In The Spotlight

Ivan Hartle – “You Got Me”

This Vancouver-based Canadian musician enjoyed an upbringing surrounded by music. Having played college baseball in Southern United States also contributed to his musical influences. With a vintage-coated blend of soul, blues and folk, he performed all over the city, as well as playing a showcase at Vancity Feature. He’s about to tour Vancouver Island in March and Western Canada in June.

His astonishing debut single is a passionate fusion of heart-wrenching blues and classic soul. With an organic-sounding instrumentation of mellow percussion and mellifluous acoustic guitar chords proving that less is definitely more, it’s his warm, impassioned vocals adding a melancholic southern blues to stirring soul, which give this marvelous, mesmerizing tune a fervent vintage vibe.

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In The Spotlight

OSTON – “Give Up”

Born in Park City, Utah as Austin Wolfe, this pop singer and songwriter creates music based on the realization that it’s way more fun to be young and immature. Now based in Chicago, she managed to retain that joyous, childlike innocence, while having matured into a seasoned songwriter. Blending fun with lyrical depth and intricate melodies, she released her debut single “Bad” late 2018.

Her scintillating sophomore single is infused with vivid, emotionally-laden lyrics about toxic relationships and highly addictive hooks. Initially catching the attention with a mellow, plucky guitar, a smooth, pulsating rhythm and breezy vocals, the song soon bursts to life in a jubilant chorus. With rich, anthemic drums and perky, sing-a-long harmonies, this is an exquisite earwig you can’t give up.

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In The Spotlight

Neal Francis – “These Are The Days”

The early musical life of this Chicago-based piano prodigy was both a true journey through legendary, genre-spanning influences and self-destruction, consumed by addiction. Now reborn in sobriety, he’s taken the sounds that shaped him, ranging from Allen Toussaint’s vocals to Billy Preston’s gospel-soul and reinvented his own vintage framed blend of New Orleans rhythms and Chicago blues.

His debut single is an invigorating amalgamation of retro-sounding genres. The late 60s R&B basis is embellished with an exhuberant gospel organ, soul-infused backing harmonies and a blazing horn section. With his honest, Allen Toussaint-reminiscent vocals digging deep into your soul and a melodic fusion oozing with nostalgic style, this fiery track pays tribute to the heyday of his musical roots.

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In The Spotlight

Olivia Henry – “In My Touch”

This multi-talented songstress grew up in Los Angeles, where she began classical vocal training with a Belgian opera singer from an early age. She also trained in jazz, contemporary music and musical theatre at CalArts conservatory and, after a debilitating back injury, taught herself piano and songwriting. She has written dozens of songs and self-released her debut EP “Sessions” in 2014.

The second single to be taken from her upcoming full-length debut album, which will be released later this year, is both sultry as ferocious. A steamy beat, sensuous guitar and smooth piano amplify an inherent sexual setting and with her fierce, empowering vocals condemning men who play games, this soul and blues touched pop anthem is dripping with feminine fervor and an enthralling intensity.

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In The Spotlight

Cooper & Gatlin – “Like You”

Hailing from Nashville and born to a Grammy-nominated producer dad and a singer/songwriter mom, this brother and sister pop duo, consisting of Cooper Green and Gatlin Kate James, was destined for a life in music. After moving to Los Angeles, they started honing their own songwriting skills and with influences ranging from The Kooks to Norah Jones, they released their debut single “Break” late 2018.

Their sophomore single sounds like they’re starting a joyful pop party in your ears. With an acoustic guitar and a virulent rhythm driving the song to its upbeat and catchy chorus, it’s their lavishly dynamic harmonies, singing about a difficult parent/child relationship in which the roles were reversed, that take a serious subject and manages to make it sound chirpy and highly infectious.

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In The Spotlight

Jesse Palter – “Heavy Is The Crown”

Born in Detroit into a musical family, this genre-spanning singer and songwriter started taking piano lessons aged 7, collaborated with the legendary Andrew Gold at 13 and began working with producers The Bass Brothers aged 15. She launched her jazz career as a teenager, performing at venues around Detroit and in 2006 released her award-winning debut album “I’m Beginning To See The Light”.

Taken from her 2018 EP “The Paper Trail”, her latest single is an example of her attempt to perfect her songwriting prowess by making it lyrically autobiographical and current. It’s an infectious pop/rock song, with a slight retro flavor. With an oscillating melody of bouncy percussion, electric guitars and airy keys and her vigorous vocals filled with attitude, this groove is pop/rock royalty.

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