a bowl of ice cream.

Claudia weaves a beautiful tapestry of raw emotion with her lyrics, words that will make you sit and ponder. Her voice stretches like a phoenix in one breath and collapses into a soft drone in another, mirroring the highest highs and lowest lows of human existence.

The composition of the song is stark and yet evocative, keeping the narrative in the foreground. By the last two minutes, it is no longer a track but a chant: You can break, but you can rebuild. No matter if you're at the height of the world or huddled in the trenches, I've Seen You Lose is a reminder that all falls are one step away from victory.

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This Week's LITM Pop Picks bring a spectrum of style and technique with artists like Maumaumau, Pixielated, and Bri Scully

This Week's LITM Pop Picks bring a spectrum of style and technique with artists like Maumaumau, Pixielated, and Bri Scully.

Maumaumau - Macho Macho

Maumaumau is a Mexican American alt pop artist. With his latest release, ‘Macho Macho’, he explores a fun-fuelled, light-hearted, but necessary contemplative anthem. He excites a  healing journey, urges us to grow out of unserving weights and prejudices that we carry and just be free. The track has larger than life energy, a high-energy, high-impact, momentum boost that compels the listener to think and simultaneously want to act. It lights a fire under you, reveals the other side of ego, the charisma of nonchalance, and fuels you to come on over. The listening experience can be transformative and liberating if you let it and take it from me, you definitely should. 

Pixielated - AI Superstar 

Taking the punching energy to the next level is Pixielated’s latest, ‘AI Superstar’. If you want to dive headfirst into a futuristic sonic space, then this is the track for you. There is not a single moment of stagnation. It’s a dynamic color show, progressing always to the next level of energy, a new level of consciousness. There’s dance, pop, and explosive peaks, all bolstered to an expansive vocal high. And the rhythm flows into a smooth infinity, with ups and downs. Like a landscape, it grows into the theme, speculating on electro pop like never before. Listen Now! 

Bri Scully - Under You 

Bri Scully is a singer-songwriter and indie pop artist. Her soft pop renditions are the voices of her experience. Stringing acoustics with a mellow pop flow, so personal and so intimate that you can’t help but connect. Her latest release is ‘Under You’, a track in which she explores the aftermath of a breakup where you have to unlearn so much of who you were in the relationship. It has that girlhood melodrama to it that plays into the lyrics. Matched with vulnerability, honesty and contemplative healing, it is such a special song. When you listen to it, it feels like you’re talking with a friend, slipping into her emotions and experiences. 

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LITM Rock Picks Tunes To Put You Into A Great Mood Featuring The Dialtones, Attack the Sound, Jungaji, Alwyn Morrison and more!

LITM Rock picks tunes brought to you by The Dialtones, Attack the Sound, Jungaji, Alwyn Morrison and Mantrix Storm!

1. The Dialtones - Naming No Names

The Dialtones' latest single, Naming No Names, is a breathtaking exercise in artistry that sets the bar high for albums this month. The Austin group, fronted by the remarkably gifted Lauren Gurgiolo, gives us a haunting and catchy song. Gurgiolo's personal experience with bipolar 1 disorder is incorporated beautifully into the song, and it makes for a deeply emotional and engrossing listen.

The track has smooth production, impeccable mixing that makes it somber, and great instrumentation that plays the emotional part of the song to perfection. From the first chords to the final echoes, Naming No Names holds listeners spellbound with sheer force. Gurgiolo's vocals are entrancing, sticking in your head long after the song ends.

As the first single from their upcoming EP, this track sets the stage for what is shaping up to be a great release. Smoothly bridging vulnerability and artistry, Naming No Names is a free-for-all rollercoaster ride of the highs and lows of mania, feeling the rush and the darker ramifications in equal measure. The Dialtones have done something here that is nothing short of incredible, leaving one wanting more.

2. Attack the Sound - Wake Up Call

Attack the Sound's Wake Up Call is a soul-provoking song that mingles introspection and hooks in a reflective and infectious soundscape. This Chicago project, led by Davo Sounds, stitches together soul, R&B, pop, rock, and jazz into a rich tapestry that's both classic and synthetically new.

The melody starts with a gentle guitar riff, developing into rich, rhythmic texture that suits the sincere lyrics to perfection. Davo's sincere singing engulfs you as he struggles with the questions of self-realization and resilience: "Trying to figure out what my life's about." Production is accompanied by glorious keys and celestial synths, resulting in a rich layering of texture.

The call-and-response sections, the repeated "got to figure out," resonate so strongly, highlighting the introspective nature of the song. The understated but powerful electronic undertones bring yet another layer to ensure Wake Up Call is a thinker and a dancer.

The authenticity of Davo Sounds shines right through, and this song is a beacon of hope and determination. It's one song that's unlike any other and has the ability to stir listeners to draw on their strength in the face of adversity.

3. Jungaji - Ol' Rooster

Jungaji’s Ol’ Rooster is a poignant tribute to his late father, celebrating the resilience and love of a man who profoundly shaped his life. Rooted in the sugarcane regions of Birrigubba Gia country, the track combines heartfelt storytelling with rich cultural significance, creating a deeply moving listening experience.

The song captures the essence of a young boy growing up on the fringes, supported by a father whose strength and dedication are palpable throughout the lyrics. Jungaji’s evocative delivery brings these stories to life, blending his cultural roots with contemporary musicality. The track’s title pays homage to his father’s beloved Roosters football team, a nickname that stayed with him until his passing into the dreamtime.

Musically, Ol' Rooster is a masterclass in blending old and new sounds. Its soulful tone and honest lyrics are an ageless love song of legacy, appreciation, and love.

