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Artist Spotlight

Jeff Hodges drives “Loco Motive” straight from music row to the Caribbean coast

Jeff Hodges

Jeff Hodges has always been a storyteller, and with the release of “Loco Motive” he continues to demonstrate that reimagination is his superpower. Recorded in his island home studio, the song is a yelping collision of Nashville and Caribbean rhythm, a bridge between the heartland and the coast. “Loco Motive” is a reminder that innovation and authenticity can go hand in hand and that music, like a musician, prospers when it’s fearless.

“Loco Motive” delivers with an energy that’s contagious, to say the least. The song starts with a cut-time thud and honky-tonk guitars that nod at Hodges’ country background, then adds breezy, tropical percussion that soundtracks how it feels to be on the front porch of a seaside shack tapping your feet in time. Hodges effortlessly pulls off this unusual combination.

In addition to the audio, Hodges brings the story to life visually with an eye-catching stop-motion music video that reflects the kinetic energy of the track. Every frame pulses with creativity, earning the fun and heartfelt tonality of the song while playing up his trademark cross-cultural melding that’s anchored this new era of music.

Jeff Hodges isn’t just churning out country music, he’s stretching the genre’s boundaries. That fusion of styles sounds like a party and an invitation for listeners to venture into unknown musical territory while still rooted in the storytelling tradition Nashville has built its reputation on.

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Artist Spotlight

Vella walks the line between desire and heartbreak on “Don’t Mistake This For Love”

Vella

Vella’s new single, “Don’t Mistake This For Love,” dives into the space between physical attraction and emotional openness. The soul-pop track captures the tension of wanting someone so badly while trying to convince yourself your feelings aren’t serious. It explores the desire to feel passion without the heartbreak that comes with real love.

The single is about the battle between what your heart tells you and what your mind wants to believe. Vella shows what it means to hold back emotionally even when the connection is real and hard to ignore. It also explores the desire to build emotional walls to protect yourself from romance’s uncertainty.

The song benefits from the songwriting of 16-time Grammy nominee and winner Diane Warren. The clever lyrics bring character to the song’s core premise, and Vella’s vocal delivery adds another layer of intensity, allowing the tension between desire and restraint to ring through with conviction.

Produced by Grammy nominees Will Simms and Carl Ryden, mixed by Grammy winner Rob, and mastered by Chris G, Vella’s heartfelt performance is backed by a creative team that delivers a single about the complicated business of protecting your heart. The soulful pop tune “Don’t Mistake This For Love” features emotive vocals and lyrics about relationships, and it explores the openness that comes with being attracted to someone.

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Artist Spotlight

Through love, loss, and gratitude, Tara Van finds her way forward on “MILES ON IT” [EP]

Tara Van

Tara Van’s new 4-song EP, “MILES ON IT,” finds meaning in the uncertain moments of life, love, loss, gratitude, and strength to keep going. It’s a personal reflection from the singer-songwriter on resilience, perseverance, and hope. It blends different emotional experiences, all carrying the same message of growth, human connection, and appreciation for what really matters.

The EP was recorded entirely at Apt Sea Sound with producer Mark Calderone and is about personal strength, artistic legacy, and real connection. Each track offers a different view and grounds the project emotionally, without losing its message about everyday life. The title track, “Miles On It,” is about enjoying what you have and holding onto those experiences as long as you can.

Followed by “I’m A Vine,” this track is about learning to accept help from others and love your own gifts, with horn player Tom Moffett and bass player Alex St Kitts. “Moving Picture Show” is a tribute to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and its cultural impact on the city, and Van’s grandfather, a living founder of the festival, weaves personal history into a broader cultural heritage.

It ends with “Take Your Light Down,” a raw, single-take studio track that celebrates the power of real human connection and the imperfections that make creative expression real. Its rawness is a welcome antidote to an increasingly AI-dominated world, a reminder of the value of authentic human connection. “MILES ON IT” is a self-reflection, a positive outlook, not afraid of life’s challenges. This collection encourages you to keep growing, stay connected, and cherish what you carry through life.

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