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Dolly Ave Teams Up With Charlie Curtis-Beard Once Again for Flirty New Single “Play With It”

After her debut album, Sleep, Dolly Ave is back with a fiery new single “Play With It, featuring viral TikTok sensation Charlie Curtis-Beard, out on June 30. The song takes on a new attitude, practically begging listeners to get frisky. Upbeat production paired with Dolly’s sweet vocals and Curtis-Beard’s spankin’ good rap feature create a summertime mood everyone’s craving. Dolly’s Sleep continues to gain momentum in the press and digital spaces. The track “Occupied” off the album is on rotation on Sirius XM 88 Rising Radio, with the full project being featured in Atwood Magazine and Forbes. “Play With It” comes with high anticipation to create the carefree, bubbly piece to complete Dolly Ave’s well-rounded discography.

The single is coming in hot after Dolly’s wildly strong introduction to music. Her music video for her last single “Try” premiered in Ones To Watch and critics reviewed it saying, “Dolly Ave is a voice needing to be heard.” Dolly and Curtis-Beard are no strangers to the buzz, however. They had a break-out hit in 2020 collaborating on “Sunlight, Quiet, Flowers” which trended #1 on TikTok’s Original Music charts for 7 days straight and over 428K streams on Spotify (and counting). “Play With It” contrasts the vibe of their previous release, allowing Dolly Ave to experiment with playful vocals and lyrics that take on a lighthearted feel. Curtis-Beard’s rap feature on the song completes it, Dolly praises. “I had written ‘Play With It’ and felt it’d be the perfect song to relink on. Our roles reversed funny enough. I had originally written it for myself but I just felt he was perfect to add his spin on it,” the Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter says.

“I know what you’re thinking, let’s just play with it,” Dolly Ave flirtatiously sings alongside Curtis-Beard’s verse. She’s excited to unveil this new angle to her music – “I wanted to write a fun song that didn’t take me too seriously and showcase a different side of me,” says Dolly Ave. The infectious single will be accompanied by a pastel and pastry-filled video that takes a song about sex and turns it into a fun baking and dancing session. Their on-screen chemistry climaxes with their original choreographed dance sequence for the summer’s most fun and shareable song. Leah Zeiger and Curtis-Beard taught Dolly Ave how to dance in just two days for the video, creating an environment of feel-good energy that effortlessly translates to the screen.

Dolly Ave is not only an emerging artist in the creative industry, but also an award-winning photographer who has worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, and the Migos. Raised in Kansas City, Missouri by two immigrant parents from Vietnam, Dolly Ave speaks of her inspiration to pursue a creative career with an undeniable fervor saying that she makes music “for young artists, for the underprivileged, and for the misunderstood.”

Dolly’s parents worked as nail technicians and frequently moved the family between Sikeston, Missouri, and Kansas City in their search for jobs during her childhood. Dolly describes Kansas City as a “very strange place to immigrate to”: a small, midwestern town with not many other Asians, and with just as modest and simple expectations for life — to grow up and get a good job. Still, Dolly dreamed of bigger things. Her family was a creative one – her father played the guitar, and Dolly grew up listening to “all sorts of stuff,” from The Beatles to Vanessa Carlton, who specifically left a sizable impression on Dolly when she was younger because Carlton played the piano and sang at the same time.

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In school, Dolly did theatre and choir, where she learned to sight-read and where one of her teachers remarked that the way she sang was “Eastern-wise,” she remembers. The advent of the Internet and with it, the vast and new world of YouTube, also played a significant role in Dolly’s formative years. “I noticed a lot of musicians would turn on the webcam and play their songs,” she says. “It blew my mind, like, ‘Wow people are just putting this out there in the world?’” Though she was shy and didn’t share any original music of her own on the platform, she was writing and singing little songs in her bedroom: sad and sweet tunes about feeling alone. “I was 12 singing about being lonely and sad,” she says now, laughing. As Dolly ventured deeper into the YouTube music community, she followed along as the creators she admired, among them Daniela Andrade, AJ Rafael, Tim Atlas, and Sam Tsui, grew their careers from homegrown cover videos to full-blown careers in their own right. “That sparked a lot in my journey in music and the arts,” she says. “This is not just something that always has to be a hobby. There are avenues, or channels to make this a real thing, and [to] enjoy your life making it.” Eventually, at 18, Dolly left the narrow confines of Kansas City for art school in Chicago, where she bloomed. Propelled by the bustling and rich underground music and art scene of the city, one she describes to be tight-knit and immensely collaborative, Dolly found her footing in her own creative endeavors. She navigated the music community by way of her camera, having nurtured a childhood hobby into a career, taking photos and filming videos for local artists.

