Artist Spotlight
Mike Shouse shares a daring 30-key adventure with new single “Smiley Faced Emoji”
In his latest single, “Smiley Faced Emoji,” Mike Shouse takes on a lively, bright, and boldly unconventional piece made up entirely of major pentatonic scales and with more than 30 key changes. Shouse, an artist born in Jackson, Kentucky, in 1970, is the perfect example of a music explorer who never stops seeking new sounds.
“Smiley Faced Emoji” is called a luminous auditory experiment, and this is a very accurate description. Every shift, key change, and musical deviation seems planned not to make things more complicated, but to make them more fun, engaging, and expressive. The major pentatonic scale is often associated with simplicity and ease of understanding.
Shouse set out to write a song using only major pentatonics, and this opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities. It is lively, unpredictable, and charmingly animated, a piece that keeps you interested while always giving off a cheerful charm.
The song is still easy to understand, even though it is technically challenging. It makes you feel happy, bright, and expressive, like a musical puzzle that solves itself as you listen. “Smiley Faced Emoji” is one of Shouse’s best works so far because he can go beyond boundaries while still being emotionally deep. “Smiley Faced Emoji” is an example of art born of curiosity and daring creativity. It’s great for people who want to hear something new, musicians who like to take risks, or anyone who likes a song that makes them feel good.
Artist Spotlight
Cas du Pree and Mike Harley explore creative freedom and fear on “Blank Page”
On “Blank Page,” Cas du Pree and Mike Harley explore the vulnerable side of making music, discussing the fear of losing inspiration and the pressure to always make something meaningful. The song doesn’t define that feeling as a limitation but turns it into a powerful moment of connection, movement, and artistic growth.
“Blank Page” marks the first major collaboration between Cas du Pree and Mike Harley and captures the natural chemistry that happens when two artists come together with their own unique perspectives. What began as an unlikely collaboration on a demo vocal has grown into an ongoing creative partnership that continues to generate new material. The track draws on pop and EDM influences and delivers a modern, dance-driven atmosphere with rhythmic shifts, catchy hooks, and a slick electronic foundation.
For fans of modern dance-pop, you’ll hear the influence of artists like Dua Lipa in her rhythmic approach, where groove and melody collide to create a listening experience you can’t resist. Co-produced and mixed by Erim Ahmet, with mastering by Ivo Statinski, it elevates the track’s emotional and energetic appeal. “Blank Page” is about how new ideas can come from unexpected places. The song is a testament to the potential of two artists to create something exciting together through strong collaboration, vibrant production, and a relatable message.
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Artist Spotlight
Kristjan Ruus creates a dreamlike cinematic experience with “OF ALL WARM THINGS” (video)
At the heart of Kristjan Ruus’ new release, “OF ALL WARM THINGS,” is a quiet sense of time passing, a cinematic instrumental electronic piece that transforms a fleeting visual experience into a meditation on memory, emotion, and the beauty of moments that don’t last long enough. This is a very personal story told in ambiance, texture, and carefully crafted sound.
The result is a world of warmth and melancholy, a blend of emotive cinematic sound design and instrumentation drawn from Irish folk. The concertina, Irish flute, tin whistles, bodhrán, stomps, and spoons all add a human touch to the electronic base, creating a unique balance between organic tradition and modern production.
The song’s music video elaborates on these themes with designed visuals that capture the bittersweet feeling of wanting to hold on to a treasured moment, even while you know it’s already gone. Kristjan Ruus has a strong creative vision that connects sound and storytelling, as he has proven his talent for composing, directing, editing, and shaping the entire visual world.
In this release, a repeating ascending motif makes you feel time moving forward, and the rhythmic percussion provides a ritualistic energy that pulls you further into the experience. The production is big and cinematic, and every instrument gets to breathe while maintaining a strong emotional connection. “OF ALL WARM THINGS“ is an introspective meditation on fleeting sensations and the inexorable flow of time, and it is an intimate and universal immersive piece, with Kristjan Ruus’ cinematic atmosphere, rich instrumentation, and emotional depth.
Photo Credit: Kristjan Ruus
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