RYMAN delivers beautiful record “Lucy”

Scrolling through my TikTok feed earlier this week, I stumbled upon RYMAN, an artist who immediately caught my attention. His latest release blends easy-listening sonics with a country-infused sound, delivering the expansive, atmospheric quality that defines a great ballad. Featuring elements like steel pedal, lead guitar, and thoughtfully crafted lyrics, the track creates an immersive and heartfelt listening experience.

RYMAN hails from Nashville, TN—now a hotspot for songwriters and the birthplace of many major records in both the country and pop scenes. His song Lucy was produced by Calvin Lauber, a recently relocated Nashville-based producer. According to Instagram, Lauber played a key role in the song’s production and engineering, shaping its polished yet raw emotional depth.

This was my first introduction to RYMAN, but after diving into his recent releases, it’s clear he has found his stride with this airy, country-pop sound and his honest, detail-rich storytelling. Looking forward to seeing what’s next from Mr. Wooten out of Nashville.

Joan reveals fourth track on Project “Face”

Joan is one of those artists who have had singles lingering on my playlists for years, yet I never took the time to dive deeper into their music. I vividly remember first discovering them while living in Chicago when I stumbled upon "Drive All Night." Instantly, I was drawn to their warm tone and unique sound.

The Arkansas-based duo has now released their fourth track, "Face," from what appears to be an upcoming project. True to their signature style, the song features retro-inspired keys and a Phil Collins-esque atmosphere, solidifying Joan's distinctive sound. Of the four recently released songs, "Face" stands out as my favorite, alongside "Eyes"—a stripped-down ballad that builds into a powerful outro.

Time and again, Joan proves their place in the pop landscape with consistently high-quality music and a well-defined artistic brand. I'm excited to hear the full project and hopefully catch them live in Los Angeles soon.

Quickly, Quickly releases soulful bright track “Take It From Me”

I first discovered Quickly, Quickly on my SoundCloud feed a while back, and his music immediately stood out. It’s rare to find such detailed production with live instruments in the pop space, but that’s exactly what makes self-produced artists so compelling. His sound is incredibly original, and the warm, bright textures of his mixes make each track feel immersive.

It looks like a new project is in the works, with two other singles—Enything and Raven—already released as part of the rollout. Take It From Me particularly stands out, with its airy, delicate piano carrying the energy of the track. Graham Jonson (Quickly, Quickly’s real name) has quickly become one of my favorite producers, thanks to his meticulous attention to detail and distinct style.

I’m not sure where he’s based, but he’s definitely an artist to watch. Stream Take It From Me on all platforms—you won’t be disappointed.

You can find his instagram @quicklyquickly

Vwillz & mike. collaborate on “Central Park”

Vwillz and Mike have released a song that truly captures a feeling. Both artists share a similar sound they’ve been pioneering, and their second record together is no exception—I’m thoroughly enjoying it. The hook is massive, and the unique arrangement blends DnB drums with a guitar loop, making for a fresh and original production.

Mike’s growth as a songwriter is especially evident in his second verse. He fully leans into his sound, giving the track space and emotion, letting it unfold naturally. This song has an undeniable presence—one that feels big and will likely become one of their more recognizable records, whether intentional or not.

Amazing work.

Appleby Releases New Single “Without You”

I kept seeing this record pop up on my TikTok feed and, at first, I scrolled past it without much thought—probably five or six times. But over the course of a week, I found the melody stuck in my head. The hook is incredibly infectious, and the overall sound is fantastic. Fast forward two weeks, and this has become my most-played song—a testament to how consistent promotion can work wonders for artists.

Appleby appears to be rebranding with a fresh sound after a long break from releasing music. He’s been relentlessly promoting this track to prove that the hype is real and that it has mainstream pop potential. His promotional efforts have even caught the attention of Joe Jonas and Timbaland—the latter reacting with pleasant surprise while listening to the track on his livestream.

Personally, I love the pace and energy of this record, as well as its hopeful and positive message. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Appleby to see what he releases next.

Find Appleby’s Socials Here

https://www.instagram.com/applesgotit/

https://www.tiktok.com/@applesgotit?lang=en

Jack & Jack Release Soulful Single “Home”

Jack & Jack release another single making this the sixth or so (could be wrong) single they’ve let loose in the past twelve months. Brandon Arreaga of PRETTYMUCH lead production which has seen to be a theme for him lately. It also appears he has been producing, writing, and overall did all of the production for PRETTYMUCH’s last album they put out.

Jack & Jack released a single some months ago titled “September’s Gone” which I thought to be very impressive (as with this single) with nice flow and unexpected melodies. To my knowledge it appears Jack Johnson has been getting more involved with production over the years and I’m sure is creating most ideas from scratch. I Really enjoy watching their journey navigating the industry from major label artists to self producing independent artists. I hope to hear more from them soon and I believe they’re going on a US tour this spring.

Johan Lenox Releases New Single “All My Fault”

Producer, composer & songwriter Johan Lenox released single “All My Fault” on Friday 1/20. The song begins with a heavy string section as he’s known to feature in lots of music he produces. You can hear his production featured in music outside of his own for artists such as Travis Scott, Kanye West, and 070 Shake.

Zack Djurich, Julianne Hope, & Jacob Paul all assisted with production of the track. Johan has such a great track record of making songs that sound unique and big at the same time. He’s one of my favorite artists I’ve found in the past few years and his new records (previous release “Forever’s Not That Long”) have been personal favorites. Hopefully an album is around the corner with both records on the project.

You can follow Johan on everything at @JohanLenox and I would dive into his discography if you’re new to him, I think you’ll find tons of great new music.

You can find all of his social links below: