Today, our focus feature of the day is Naika Richards, also known as Naïka. Though the singer/songwriter was born in Miami, Florida, the sounds from her music encompass and intertwine many different worlds together to create a unique sound all of her own. Her music is best described as a cocktail of pop blended with world music, a sound she refers to as “World Pop”. She developed a love for music at an early age while growing up in various countries every corner of the world. Her family members also hails from Caribbean, African, and European backgrounds. These multi-cultural facets of her life continue to influence her music and define who she is today as an individual.

As their bio states, the band Nightly, has the perfect tunes for your midnight getaways and your road trips away from the chaos. Warning: Their music will get you in your feels. The band touches on topics of broken hearts and unrequited love in their music while accompanying them with upbeat, pop tunes.

Ellen Krauss is 19 years-old, is from Sweden, is spirited, and is talented. The singer-songwriter has such power behind her vocals it’s sometimes hard to realize that she’s as young as she is. She’s a fresh-take on Ellie Goulding’s force, Tove Lo’s edge, and MØ’s energy. What I think differentiates her from her colleagues is her ability to make an electro-pop vibe without using the electro part. It’s this fresh, lively, raw expression of music that is so simple, but honestly refreshing to find in a generation where most music is heavily produced with synths and other technologies.

Julian Lamadrid may seem like another pop singer-songwriter, but he’s willing to rebel and bend rules and call the shots of his own path. He is the director of his own life…as an emerging artist.

Larkins may just be my new British boy-band crush. With the energy of Bastille and the dreaminess of The 1975, this Manchester group is definitely the emerging act you need to add to your discovery playlists. After they released their critically acclaimed EP Hit and Run earlier in February of this year, they returned with an amazing single called “Are We Having Any Fun Yet?” which is the admittedly the question of the year that we’ve all been cynically asking ourselves while we’ve been stuck at home.

Ameera Hammouda is designing a difference…that needs to be seen amongst all of the noise that’s been made in the world today because it’s inspiring. Hammouda is originally from Virginia, but how we met was in college at Boston University. Always a kind soul, I felt like she always saw the best in people. She was a rower for the BU team, a food blogger, and a member of school organizations such as WTBU radio and F.A.B. (Fashion & Retail Association at BU).

The singer/songwriter has released his new EP Pull Out Couch today, and wow do we love it. The project is more than just a list of 5 tracks. They’re perfectly constructed, perfectly unique, and perfectly empathetic. Each song is as if it follows along the emotional roller coaster we are all facing in this time while we are trapped at home.

Axel Mansoor and I had the chance to chat twice for this interview: one on Stationhead and one for Detour. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share the other one with you as well, but for now let’s start with this one. Mansoor is a kind soul that I was very excited to interview. We had a lot of great laughs and we got to discuss some really cool topics including ghosts, gaming, finding peace and creativity during these odd times, sharing vulnerability in his music, and his episode on NBC’s newest competition series focused on songwriting, Songland!

It’s a crazy time in the world. There’s no doubt about that. However, in this chaos people are still creating beautiful things like Daniel Allan, the young producer and songwriter who recently released his single “Just Friends” with vocalist Heather Sommer. The track is reminiscent of a Louis the Child track, uplifting stained with a bit of heartbreak. The electronic song even incorporates a bit more hard hitting warped tones, making it sounds like a bit of a summer rager.

A retreat back to a time of British indie rock bands and jazzy tunes, Sebastian Ortiz is a young artist with a mature voice and a heart set on making this a full-time career. 

Jacob Saint Patrick is an emerging artist with a sound that is both elegant and chaotic all in one. Reminiscent of bands such as The 1975, this young alternative-pop artist brings makes the kind of noise that we need to hear, especially in these times.

Lo Nightly is a heartthrob, and she has such an exciting career ahead of her. With strong, emotive, and dreamy productions, catchy choruses, and chilling lyrics, she displays her sonic prowess. This singer/songwriter’s voice is sweet but more importantly her heart is very big, and those are the thoughts and emotions you are offered in every record she has put out. 

I had the chance to interview these rising stars who are currently on tour with Chelsea Cutler. I got to catch them on their first stop in Dallas, Texas. They were excited—I could tell from the energy in their voices as they greeted me over the phone. We jumped into the questions and we had a really great chat.

It’s been a minute since I’ve heard a female R&B voice that has a fresh perspective like Audrey’s. The Korean-American artist originating from New Jersey has been working on her craft for a while now. She brought her music through her time at NYU as an undergrad majoring in music business; however, as her music career began to grow and take off, she made the difficult decision to drop out of school.

Radha is a 20-year old R&B singer/songwriter with a voice that carries more than just an original and authentic sound, but also contains a youthful and enchanting voice full of stories and heartbreak. Her sonic control is impressive for someone so young, and there is potential in what we’re hearing. You’ll find yourself somewhat captured just by the first verse of a song. 

If there was one word that could be used to describe TENDER’s music, it would be “Mystical.” Meet TENDER, an electronic duo based out of London, England, who formed together back in 2015. The pair, consisting of Dan Cobb and James Cullen, have been known for creating enchanting, trance-like tracks that have you swirling in the fog of their airy voices and atmospheric productions.

NASAYA, otherwise known as Theo, is a guitarist/producer with an incredible talent for sonic manipulation and dreamy soundscapes. The Berklee College of Music graduate left the east coast to pursue his music fully on the west side and since his time here, he has begun to perform more of his music in front of crowds.

After waiting for months for this, the album The Juice: Vol. II finally came out. Already two weeks since the release and I still can’t stop listening to it. The project deserves the attention it is receiving and more. The two artists that make up this mysterious act have such an unreal chemistry, and that can be seen just from their flow in their VEVO Discover sessions. They dance, sing, and hypnotize you with their seductive, erotic tracks. Their polished, metallic music moves you and just as their moniker states, they get you in your feels and have you feeling very emotional.