A part of his new album Betting On Blak, the song further cement Jungaji as one to watch as a teller of tales and cultural voice. It is not only a dedication to his dad's memory, but a track that gives his people resilience and pride.

4. Alwyn Morrison - Chained

Chained by Alwyn Morrison is an emotional statement that has a minimalist but fervent arrangement. Composed in-flight and recorded in Los Angeles by producer Michael Carey, the song is the most personal work Morrison ever composed, exploring the extent of love for a person with depression.

The tune is accompanied by soft guitar strums and insistent percussion, giving the song a close and confessional feel. Morrison's expressive, raspy voice bears the burden of the song's emotions, expressing tenderness and determination. The lyrics are bare of ornament, poetic, and evocative of stark images of emotional entanglement and stubborn devotion: "Chained to a darkroom" encapsulates the double-edged nature of love and despair.

The subtlety of the production lets the emotional core of the song speak for itself, as laid-back background harmonies add body and realism. This restraint releases the raw integrity of the track, making it even more effective.

Chained is a tribute to Morrison's capacity for turning highly personal experiences into pain-understoodly relatable songs. It's a song that clings, providing comfort for those who are in similar struggle.

5. Mantrix Storm - Play no game

Mantrix Storm's Play no game is a blues and funk groove fest that catches you from the opening beat. Upfront and in-your-face, the song uses contemporary production in conjunction with vintage flavours to create an irresistible concoction that just has to be played again and again.

The Dutch-lyric section is a welcome surprise, integrating nicely with the taut beat and showman energy of the cut. The assertive beat and swagging rhythm bring to mind the winking worldly-playfulness of Jamiroquai and the experimental edge of Fatboy Slim. Yet Mantrix Storm makes his own mark, presenting something new that somehow seems distinctly now.

The performance is slow and measured, and each level—the thwacking bass, the glassy keys, the guitar solos—is situated in proximity to each other. The end result is a song that is both musically intent and catchingly pleasing.

Speel geen game is a strong statement by Mantrix Storm, evidencing him to be capable of blending genres and getting individuals to listen to him due to his charm that one cannot resist. It's a track that grabs your attention and you end up needing more.

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LITM Picks Tunes which will put you into introspection featuring Ava Valianti, Collaborations and Platitudes

LITM Singer-songwriter picks tunes brought to you by Ava Valianti, Collaborations and Platitudes

1. Ava Valianti - Laugh Track
   Ava Valianti’s Laugh Track offers a deeply introspective and relatable exploration of identity and perception. The track delves into the unsettling feeling of being the center of attention but not in a way that feels validating, akin to living in a sitcom where the laughter is directed at, not with, the protagonist. Ava captures this emotional tension through moody indie-pop melodies and genuine, introspective lyrics. The spartan production of the song puts center stage her worn but assertive voice to convey the weariness of performing roles society has foisted upon her.

   Referring to The Truman Show and How I Met Your Mother, the song cleverly draws parallels between popular culture characters trapped in roles that have been predetermined for them and real-life experiences of struggles with identity. The haunting but subtle melody is complemented by the raw exposure in Ava's lyrics, and the listener is left with the sensation that it is all achingly personal. The tightrope walk between humor and emotion is what makes the connection so special, and those grappling with self-doubt or pressures of public opinion can particularly relate.

   Laugh Track stands out musically and emotionally, too. It speaks so intensely to anyone who's questioning if they're real, delivering the message home with one which is powerful as well as quite real itself. Tender production and the truthfulness of Ava's voice make this piece one to remain remembered for a dreadful long time once it ceases to be heard.

2. Collaborations - Time For You

Time For You by Collaborations is a retro journey into the Motown golden age, where soulful warmth meets sharp modern production. Anais Preller leads on vocals, and the song begins with an old-school horn section that catches the ears of listeners immediately. Production is immaculate, with expert-level mixing, editing, and mastering that breathe life into each element. The vocals are crisp and distinct, a refreshing exception in a genre in which bad production all too often obscures the message.

Anais Preller's singing is enchanting, her voice communicating effortlessly the emotional depth of the song. The bridge saxophone solo stands out, adding a real, soulful quality that does justice to Motown's distinctive sound. The opposition between lush instrumental backing and Anais's honest delivery creates a timeless sound, striking a perfect balance of vintage charm and contemporary sophistication.

With its vibrant energy, authentic lyrics, and impeccable production, Time For You is a soul music homage that feels both ageless and fresh. It's a song that worships its forebears while firmly planting itself as a modern gem. Perfect for fans of soul and Motown, this song is a beautiful testament to the agelessness of stellar music.

3. Platitudes - Time To Come Home
Platitudes' Time To Come Home is a track that will for sure send you into a spiral of introspection that evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia and longing. The song evokes a rich emotional terrain, charting the motifs of reunion, redemption, and the final siren call of home. With its grounded lyrics, the song welcomes individuals into a reflective space, and thus, it becomes extremely personal yet universally appealing.

The delicate piano tunes and the song surging into the lyrics are so smooth. The sound is lush but intimate, with warmth of the words that come through. The lead vocal delivery is raw and bare, with a mix of hope and exposure that pulls at heartstrings.

It is what sets Time To Come Home apart that it manages to strike a balance between simplicity and emotional impact. The song does not treat about majesty but wins because of authenticity and quiet narration. It's one that is akin to a warm hug from a loved one that reminds everyone of the power of home as a place and as an emotion.

For anyone who has ever longed for reunion or the solace of familiarity, Time To Come Home is an inspiring and lyrically crafted song that lingers long after the final note has faded. It's a poignant reminder that no matter where we wander, home is always in the wings

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