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New Music


Panda House – Panda House (Album Review)
Panda House, one of the local legends of Detroit, is releasing their sixth album. Formed in 2012, Panda House has been on the circuit for a while, after their 2024 EP, The Means, and their return with their latest album, a self-titled journey spanning their career to date, accompanied by a vinyl release through Third Man Records.
Konstantina Buhalis
5 days ago


Charlotte Sands: “one eye open” - The Bold Single Leading The Way For Her New Album
Charlotte Sands expresses her personal feelings through her latest single, “one eye open.”
The single “one eye open,” by Charlotte Sands, is a gloomy escape to freedom in which she paints a clear picture of her feelings through her lyricism. The song sounds almost dreamlike with somber undertones and a release of emotions through Charlotte's vocals. It is a direct focus on the anxiety experienced in an unhealthy relationship, being told directly from Charlotte’s perspectiv

Monica Soriano
Jan 12


Nick Jonas’ “Gut Punch” Is A Reminder To Stop Being So Hard On Yourself
Nick Jonas did not ease us into 2026. He went straight for the feelings. “Gut Punch”, released January 1, 2026, is the first single off his upcoming album Sunday Best, out February 6, 2026, and it feels like a song you accidentally put on and then suddenly you’re staring at the wall thinking about your entire inner dialogue. Artwork by Steven R. Gilmore The song starts immediately with a soft piano and Nick’s voice sounding almost fragile. Like he’s letting a thought slip bef

Rebecca McDevitt
Jan 1


Radio Silent: The Rise in Streaming Apps
More and more people are tuning into streaming apps like Spotify or Apple Music, rather than turning on the radio. It has become the norm to pair up the streaming apps to cars, TVs, and every device you can listen to music from. It’s easier to pay a monthly fee to avoid commercials, know exactly what you will be listening to, skip a track, or add it to your personal playlist.

Monica Soriano
Dec 26, 2025


When Falling Out of Love Feels Like Taking Your Power Back: Dakota Diehl - Single Review
Dakota Diehl’s “Falling Out of Love” feels like the exact moment when heartbreak stops knocking the wind out of you and starts lighting a fire instead. This song marches with its shoulders back, head up while saying enough. It adds strength to a woman scorned in the best way possible, not by making her cruel or careless, but by reminding her she survived, learned and came out sharper on the other side.

Fernando Flores
Dec 23, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: EVERYONE’S A STAR - 5 Seconds of Summer
Article Contributed by Monica Soriano The Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer recently released their album ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ which is filled with expressive commentary, reflective tracks and an almost theatrical-esque feel for a few songs. Album Artwork by Brian Ziff If you’ve ever needed a recommendation for an album to play while you’re out on a late night drive - this is it. ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR’ by 5 Seconds of Summer is the perfect mix of melancholy, vibey tunes and lyr

Monica Soriano
Dec 10, 2025


Hot Take: Should All Artists Start Their Careers In Small Venues?
The music industry is constantly adapting to technological changes. Social media has become the biggest marketing tool for artists. Cellphones are being held up to record every second of a performance. With the rise of viral sensations becoming stars, not all artists can decide whether they can start in small venues or go straight into being an opening act for the biggest superstar in the world.

Monica Soriano
Dec 7, 2025


LILA HOLLER: UNDERGROUND RADAR
Lila Holler writes like she’s slowly unfastening something fragile inside herself. Her sound shifts between indie pop glow and alt-folk vulnerability, shaped by a life spanning coasts, climates, and now continents. That constant motion shows up in her music as shifting light and quiet self-redefinition, the kind that comes from picking yourself up and starting again in new places until you learn what feels like home.

LJ Portnoy
Dec 3, 2025


Diana Silvers Introduces Her Debut Album From Another Room
Article Contributed by Fernando Flores Photos contributed by UMG 1824 SoundCheck was lucky enough to catch up with the artist known as no other than Diana Silvers. With grace like Anne Hathaway, she clearly shows her excitement to detour away from her filmography and deep dive into her first full-length musical project, “From Another Room.” Known for her work in Booksmart, Ma, and Space Force, Silvers has built a reputation and has shown her strengths in conveying emotions.

