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Alysia Kraft Finds Solace Through Hardship With Debut Solo Single “Cold Mountain”

“Cold Mountain” is an earthy folk tune acknowledging the immensity of pain, loss, and struggle as a first step toward healing and making a change.

Singer-songwriter Alysia Kraft delivers a striking performance on her debut solo single, “Cold Mountain,” out February 18th. As the first song from her upcoming record First Light, out later this year, “Cold Mountain” introduces the project with a sonic breath of fresh air. The Wyoming born artist has made a beloved reputation for herself in the Wyoming and Colorado music scenes; “Cold Mountain” showcases a different side of Kraft’s artistry following her work with Whippoorwill and The Patti Fiasco, inviting listeners to experience the ethereal whimsy inherent to this track’s lush, bioluminescent folk soundscape. Fans of HAIM, Waxahatchee, and Kacey Musgraves will find themselves right at home immersed in Kraft’s lush vocals and melancholy-steeped poetry. “Cold Mountain” is set to make an emotional appearance in the short film, Be Still, premiering at the Front Range Film Festival in Longmont, CO, on February 19 for which it recently won the Indie Short Fest award for “Best Original Song”.

“Cold Mountain” came to Kraft like a breath of fresh air; having grown up in rural Wyoming, this song finds it’s roots in the same grandness of the windswept plains the queer artist took refuge in while enduring various struggles for acceptance and understanding throughout life. Kraft wrote this track “in a moment of fully feeling how brutal and beautiful life can be all at once.” For her, “Cold Mountain” is an exploration of the ways in which we “find the space to feel both the grief and hope we need to keep going.” As co-producer, Kraft made it a point to create something that felt true to the place and emotion of the song. In collaboration with J. Tom Hnatow (producer, mixing engineer) and Justin W. Craig (producer, mixing engineer), Kraft brought her vision to life as a brilliantly multi-dimensional final product. Alysia Kraft partnered with SonaBLAST! Records to create this project, adding her captivating artistic signature to their acclaimed catalog.

Fans can stream “Cold Mountain” on all major streaming platforms on February 18th. 

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More about Alysia Kraft:

Having amassed devoted regional followings for projects Whippoorwill and The Patti Fiasco as a celebrated songwriter and incomparably magnetic frontwoman, Kraft has sold out most of Colorado’s big stages and directly supported icons Bon Jovi, Blondie, Nathanial Rateliff and Bonnie Raitt on significantly bigger ones. Embracing the complexities of growing up queer on a cattle ranch in small-town Wyoming and choosing to love within a landscape that didn’t always love back, “First Light” is a triumphant homecoming and a defining solo debut. Smart, retro-influenced indie pop and lush, bioluminescent folk will find crossover appeal with fans of HAIM, Sheryl Crow, Sharon Van Etten, and Waxahatchee. Enlisting close collaborator J. Tom Hnatow & Grammy-nominated Justin Craig to produce and mix and acclaimed engineer, Sarah Register to master, “First Light” is open-hearted and thoughtfully hook-adorned– with soundscapes as dimensional as Kraft’s western upbringing and the liberated narratives contained therein.

Artist Spotlight

Karate Boogaloo find sunshine through the storm on “Wet Day Timetable”

Karate Boogaloo

Karate Boogaloo return with “Wet Day Timetable,” an instrumental piece that proves even the most ordinary disappointments can become something memorable. Inspired by the familiar feeling of having plans washed away by the rain, the track transforms that mood into an uplifting musical experience filled with warmth and character. Rather than dwelling on frustration, the band embraces the slower pace of a wet day, allowing every note to unfold with patience and purpose.

The result is music that feels comforting, reflective, and quietly joyful, capturing the emotional shift from disappointment to acceptance with remarkable grace. It is a reminder that some of the strongest musical statements are made through restraint rather than excess. As a snapshot of the forthcoming record Access All Areas, “Wet Day Timetable” highlights the qualities that make Karate Boogaloo such compelling musicians.

Memorable melodies, understated arrangements, and effortless chemistry combine to create an instrumental that lingers well after it ends. The band’s ability to turn a simple everyday experience into an emotionally satisfying journey speaks volumes about their artistic maturity. Without relying on elaborate production or dramatic flourishes, they deliver a track that feels genuine, timeless, and deeply rewarding. “Wet Day Timetable” stands as a graceful celebration of thoughtful composition, proving that even a rainy day can provide the perfect soundtrack for optimism.

Connect with Karate Boogaloo on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook

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Artist Spotlight

Jeff Vidov elevates orchestral rock ambition on latest release “Signs of Life”

Jeff Vidov

Jeff Vidov returns with “Signs of Life,” a powerful new single that reflects the depth of his compositional experience while embracing the expansive energy of a summer rock anthem. Marking his sixteenth musical release, the Canadian-born pianist and composer blends the grandeur of a full orchestra with the driving spirit of rock, creating a piece that feels equally at home in the concert hall and on the silver screen. The result is an immersive listening experience that highlights both musical precision and emotional scale.

As a choir conductor, session pianist, film composer, and musical theatre director, his background naturally shines through in “Signs of Life.” Having scored fifteen films and two television shows while performing with numerous jazz big bands, orchestras, touring rock bands, and tribute acts, he brings an unmistakable sense of cinematic storytelling to the track. Every orchestral passage feels intentional, while the rock foundation gives the composition an energetic pulse that keeps the arrangement engaging from beginning to end.

Jeff Vidov demonstrates that experience and versatility can exist alongside fresh creative ambition. “Signs of Life” is more than another release in an already impressive catalog, it is a celebration of musicianship built through years of dedication across film, theatre, orchestral performance, and contemporary music. The seamless balance between sweeping orchestral textures and rock influences gives the single a distinctive identity that stands apart while remaining widely accessible.

Connect with Jeff Vidov on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube

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