All the while, she continued to write songs on her own. In June 2018, spurred on by a moment of “what if” curiosity and her friend’s urgings, she recorded and released her first song, “Birds,” a melancholy, and contemplative tune with R&B leanings about finding “the legs to run.” Shortly thereafter, encouraged by the unknown potentials of her own creativity, she began working on her first project, the Sleep, which has finally come to fruition as Dolly Ave steps into the spotlight for the first time with a full-length record.

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Connect with Dolly Ave:

Website | Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok (@dollyave)

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Natalie is a journalism major with a focus on Entertainment and Music who aspires to become a Content Creator For Honk Magazine. Eventually, she wants to be the Publisher or Editor-in-Chief of a major Publishing House. She loves helping people find their voice and passion for writing and journalism, and she can always be found with coffee in hand, editing another article.

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Sweet C’s “Good Dogs Go to Heaven” is a tribute to love and loss that will lift your spirits

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Sweet C’s latest single, “Good Dogs Go to Heaven,” featuring Vocals via Musiversal, is a lively New Orleans jazz tune that mixes heartfelt storytelling with catchy rhythms. Inspired by the loss of Sweet C’s cherished Yellow Lab, this song is a joyful celebration of the special connection between people and their pets. “Good Dogs Go to Heaven” draws you into a fun jazz experience, featuring cheerful brass sounds and a beat that feels like a walk through the lively streets of New Orleans. While it’s upbeat and lively, the song also carries an emotional weight that speaks to anyone who has felt the sadness of losing a dog.

Sweet C’s message is refreshingly optimistic; instead of focusing on sadness, the song encourages listeners to cherish the happiness, loyalty, and love that dogs bring into our lives. This single stands out because of its heartfelt vocals, which add a genuine touch to the jazzy music. The singer’s voice feels warm and welcoming, embracing the listener like a comforting hug, perfectly matching the song’s theme. It’s the kind of singing that feels both personal and uplifting like a friend gently reassuring you that your good dog is now in a better place and that their spirit is still with you.

“Good Dogs Go to Heaven” is a song you’ll want to include in all your jazz playlists because it tells a universal story through the lively New Orleans jazz style. Whether you love dogs, enjoy jazz, or just need some uplifting music, Sweet C’s new single touches on all the right feelings. In a world that can sometimes feel heavy, “Good Dogs Go to Heaven” is a joyful reminder that love and music can heal even the deepest hurts. Sweet C has created a fun track to celebrate our beloved pets and the lasting joy they leave behind, a tune that will have you tapping your feet and dancing long after it ends.

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Music

Olaf Olsen’s “Small Day Tomorrow – Radio Edit” is a jazz treasure rekindled with soulful flair

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Olaf Olsen’s latest single, “Small Day Tomorrow – Radio Edit,” is a heartfelt tribute to jazz music, offering a fresh and cozy vibe that immerses listeners in a warm, intimate setting. This is a true labor of love, filled with the warmth and wisdom of jazz legend Sheila Jordan, who is lovingly called the First Lady of Jazz. What makes the story behind this song even more special is that Sheila Jordan herself encouraged Olaf to take on this Bob Dorough classic. Her recommendation adds a unique touch to this version and hints at something special.

Olaf approached this project with respect for the original while also adding his own creative twist. The musical arrangement is simple yet rich. Featuring piano, double bass, and drums, it creates a lush, inviting sound that feels both timeless and refreshingly modern. The standout moment comes from trumpet player Fabien Mary, whose performance strikes a perfect balance between intensity and calm. His playing weaves seamlessly through the song, enhancing the emotional depth without overshadowing its gentle nature. What truly sets “Small Day Tomorrow – Radio Edit” apart is its ability to capture the spirit of jazz’s golden age while making it feel relatable for today’s listeners.

Olaf Olsen’s singing is warm and sincere, expressing the deep emotions that make classic songs timeless. There’s a natural flow to his voice as if he’s having a conversation with the audience, inviting them to join in on the stories that jazz tells. This single is a retelling of a classic song and a fresh take that honors the past while bringing new energy to it. Jazz fans and newcomers will find something to love here, a beautiful reminder of how jazz connects people across generations. In short, “Small Day Tomorrow – Radio Edit” by Olaf Olsen captures a small, perfect moment in music, offering a hopeful glimpse into the future of jazz.

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