Fernando Flores
Dec 1, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Set It Off - Set it Off
Article Contributed by Konstantina Buhalis Set It Off has been a major player in the rock and alternative scene since 2008, when they gained notoriety through their YouTube channel, eventually signing to Equal Vision Records and then Fearless Records. In the last year, Set It Off went independent and released their latest self-titled album on November 7, featuring Rock and Nu-Metal influences. Dopamine Era In 2023, Set It Off left Fearless Records and began what they called t
Konstantina Buhalis
Nov 29, 2025


EP REVIEW: My Only Wish - David Archuleta
Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt & Ilana Bornstein Photo Provided by Ken Phillips Publicity Group David Archuleta is entering his jolly pop era and honestly, we’re obsessed. My Only Wish doesn’t follow the cookie-cutter “holiday album” formula. Instead, it feels like David took festive energy, sprinkled it with pure joy, and built a sound that could genuinely be its own genre. It’s warm, upbeat, and unmistakably holiday, but in a way that makes you want to dance around your li

SoundCheck Team
Nov 21, 2025


First Listen: Leyla Ebrahimi Expands the Edges of Indie Alt-Pop with “i don’t like being left behind”
“i don’t like being left behind” opens in swirls and spirals, an ambient wash of synths that feel almost video game–esque. It is dreamy and atmospheric, yet it carries a pulse that instantly catches your attention. Leyla Ebrahimi’s voice enters with a softness that glows against the production. Even in these early moments, the track makes its intentions clear. This is indie alternative at its core, but it welcomes pop influences with open arms.

LJ Portnoy
Nov 20, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Give In To Let Go (The Falling) - Milahroy
f you have not listened to Milahroy yet, we suggest adding him to your playlist right now.
His new album, Give In To Let Go (The Falling), is the perfect introduction to an artist who’s stepping into his most honest, intentional, and emotionally charged era yet. What began as a tight and intimate EP has now evolved into a complete story with three new tracks that deepen the world he built back in June when we first featured him.

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 18, 2025


SINGLE REVIEW - "Ready Now" - Kelly Reynolds
Kelly Reynolds, the rising New Jersey artist signed to Moto Records, opens 2025 with a single that feels like a deep breath and a gut punch all at once. “Ready Now” is her first release of the year, and if you love indie storytellers like Leith Ross or Madison Cunningham, she needs to be on your radar immediately. She has only been releasing music for a little over a year, but “Ready Now” shows an artist who already knows exactly what she wants to say. The track pulls you in

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 14, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Taylor Acorn - Poster Child
Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Taylor Acorn isn’t new to the scene, but she’s definitely started redefining it. With her latest album Poster Child, she surpasses the expectations she’s built. The record feels like flipping through pages of her diary, every lyric blurring the line between strength and softness, heartbreak and healing. “Poster Child” delivers everything you’d expect from Taylor — upbeat, infectious melodies — but it’s the vulnerability underneath that hits har

Rebecca McDevitt
Nov 4, 2025


David Archuleta Just Reimagined His “Earthly Delights” Era - Now En Español
Article Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Quotes and Photos Courtesy of Ken Phillips Publicity Group If you thought David Archuleta’s latest chapter couldn’t get any more vibrant, think again. The pop favorite just revisited two of his Earthly Delights standouts — “Crème Brulée” and “Can I Call You” — with brand-new Spanish versions plus a bilingual remix of “Crème Brulée” featuring Colombian alt-pop icon, Esteman. Fans might remember that “Crème Brulée” already flirted with a

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 22, 2025


Alex Ray Gets Real on Messy
Alex Ray’s Messy is a short, sharp burst of pop-alt emotion, five songs, twelve minutes, and zero filler. It’s a snapshot of chaos polished just enough to shine, but not so much that it loses its edge. Every track feels like an intentional contradiction: raw yet refined, vulnerable yet self-possessed.

LJ Portnoy
Oct 18, 2025


ALBUM REVIEW: Madison Cunningham – Ace
Photo by °1824 / UMG Review by SoundCheck Mag Photos by °1824 / UMG Madison Cunningham has always felt like a painter who uses chords and vocals instead of brushes. The California-born singer-songwriter has long been celebrated for her blend of technical precision and emotional storytelling, and on Ace, she delivers what feels like her most cinematic and self-reflective work yet. A Grammy winner and master of subtlety, Cunningham has created an album that feels like walking t

SoundCheck Team
Oct 17, 2025


Leven Kali: Making Waves with LK-99
Photo provided by @levenkali on IG Contributed by Fernando Flores Photos provided by @levenkali on IG Born into a musically inclined...

Fernando Flores
Oct 11, 2025


Road Soda Marks Another Honest Chapter for Franklin Jonas
Contributed by Rebecca McDevitt Franklin Jonas returns with Road Soda, a track that instantly cements his growing signature sound —...

Rebecca McDevitt
Oct 10, 2025
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