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Brooke Josephson Delivers Via New EP

Despite facing a ton of competition from across the underground, I think it would be fair to say that Brooke Josephson delivers one of the most cathartic records of the season in her all-new “Live & Let Live” EP.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/brookejosephsonmusic/?hl=en

Steeped in positive vibes that transcend lyrics to penetrate both the sonic and melodic realms of every composition it contains, “Live & Let Live” is hardly your standard alternative pop record. In six truly telling songs, Josephson drives home a consistent narrative, reminding listeners that retrospection doesn’t have to mean regret at all. It’s exactly the kind of EP indie pop fans needed this season, and easily one of my personal favorites.

The instrumental parts are as pivotal to the mood of the music as any of the verses are in the progressive “Good Kind of Tired” and sublimely smooth-moving “Burning Journals.” Thanks to the crisp audio quality featured throughout the tracklist, there’s never a moment in which any of the string tonality winds up sacrificed in the name of pop polish, which is always a plus in my book. If Josephson’s ultimate goal was to allow us to feel this material as much as we hear it, saying she offers us a winner in this record might be just a little too much of an understatement.

There’s no bassline overindulgence to behold in this EP, and that’s a pretty big deal when taking into account just how common an issue that’s been in new rock records this year. The Athens-influenced “Eye in the Sky,” “No for an Answer” and the aforementioned “Burning Journals” are excellent examples of clean-cut equalization free of the excesses that frequently plague indie pop numbers, and although it’s not the heaviest EP you’ll hear this season, “Live & Let Live” scarcely sounds anything less than meaty.

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You don’t have to be a professional critic like myself to acknowledge how awesome “Burning Journals,” “All We Never Had” and “No for an Answer” would be in a live setting. There’s so much potential still on the table for Brooke Josephson to tap into in future endeavors, but by and large, she produces an extended play here that gives us a wonderful insight into what she can accomplish when there’s nothing present to stifle her creativity. ‘Live & Let Live” feels more like an LP than it ever does a mixtape, and in its class of records, that’s half the battle.

If you need an uplifting melodicism skewed with honest roots rock compositional wit, Josephson’s “Live & Let Live” is an EP that you’ll want to check out before the year ends. Brooke Josephson is on fire from the opening cut “Good Kind of Tired” through to the closing number in “Eye in the Sky,” and while she’s a relatively new face to mainstream listeners, it’s obvious that she’s bringing a lot of industry experience into the studio here. I love what I’ve heard so far, and in the next few years, I think we’re going to see even more intriguing content from this brilliantly talented singer/songwriter.

Brent Musgrave

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Artist Spotlight

Cheryl Craigie reimagines “What’s Going On” through a classic soul lens

Cheryl Craigie

Some songs belong to an era, and others keep talking to every generation. Cheryl Craigie’s cover of “What’s Going On is a prime example of the latter, imbuing a classic soul sensibility into a song whose themes of compassion, understanding, unity, and concern for others are as relevant today as ever.

Cheryl Craigie is an independent singer, songwriter, and musician, and she has a strong artistic purpose with this release. She does Marvin Gaye’s beloved original justice while letting the timeless message sing in her own voice. Craigie’s approach is to speak to the need for kindness and human connection.

“What’s Going On is rooted in a timeless identity that is soulful and classic in style, and emotionally it’s about reflection and empathy. This approach relies on the vocal performance, which injects a unique element that helps magnify the song’s bigger message. The production does not detract from the themes that make the song so long-lasting, but rather supports the release by reinforcing its classic character.

What’s particularly interesting about Cheryl Craigie’s release is the balance she strikes between respecting the source material and asserting her own artistic presence. She knows the power of a song already part of music history and uses her interpretation to reconnect listeners with its core ideas. For Craigie, “What’s Going On” is a manifestation of an artist in love with music, with emotional and social weight, and of using her voice to carry the ageless soul message forward.

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Artist Spotlight

With “Who Am I Now” Intaluks explores identity, healing, and renewal

Intaluks

“Who Am I Now” is the Intaluks’ method of shifting the atmospheric emotion, an introspective melodic trance on loss, identity, healing, and the hard work of rebuilding when life takes an unexpected turn. The musical direction is a slow emotional journey, starting in darkness and gradually opening to hope and renewal.

This production frames that journey with expressive male vocals, emotional piano, and trance textures. “Who Am I Now” leaves its mark in the feel department through progression and atmosphere, not with a dramatic festival-type drop. The arrangement gives the song a reflective feel but still maintains the forward momentum of melodic trance.

The male delivery lends a human presence to the themes of uncertainty and self-reconstruction in the song’s vocals. The track tells of an inner journey, accompanied by the piano, the cinematic production, and the experience of confronting a changed reality, asking yourself who you are now, and slowly finding the strength to move forward.

Rather than relying on spectacle, Intaluks focuses on emotional development, letting the song’s mood build organically rather than through a traditional climax. The result is a trance piece so cinematic it feels as much about reflection as it does about forward motion, connecting electronic atmosphere with a highly personal theme. In “Who Am I Now,” Intaluks offers a release defined by transition rather than closure. The sound is its greatest triumph, reflecting that journey and making darkness the beginning of a brighter artistic path.

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