The A&R Guru

Rising singer-songwriter Michael J Woodard releases his dreamy new single, “Ruined”!

Not only did Woodard release this new single, but he also announced the release of his debut EP, WMJ1.

His debut EP is set to be released on January 12 via Unsub Records.

This song is about the emotional fallout that follows a breakup.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Woodard sang in church and at the performing arts elementary school he attended.

When he was around the age of 13 he started singing at high-profile events such as the US Open.

Woodard also performed for former president Barack Obama when he visited Philadelphia.

Working in his home studio that he created, he started to share his vocals and the results of his songwriting online.

After high school, Woodard headed to Hollywood to study at the Musicians Institute.

In the sixteenth season of American Idol, Woodard landed in the Top 5. Championed by Katy Perry, he was later signed to her record label, Unsub Records.

Since then, he has voiced the title character in the Netflix series, Arlo The Alligator Boy and has focused on releasing new music.

Check out his accompanying music video to this single below!

This song means so much to me. It really taps into a vulnerable feeling that we may all be familiar with: the feeling of love and losing love. As humans we experience so many glimpses and instances of what it means to be in love and, sometimes, if we lose that love we may not know how to put that feeling into words. I hope it allows people to be vulnerable, to feel, to relate, and to hopefully find joy and a relief to know that someone out there is singing about a familiar part of their journey when it comes to love.

Michael J Woodard

Connect with Michael below, and listen to “Ruined”!

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Zoe Wees has been on everyone’s radar since she debuted with her single “Control” in 2020.

“Control” has amassed nearly three billion combined global streams and has earned a RIAA Gold-certified award along with a Top 20 Pop radio hit.

“Control” was her debut single that was followed by “Girls Like Us” which was highlighted in the New York Times Magazine as “the sad banger” and was applauded by People as “a vulnerable pop anthem that pushed for togetherness and solidarity to girls around the world.”

With a twenty-song tracklist, “Therapy” is the album that re-tells Zoe’s life of growing up with anxiety, health conditions, and growing up in a single-parent home.

Not only that, Zoe has grown to deal with everything that the music industry and social media have thrown at her.

“Love Should Be Easy” leads the album which talks about the willingness to let go of a relationship that has become toxic.

As an artist, Zoe has executed connecting with her audience through her emotional stories that have become universally relatable.

My music is my therapy, a way to overcome my innermost fears and insecurities. Therapy is more than just an album for me; it accompanies my journey to discover and learn to love myself.

Zoe Wees

Connect with Zoe below and stream “Therapy”!

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Following being announced as support for Dermot Kennedy’s latest Canadian tour, Valley releases their latest single, “Have A Good Summer (Without Me)”!

“Have A Good Summer (Without Me)” is the fourth single off Valley’s upcoming sophomore album, Lost In Translation.

This single was released only a week ago and has already amassed over 440,000 streams on Spotify.

“Have A Good Summer (Without Me)” follows three previously released tracks including, “Throwback Tears,” “Good, but not together,” and “Break For You” which have already accumulated 10 million streams globally.

Valley wrapped up their headlining North American tour ‘Lost In Translation’ and will be back touring in Southeast Asia and Australia this summer adding new songs to their setlist.

Valley consists of Rob Laska (lead vocals), Mickey Brandolino (guitar, synths), Alex Dimauro (bass), and Karah James (drums, vocals).

Valley was formed by accident back in 2016 when a local studio double-booked them; Karah and Mickey played in one band while Rob and Alex played in another.

2023 is already starting to be an explosive year for this amazing band.

The summer in our minds is a romanticized version of life. Love and its adventures are heightened with the heat and the water and the sunshine. The blow of losing someone before those precious few months of the year is devastating to say the least. ‘Have A Good Summer (Without Me)’ is loving them so much, you will let them go.

Karah James

If this isn’t the song of the summer for heartbreak, then I don’t know what is.

Their sophomore album, Lost In Translation, is out June 23rd!

Connect with Valley below and pre-save their new album out 6/23!

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New York-based Australian artist, BENTLE, releases a new hypnotic pop single, “Darkest Blue”!

BENTLE is a project of Josh McVey originally hailing from Brisbane, Australia who now lives in the Big Apple.

With only five releases under his belt, BENTLE gives off all the indie-pop vibes through his music.

Josh McVey is a singer, songwriter, and producer. He produces and writes all of his own material.

There’s multiple reasons why BENTLE needs to be on your radar.

His 2021 single, “MONDO” was a hit and has surpassed 435,000 streams on Spotify.

It looks likes BENTLE is preparing to reveal his debut EP so be on the lookout.

‘Darkest Blue’ is very much about the connection between color, texture and circumstance. There’s been a few times over the past year where it feels like I’m not able to stop myself from sinking or falling into a certain state of mind or state of being. ‘Darkest Blue’ is kind of an exploration of that falling sinking feeling and what it would feel like if I explored it…the visual I had when writing the song was that I fell into the night sky (which was scary and unknown) but I woke up in this ethereal new environment where, though it was still unknown, it was equally intriguing and enlightening.

