Music
NASHVILLE SINGER-SONGWRITER TAYLOR NOELLE RELEASES DEBUT EP “BE AROUND”
Pop singer-songwriter and colorful creative director Taylor Noelle releases her debut EP “Be Around.” Equal parts euphoric and introspective, the “Be Around” EP is a bold introduction & succinct insight into who Taylor Noelle is as an artist & songwriter. The LA-born, Nashville-raised singer-songwriter has a knack for weaving honest storytelling with glittery & infectious sonics, bridging together her eclectic influences & inspirations, from Maggie Rogers and HAIM to Tame Impala and SZA.
The 6-track EP is the culmination of over three years of releases brought together to tell a story — from coping with anxiety and despair to learning to embrace & lean into patience and love. Featuring production by Ghosthood (FAYV, Lukr, Liz Huett), Bobby Knepper (Dreamer Boy, Houston Kendrick), and Reed Berin (GAYLE, James Droll), the project melts together forward-thinking pop sensibilities with vintage 70s-inspired sparkle.
The title track, written with Taylor’s good friend and collaborator Bobby Knepper (Dreamer Boy, Houston Kendrick), was inspired by someone close to Taylor Noelle coping with a difficult time with their mental health. Written from the perspective of someone wanting to ease their pain, Taylor hopes the song lets people know they are not alone in their struggles. “It’s a song about showing up for someone and loving them when everything seems dark to them. Even if I can’t fix your problems for you, I can just be with you and be there for you. The difficult times that I have been through have given me the experience to know how to show up going through something similar.”
So, it seemed only natural as I approached making a video for the song to use my childhood home videos. Directing and editing this video was very special to me. It offered me the opportunity to reacquaint myself with my childlike, goofy, creative, confident, loud, unique self. It let me witness the love of my parents and family as I grew under their care.
I hope that this song can help anyone that feels small and dark and alone. The sun will always rise again. Offer yourself love and patience and kindness in the meantime.
The song and the EP as a whole both have taken on a new meaning after 2020. “As I lived with the song for more than a year before putting it out, it started to take on a new meaning for me. With the isolation of quarantine, I found myself falling into cycles of sadness and anxiety. While I had amazing people around me who continued to love and support me, I found myself realizing that I had to learn to show up for myself and offer the same love and patience that felt more natural to offer to others. I learned to recognize and love my inner child.”
Speaking on the EP Taylor explains “This collection of songs tells the story of a particular chapter of my life beginning with fear, anxiety, and desperation and closing with clarity, patience, and love. Writing and recording these songs offered me the opportunity to process pain, celebrate love, and grow deeper into myself. It feels right to wrap up these songs into a project because of how deeply tied they all feel to each other to me, to allow them to tell the full story.”
Taylor Noelle is equal parts glittering pop star, introspective songwriter, and colorful creative director. Her songs — a collection of blurry, beautiful moments recalling love and frustration — showcase her dedication to deep musicality and honest storytelling. Her Los Angeles-to-Nashville upbringing is evident in the variety of sonic and lyrical influences that emerge in her sound. Her songs melt together modern and retro sounds with confessional, emotional lyricism. Her influences range from Maggie Rogers and HAIM to Tame Impala and SZA.
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Artist Spotlight
Cali Tucker Unwraps Christmas Magic With Her New EP “Santa Baby”
Cali Tucker is back in the spotlight this season with “Santa Baby,” a beautifully made holiday EP that captures the heart, warmth, and timeless glow of Christmas classics. Cali is known for singing the National Anthem at NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 in front of 80,000 fans and more than three million people at home. She brings the same powerful presence and emotional depth to this holiday project.
“Santa Baby” is a great holiday release for music lovers, bloggers, and new artist discovery sites. It has six tracks and lasts 20 minutes. It mixes nostalgia with Cali’s signature smooth vocals. Each song shows off her talent, but “O Holy Night” and “The Christmas Song” are two that stand out as favorites. Both performances show off her range, control, and ability to bring classic songs into modern emotional spaces without losing their original charm.
“O Holy Night” stands out as the EP’s spiritual center, with a glowing performance full of dynamics, warmth, and a cinematic stillness that draws people in. Cali gives the song both respect and a unique touch, breathing new life into a well-known hymn. “The Christmas Song,” on the other hand, makes you feel like you’re sitting next to a fire. It’s soft, heartfelt, and full of stories that make you feel nostalgic. Cali’s voice flows effortlessly through every note, making it impossible not to feel the magic of the season.
The whole EP flows easily and has a mix of fun sparkle, soulful warmth, and classic Christmas music. “Santa Baby” is the perfect song for the season, whether people are making holiday playlists, looking for new Christmas music, or discovering new vocal talents. This EP adds a new but familiar sound to today’s holiday music scene. It has a comforting feel and is easy to listen to repeatedly.
Artist Spotlight
Kalpee Honors Heritage and Heart on His Emotion-Rich New EP Dougla Boi
Kalpee is back with Dougla Boi, a beautiful new EP that is both personal and powerful. It gives listeners a close look at the layers of identity, heritage, and emotion that make him who he is. The Trinidad and Tobago artist is confident in his own space, which is rooted in New Calypso and polished with hints of dancehall, R&B, and afrobeats. In this space, genre bends, but emotion leads.
Named after the Trinidadian word for someone of mixed African and Indian heritage, Dougla Boi is honest, proud, and warm about the complexities of culture. Kalpee opens a window into the dualities that define him across six tracks, turning personal truth into universal resonance. The EP is just under 19 minutes long, but every second is carefully planned to take listeners on a journey through courage, joy, healing, and the quiet strength that comes from accepting all parts of yourself.
The first single, “Under,” stands out right away for its calming yet emotionally charged experience. Kalpee’s voice flows over a beat that sounds both new and old, fitting the EP’s theme of bringing cultures together. It’s one of the best examples of how he can mix soft and hard sounds, which is what makes his New Calypso sound so unique.
“Everybody,” which features Full Blown, is another excellent song that has already done very well. It has a happy vibe and an infectious bounce, making it one of the EP’s most replayable songs. “Everybody” captures the spirit of community and shared experience, which is what Kalpee means when he says that identity is not a box but a rhythm.
Connect with Kalpee: Instagram
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