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Catherine Jeanne-D’Arc Flips the Script with Bold & Brash “Not Demure”

Catherine Jeanne-D’Arc

Catherine Jeanne-D’Arc releases her most recent single and music video, “Not Demure,” she hurtles headlong at the waifish, internalized aesthetic of the “Very Demure” TikTok trend. Instead of whispering, she roars with an extravagant rap/trap anthem celebrating an unapologetic woman who won’t shrink herself for anyone.

Born from Camp Potéra, an all-women and diversity-led writing camp, the track is a statement and a rebellion. Jeanne-D’Arc’s instinct was to run in the other direction when camp founder Georgette asked her to write a song inspired by the demure TikTok trend. And thank god she did.

With ornate visuals, the music video is as extravagant as the song itself. Jeanne-D’Arc demands the screen with an informal, high-octane presence that oozes swagger. The production goes all in on the song’s bravado, with big styling, dramatic cuts, and an almost cantata-like theatricality that won’t be surreptitiously watched.

In a world that frequently rewards women for keeping their mouths shut, “Not Demure” is a call to arms. It’s chaos, sound, and fury, saturated with style and the defiance we need.

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Album Review

Shara Strand rises triumphantly from life’s heartbreaking storms with her debut album “Love Forever”

Shara Strand

After weathering life’s challenges with introspective creativity and resilience, two-time Billboard-charting dance artist Shara Strand makes a noteworthy return to the spotlight with her most refined and sophisticated work to date: “Love Forever.” This dazzling 13-track debut album celebrates many dimensions of love in its romantic, spiritual, familial, and self-love multifaceted forms, all framed within a compelling narrative of heartbreak, healing, resilience, and emotional rebirth.

Love Forever” manifests a transformative elegance born out of grief, functioning both as a personal diary and a musical manifesto. From the outset, Shara establishes her artistic identity with conviction. The opening track, I Will Be Here,” introduces an ethereal promise of unwavering loyalty delivered through soaring vocals and a stirring melody that lingers like a heartbeat. It is an empowering anthem of emotional presence, grounded in the complexities of love, one that echoes with universal truth and timeless emotion.

Following spontaneously behind is My Green Light,” a sultry, soul-tinged ode to passion, presenting a vivid tapestry of life’s challenges and openness. With layered harmonies and shimmering production, Shara channels the electric highs of intimacy alongside the quiet boldness that feels like love’s inner beast. Followed by Always Your Baby,” this notable track emerges as a soulful pop composition that deeply resonates with listeners. In this piece, a blend of maturity and musical sophistication is evident as Shara delivers a poignant tribute to the purest and most enduring form of love.

Additional tracks such as I Will Follow and Anthem further exemplify her genre-blending capabilities. The former offers a lyrical portrayal of confident yet emotional protection from adversity, serving as a piano-driven affirmation of perseverance and inner strength. Conversely, the latter radiates with vibrant energy, motivating listeners to transcend the emotional challenges of life. Collectively, these songs demonstrate Shara’s adeptness in merging openness with unwavering resilience, particularly when confronted with the potential to be undermined by external influences.

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Shara explores a more ambient soundscape in Happy Ending,” a composition soaked in memories and romantic closure. It exemplifies the allure of happiness beyond imagination, drawing audiences into a familiar melody marked by significant influence. The intricate seventh track, Desperado,” resonates with introspective melancholy, showcasing a sparkling complexity that captures the solitary moments felt in loneliness. However, the emotional core of the album lies in the eighth track, Second Chances,” which underscores the eternal impact of granting a deserving second chance in interpersonal relationships. Lioness exudes empowerment and celebrates bold femininity, a flirtatious, rhythm-charged tribute to emotional freedom and the exhilarating thrill of being entirely lost in time.

In Surrender,” Shara Strand stirs audiences into a safe and breathtaking space that offers peace of mind, encouraging them to surrender to the yearning for emotional belonging. Meanwhile, Soul Dad provides a deeply personal glimpse into the intricacies of emotional renewal, rooted in the cherished memories and life lessons learned from paternal bonds that shaped her identity. Furthermore, My Sweetest Boy captures the intimate and reassuring essence of familial love, rich with gratitude and sincerity. It conveys her affection for someone who means everything to her and makes her life complete.

Closing out the record is the thirteenth track, Ascended,” perhaps the album’s emotional apex. This cinematic, dark-pop masterpiece captures the beautiful impression of joyful liberation, celebrating the moment we rise above fear and reclaim our joy. With tremulous vocals and evocative production, it leaves a lasting impression, a final exhale of triumph, closure, and fearless self-expression. Recorded at NYC’s Engine Room Audio in collaboration with longtime producer Gregory Phace Fils-Aime, the album presents a masterclass in emotional alchemy and versatility. The album is polished, purposeful, and poignantly personal. Each track is a crucial chapter in a larger melodic manifesto centered on self-discovery and human connection, offering listeners a mirror to their own experiences.

Shara Strand is on a mission to reclaim her unique artistic voice and is poised to build on her momentum, solidifying her position as a prominent artist in the music world. Her latest album, “Love Forever,” contributes to her already impressive discography, and with her potential firmly ignited, she aims to transform the raw elements of her emotional experiences into a sanctuary of music. The album reiterates themes of reflective and unapologetically human creativity, skillfully turning feelings of sadness into something beautiful and transforming vulnerability into triumph. It represents an essential addition to numerous playlists and is a must-listen for enthusiasts who appreciate authentic, soulful music with profound introspective charm that keeps your heart beating.

 

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For more information about Shara Strand, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Shara Strand’s Album Love Forever on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Shara Strand | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook |

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Indie

JMT and Daniel Hex shares detroit’s dance DNA with genre-bending anthem “Yes, I Can”

JMT

Detroit’s underground is being completely redefined by JMT, who represents tradition and evolution in a single stroke. On his latest single, “Yes, I Can,” a collaboration with Daniel Hex, the genre-blending producer has released a world-reversal of GhettoTech that’s sultry, soulful, and fiercely future-forward.

Taken from his new album GHETTOTECHTROPOLIS, “Yes, I Can” is a chameleon combining the pulse of GhettoTech, the precision of Techno, and the velvet soul of classic R&B. Still, there’s an audacity to this cocktail nonetheless, one that manages to feel both nostalgic and next-gen at the same time.

The story of the song is about as rich as the song itself. Born out of a gloomy afternoon spent at Heaven Studios – founded by none other than Royce Da 5’9 the track started life as a slow burn groove, with Daniel Hex’s sultry, luxuriant delivery existing over an easy-moving 125 BPM. But in post-production, JMT pulled a reverse. He turned up the tempo, let the percussion bang that much harder, and invested the track with a restless energy that one would expect to find only in the dimly lit basement of some smoky party: 3 a.m., if we’re lucky.

What makes “Yes, I Can” so magnetic is its twin natures. It’s a dancefloor fire with a soft heart. Hex’s own vocals dance effortlessly over the beat, providing the track with a human pulse under the hood of the machine’s perfect drive. It’s a deliberate contrast, Detroit’s grit and soul conjoined. Ultimately, “Yes, I Can” is the driving force of the future. On it, they are a fearless, finely calibrated clash of vibes that designates JMT a visionary voice in the city’s next musical chapter.

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