Album Review

Stephanie Bettman’s Latest Single “Beautiful Day”

You don’t have to be the biggest folk-rock fan around to appreciate the depth of emotionality in Stephanie Bettman’s new solo single “Beautiful Day,” as its plethora of melodies give us everything that listeners need to know in its running time. Like the other songs found in her growing discography, “Beautiful Day” sees Bettman experimenting with palatable pop sounds, blending influences from the folk spectrum whilst providing us with a familiar rhythm that doesn’t get flimsy by the second stanza. It’s among the more straightforward singles that I’ve heard in the last month, but if you’ve got an ear for toned songcraft, you’d be seriously pressed to find another track like this one.

The instrumentation is telling us a story all its own in “Beautiful Day,” and I think that, were it not presented in such high-definition clarity, this single probably wouldn’t be as engaging as it is in this form. Bettman is a very talented singer, but the soundscape that she uses as a sonic canvas to apply her acrylic vocal textures is quintessential to getting her point across here. There’s something to be said about the players that she’s gathered together for her backing band, and I hope that they continue to work together as she creates a full-length album with this song’s emotive template at the foundation of every composition. There’s a wholesomeness here you don’t find very often anymore, and I want to hear what it can produce with more creative breathing room.

I am more than curious about what Stephanie Bettman would sound like in a live setting after hearing “Beautiful Day.” She’s got a fetching and rather approachable charisma in this song, and in many ways employs her microphone as a gateway into the storied past of 70s singer/songwriters. Bettman channels a lot of Joni and Melanie here, but even though she’s wearing her influences on her sleeve, her stylish musical persona isn’t rooted in the throwback/retro culture that has gotten a little tiresome in the last few years. It’s one thing to be inspired, but unlike some of the artists making big mainstream gains this spring, this is one singer who isn’t looking to live her life in a time machine.

I haven’t been able to put this song down since I first picked it up, and once you give “Beautiful Day” the chance to sink its hooks into your chest, I think that you’ll share my sentiments. It’s an intoxicating meld of old and new, both retro and surprisingly modern where it matters the most, and even taking into consideration its nonconformist design, it’s still more accessible than the more commercial folk/pop that you might have come across this season. Stephanie Bettman’s career is picking up a healthy amount of steam at the moment, and if this song gets into steady rotation on the college radio airwaves this summer, it’s going to be a lot harder for her competitors in the American underground to keep up with her momentum heading into the latter half of 2024.

Gwen Waggoner

Related Topics:“Beautiful Day”single review Stephanie Bettman

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Album Review

Cashus King & Big O deliver a 14-track journey of growth with “Water to Wine” album

Hip hop duo Cashus King and Big O release their new concept album “Water to Wine,” which is about transformation, faith, and purpose. The album is inspired by the miracle at Cana in the Book of John, where water is the raw human potential, and wine is the final stage of growth, formed by pressure, time, and belief.

The opening track, “Barry Water,” sets out the theme of origin and unspoiled energy, while “LikWid (Big Fish)” dives into the depths of identity and survival. “Precipitation” is a change under pressure, and “Cherry Cola” is a reflection that balances life’s sweetness with reality. “Streams” has an emotional flow and direction, and “Drownin’” has a weight of struggle and internal conflict.

“Hydration (Reign)” provides strength and renewal, then “Drippin (Soakin Poems)” shows creativity flowing through lived experience. “Potions” addresses transformation as self-crafting, and “Swimmin’” addresses endurance in the face of adversity. “Holy Water” gives a feeling of cleansing and Spiritual introspection, while “Like Lava for Water” balances heat, pressure, and transformation in movement.

The final part of the album, “Dark Agua,” continues the story with an exploration of self-awareness in the shadows, and “Wine” closes out the album as the pinnacle of transformation. The album includes guest appearances from Blu, Fashawn, L.O.U., P-Rawb, Big Tone, G-HOLY, Frannie EL, and Shari and is a body of work about becoming who you were always meant to be.

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Album Review

C’batch returns with “C’batch – The Vault 2 Soul/R&B/Pop/ Rock/Reggae,” a multi-genre story of emotion and identity

C’batch is back with a bang with a powerful new project titled “C’batch – The Vault 2 Soul/R&B/Pop/ Rock/Reggae,” a 20-track album that expands his archive series with a bold mixture of genres and emotional storytelling. It runs through soul, R&B, pop, rock, and reggae, and creates a large musical space that is personal and expressive.

The album opens up a space for reflection and openness, with “Will This Be the Last Time?” hinting at uncertainty and emotional finality, creating a reflective tone for the project. “Giving You All My Love” is a song of devotion, with warm melodies and an emotional center, while “The Word Is Out (Will I Get Over You?)” is a pop sound with soulful introspection delving into inner conflict.

“Found What’s Right for Me” is about clarity and self-discovery in a more tender emotional space, and “Hey Victoria” is a more direct human connection moment. “Call on Me” brings in an element of reach and emotional dependence, while “Round & Round” echoes repetitive thoughts and patterns in relationships. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)” is a promise of emotional strength and growth. “All Things Are Possible” is positive and open to change, and “Can I Hold On?” is mature with openness and emotional tension.

The album ends with “Mi Wan Yu Fi) Rock Dat Pum Pum,” a reggae track that brings with it a dose of rhythm, energy, and cultural flavor. This project is about going back to different parts, and each song is a moment, a feeling, or a question that still resonates. “C’batch – The Vault 2 Soul/R&B/Pop/ Rock/Reggae” is an unbound expression, fueled by emotional truth and genre freedom.

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