Artist Spotlight

Julie Slim turns the shadows into light on new release “One More Day”

Julie Slim’s new song, “One More Day,” is a potent reminder of how to stay alive, be strong, and celebrate the small wins that come with the decision to keep going. What started decades ago as an instrumental piece, “April Morning,” by pianist Shawn Ellison, has grown into a deeply personal collaboration that reveals Julie’s emotional landscape.

The original piece had a lively rhythm and complex textures that created a musical landscape. When Julie and Shawn got back together in 2017, they worked together again, and the song came back to her, quickly stealing her heart. As the song went on, its progression became increasingly tied to Julie’s own story.

Julie grew up in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Beirut, but her life changed a lot when she moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where the seasons change a lot. She had been worried for a long time that she might have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the long, dark winter days started to have a significant effect on her. The seasons slowly became a landscape she had to cross with care and purpose.

Julie Slim’s voice is both soft and firm, wrapping around her music in a way that makes it sound as if she’s open to being hurt. The song has a slow, steady beat that makes you think, hope, and stay calm. It honors the bravery it takes to face a new day and the work it takes to deal with changes in your feelings. “One More Day” is a piece of art that is based on people, made with honesty, and meant to make people feel better.

Connect with Julie Slim on Facebook | Instagram | X |

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

Shoketta gives jazz a new voice on latest release “Summer time”

Shoketta kicks off “Summertime” by reimagining it with a deep, jazz-filled bass line built on Richie Goods’ acoustic bass. The arrangement announces its character right away, with Clarence Penn’s drums opening up the musical space and Andy Ezrin’s Rhodes adding bright, scattered color. And then percussion from Daniel Sadownick adds another layer of rhythm in the lower registers, before Shoketta’s vocals finally come in.

Shoketta makes the standard her own, taking a familiar composition and treating it like a modern jazz vocalist, with her own phrasing and expression. The performance doesn’t rely on the song’s pre-existing identity; instead, the singer’s interpretation becomes an integral part of the experience. But the musicians around her leave enough space for the track to breathe, keeping it jazz-centered.

The biggest surprise comes when Nozomi Yamaguchi’s electric guitar takes the arrangement in a more unexpected, adventurous direction. That change adds a discovery element to “Summertime,” pulling the performance out of its original jazz context. Shoketta’s voice remains at the heart of the piece, and the musicians continue exploring possibilities around it. The result is a thoughtful interpretation that stays true to tradition while still pushing the music in a new direction.

Connect with Shoketta on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook

Tweet LinkedIn PinShares0

Artist Spotlight

François Marius & Bérénice hit the big stage with latest release “Chasing Dreams”

“Chasing Dreams,” by François Marius & Bérénice, is an ode to ambition, to movement, to the need to leave the known for something bigger. This song is about leaving the country life behind and heading to the city with the dream of making it to the big stage and showing the world what they can do. It’s very much about, you know, seizing an opportunity, not waiting for an opportunity.

A smart suit, a smart look, the latest trend, all of this helps to paint the picture of someone ready to step out into a bigger world. The song has a clear goal in mind: success, recognition, and the chance to shine bright, with the idea of seeing their name up on a billboard.

“Chasing Dreams” is effective because its message is simple. It’s about being afraid of what’s to come, taking a chance, wanting more. François Marius & Bérénice, from the yard to the city and to the big stage, make personal ambition the heart of the song. The result is an inspiring story of believing in a bigger future and having the courage to go for it.

Connect with François Marius & Bérénice on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube