Artist Spotlight
Premiere: James Harries Finds Magic in the Mess with “Love & Desire”
Some of the most honest art comes when you just throw up your hands and stop trying to make it perfect. That’s the pulse of “Love & Desire,” the latest album from James Harries, a singer-songwriter and film scorer who swapped control for presence and ended up hitting emotional pay dirt.
Harries, who took approximately five years to put out his sophomore album, originally began as a solo project after the dissolution of Spread Eagle. He decided that instead of a slick, nearly completed recording, he would toss all of his old ideas and start from scratch. This decision was inspired by a cute moment of childlike ingenuity when his young son found a new-old film camera and shot a roll full of less-than-perfect, over-exposed photos. Instead, he holed up in the studio with some friends and recorded almost entirely live in just three days. No click tracks. No edits. No filters. The result is an album that breathes.
On its nine tracks, “Love & Desire” glows with the warmth of human presence and the bravery to release it. Get push notifications with news, features, and more. Opening with the vulnerable honesty of “Sabotage,” Harries immediately invites listeners into a world in which to be weak is to be strong. On the title track, “Love & Desire,” he treads lightly but with surging intensity, weaving lines about longing, acceptance, and rebirth through stark arrangements that make his voice rich, worn, and human, prominently at center stage.
It’s not the sweat and stink of “Shivers Down My Spine,” which calls to mind a soulful early Van Morrison or the pulse of indie-folk grit heard on “I Want Out” that borrows from the emotional forthrightness of Big Thief. Then there’s “Paris,” a folk-pop bauble that floods hope like morning light post-storm.
Clocking in at a shade under 30 minutes, “Love & Desire” is like that conversation you never want to stop having, intimate, inviting, and raw in all the best ways. It’s about being in touch. James Harries is the voice that whispers to us that beauty lies in the cracks, and sometimes, making it is simply feeling it. But for those who adore deep songwriting, organic production, and the eternal meeting of love, loss, and rediscovery, “Love & Desire” is a record worth living with, listening to over and over again.
To be honest, this is one of the fantastic tracks that you will put on repeat because the album has all the relatable vibes that keep you going. Well done, JAMES!
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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