BENTLE

Connect with BENTLE below and stream “Darkest Blue”!

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Back in April of this year, Canadian folk artist, Shaina Hayes released her debut album, “To Coax A Waltz”!

The singer-songwriter was born in a small farming and fishing village in Shigawake, Quebec.

Hayes’ music takes shape as she ties her homeland and distinctive heritage through her songwriting.

Hayes built a musical career performing and recording with multiple groups after she studied jazz voice at Vanier College in Montreal.

Back in February of 2021, Shaina brought a small team of Montreal-based artists to Shigawake to arrange and record “To Coax A Waltz”.

One of the singles within the album that needs to be listened to is “Honey Friend”.

Shaina has such a beautiful folky voice and we can’t wait to see where she goes!

Connect with Shaina below and stream her album!

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Back in August of this year, alt-pop artist, Fior released a seductive new ballad, “Serotonin”!

Based in Miami, Fior started her musical journey playing songs by ear on a toy piano around 8 years old.

As a rising artist, her latest single has surpassed 100,000 streams on Spotify.

Along the way, she’s developed her own style; she began to write her own lyrics and make original beats.

Fior was influenced by a range of artists like Amy Winehouse, Billy Joel, and No Doubt.

She blends alternative rock with pop, R&B, and soul.

Like many artists, Fior wants to be able to connect with her audience.

Her lyrics are inspired by real life and celebrate the kind of vulnerability that leads to strength.

This has not only inspired listeners to accept their emotions, but it also has encouraged and embraced the importance of speaking your mind.

Her previous three singles were all released in 2022 and have surpassed 1.5 million streams altogether.

“Serotonin” was released in August so we’re looking forward to what Fior has in store for us!

There’s been a theme in the four singles I’ve released this year about breaking free from the cycle of a toxic relationship. Young love is confusing and challenging. “Serotonin” is the final nail in the coffin of that relationship. I’m
alright and don’t want to try again, which was my feeling that I was finally over it.“

FIOR

Connect with Fior below and stream, “Serotonin”!

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Back in August of this year singer-songwriter, Gos Rosling released his debut single, “Birdie”!

Hailing from the Belgian countryside, Gos describes this single as the ‘push and pull’ effect in relationships.

Being good or bad for each other, giving too much of yourself, and in the end, losing yourself.

GOS ROSLING

Rosling started writing and playing music at a very young age, and he grew up with his parents that fed him 80s pop and folk tunes.

He’s influenced by artists such as Ben Howard, The Cure, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, The 1975, and more.

Following his debut single, Rosling just released his second single “Crossroads” which was released last Friday.

In spring of 2023, Rosling will be releasing his first ever EP, “Cigarettes/Wine”.

Connect with Gos below and stream “Birdie” and “Crossroads”!

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Last Friday, 19-year-old, singer-songwriter Thomas Day released his new single, “Wildflower”!

Thomas has amassed over 25 million streams and 7 million social media followers.

He took off on TikTok with his covers and began to share his songwriting and powerful vocals.

Day signed with Arista Records back in 2021, and has since released hit singles such as, “not my job anymore” and “The New Me” among others.

At just 9 years old, Thomas realized music was his future and started participating in musical theatre productions.

As a Tennessee native, Day found another outlet – football, but he never let go of his musical dreams.

He became his high school’s star kicker and started receiving scholarship offers upon graduating earlier this year.

With those multiple scholarship offers for football, Day made the ultimate decision and turned them down to fully commit to a career in music.

The music video landscape was so pretty and so fitting for the song itself considering there were so many flowers all around me. I loved being able to portray that song through physical imagery.

THOMAS DAY

The music video was directed by Brenton Giesey and shot in Nashville, TN, and can be watched below!

This is my song to help anyone who is feeling alone. No matter how pretty someone is or how amazing their life looks, everyone experiences pain and can get lost sometimes.

THOMAS DAY

Connect with Thomas below and stream “Wildflower”! 🌻

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Back in June of this year, pop artist and multi-instrumentalist, Tez, released his first single, “Kaleidoscopes”!

“Kaleidoscopes” is about appreciating the good despite the current mood.

Hailing from Kent in the UK, Tez creates music in his bedroom studio.

Just like artist Typho, Tez’s single was broadcasted on BBC Music Introducing where the single gained traction and has amassed over 10,000 Spotify streams.

This one takes us in a slightly different direction but in a really, really good way.

ABBIE MCCARTHY, BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING & BBC RADIO 1

One of the goals for artist Tez is to keep growing his audience since this single has been received so well.

“Kaleidoscopes” is the first release that will ultimately end up on Tez’s EP in the coming months so be on the lookout!

Connect with Tez below and stream “Kaleidoscopes”!

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