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Micki Balder Chronicles Loneliness in New Single

Micki Balder debuts her new single “Lonely” on September 2 ahead of her highly anticipated EP, releasing later this fall. “Lonely” was written while in what Balder refers to as “the throes of misery that is dating.” Having written several songs with consistent themes of heartbreak and frustration, Balder was beginning to feel as if she was stuck in an endless cycle… until a funky strum pattern opened up a new place of songwriting within her. The light-hearted track moves away from Balder’s folk tendencies with lyrics that reflect what she wishes someone would sing to her to melt all her frustrations away. “I think we all get a little bogged down by the sad and lonely parts of life sometimes, and this song was just about crafting a version of hope that worked for the moment, just to get through it,” says Balder. The burgeoning artist goes on to describe the single as riding a line of “hopeful melancholy” – a trait found in much of her previous catalog as well. “Lonely” is the first tease to Balder’s upcoming EP and will be available on all major platforms.

“My songs are personalized storytelling, generally a one-woman show, with an authentic voice. I like to write and record with a time capsule attitude in mind, that each recording or album is like a glimpse of a moment in time, what was going on in myself and the world in that snapshot.”

Micki Balder is a folksy singer-songwriter writing sad songs for happy people (and ever so occasionally, happy songs for sad people!). Her music is born from a life-long desire to be a character in a musical, unapologetically singing her feelings for the world through simple and poignant lyrics. Though she’s been dabbling with music her whole life, it wasn’t until 2018 when a friendship’s moment of truth unveiled itself in the middle of a Denver coffee shop. She walked home, wrote a song, and has been writing ever since, now a regular at local music venues around her Colorado home. Micki writes from a place of vulnerable storytelling, with people and relationships at the core of her music. She’s been compared to modern folk bands like The Weepies and Mipso, along with classic songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon, but she draws inspiration from all over the spectrum — the swing and soul music of her lindy hop days, the earthy folk of Gregory Alan Isakov and Mandolin Orange, the candor and dry humor of John Craigie, or the heartbreak of Sara Bareilles, to name a few.

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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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Artist Spotlight

Makk $aucy explores feminine power and emotional connection in “Agressive Woman”

Makk $aucy

Women are powerful to the people around them, and Makk $aucy explores that dynamic in his new single, “Aggressive Woman.” In this release, Makk $aucy dives into how our personal habits and views are shaped by our relationships and emotional ties, rather than just skimming the surface.

“Aggressive Woman” comes from a relaxed, flowing creative process, captured at Grill Studios in Emeryville, California. You can feel that vibe throughout the track, letting the performance speak real emotion without sounding forced. Much of the vibe comes from Makk $aucy’s vocal delivery, which matches the recording’s chill atmosphere.

Beyond the theme, the release also showcases Makk $aucy’s talents as an artist and producer. He lists R&B, hip-hop, and rap as influences and is still trying to find a musical direction that doesn’t confine him to one genre. His production work is central to this identity, reflecting his desire to shape the whole listening experience, not just his vocal performance.

“Agressive Woman” is another chapter in what Makk $aucy calls the “Makk $aucy Experience,” a larger musical journey based on experimentation and creative findings. It celebrates female power and spotlights an artist who continues to push the limits of his production and genre-bending approach.

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Artist Spotlight

C’batch explores love, irony, and poor decisions in “If There Was Ever a Fool (One of a Cast of Many) 1”

C'batch

“If There Was Ever a Fool (One of a Cast of Many) 1” by C’batch is a classic rock release that explores that complicated side of relationships. Based on a friend’s real-life relationship, the song explores love, bad judgment, and the emotional repercussions from a dark, ironic, and sometimes humorous perspective.

What’s interesting about the release is that it spans different eras, musically and lyrically. C’Batch first recorded the guitar improvisation in 2012, and the words came years later, after the relationship that inspired them was over. He kept the two apart until 2026, when he finally merged them. The unusual creative chronology links an early musical idea to a later observation of human behavior.

The track is steeped in classic rock and soul rock and showcases C’batch’s experience as a guitarist, composer, and producer. To truly appreciate this release, one must understand the creative process behind it, a process that has been touched by a musical history spanning four decades. He returns to an old guitar composition and gives it a new purpose in the telling.

The song is about how people can get so wrapped up in love that they ignore shady decisions and only see the consequences afterward. “If There Was Ever a Fool (One of a Cast of Many) 1” is an interesting intersection of past inspiration and present outlook. It also shows how an unfinished musical idea can be born years later.

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