Artist Spotlight

Premiere: James Harries Finds Magic in the Mess with “Love & Desire”

Some of the most honest art comes when you just throw up your hands and stop trying to make it perfect. That’s the pulse of “Love & Desire,” the latest album from James Harries, a singer-songwriter and film scorer who swapped control for presence and ended up hitting emotional pay dirt.

Harries, who took approximately five years to put out his sophomore album, originally began as a solo project after the dissolution of Spread Eagle. He decided that instead of a slick, nearly completed recording, he would toss all of his old ideas and start from scratch. This decision was inspired by a cute moment of childlike ingenuity when his young son found a new-old film camera and shot a roll full of less-than-perfect, over-exposed photos. Instead, he holed up in the studio with some friends and recorded almost entirely live in just three days. No click tracks. No edits. No filters. The result is an album that breathes.

On its nine tracks, “Love & Desire” glows with the warmth of human presence and the bravery to release it. Get push notifications with news, features, and more. Opening with the vulnerable honesty of “Sabotage,” Harries immediately invites listeners into a world in which to be weak is to be strong. On the title track, “Love & Desire,” he treads lightly but with surging intensity, weaving lines about longing, acceptance, and rebirth through stark arrangements that make his voice rich, worn, and human, prominently at center stage.

It’s not the sweat and stink of “Shivers Down My Spine,” which calls to mind a soulful early Van Morrison or the pulse of indie-folk grit heard on “I Want Out” that borrows from the emotional forthrightness of Big Thief. Then there’s “Paris,” a folk-pop bauble that floods hope like morning light post-storm.

Clocking in at a shade under 30 minutes, “Love & Desire” is like that conversation you never want to stop having, intimate, inviting, and raw in all the best ways. It’s about being in touch. James Harries is the voice that whispers to us that beauty lies in the cracks, and sometimes, making it is simply feeling it. But for those who adore deep songwriting, organic production, and the eternal meeting of love, loss, and rediscovery, “Love & Desire” is a record worth living with, listening to over and over again.

To be honest, this is one of the fantastic tracks that you will put on repeat because the album has all the relatable vibes that keep you going. Well done, JAMES!

Artist Spotlight

“Empatia” by Aurien & Jab Vix set the tone for an atmospheric new era

“Empatia,“ the stunning electronic debut of Aurien, in collaboration with Jab Vix, is the start of a new creative universe under Aurien’s newly launched imprint Château Bonheur Musique. The track feels like a doorway into a curated emotional space, built from atmosphere, storytelling, and immersive sound design.

“Empatia” is founded upon a contemporary electronic aesthetics that favors texture. The production is sleek and considered, offering up soft rhythmic pulses within roomy layers that breathe. Working with Jab Vix gives texture and dynamics to Aurien’s perspective and sets the sound for the song. It’s more about feeling the music than looking for peaks of high energy. It builds slowly and invites you to sit in the mood.

A highlight is the “Elegant Mix,” which takes the original and gives it a more subdued, slicker makeover. It allows the heart of the composition to come through more intimately, and this duality reinforces the idea behind Château Bonheur Musique as environment, experience, and feeling. “Empatia” is a debut statement and manifesto for the immersive, emotionally intelligent electronic music that works as effortlessly as it does in shared spaces. It’s a thoughtful direction for Aurien, where sound is not just heard, but lived in.

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Artist Spotlight

Saint Escape injects an attitude into a classic for a new generation on latest release “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”

SAINT ESCAPE takes a classic favorite, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” and gives it a new twist, transforming the iconic hit into an alternative rock statement full of personality and modern flair.

Rather than just repeating a familiar song, Saint Escape offers a bold vision to the track. There’s a touch of “baddiecore-lite” attitude, married with alt-rock vibes, a feeling that seems tailor-made for those who love nostalgia but want something that speaks to today. The result is familiar, yet refreshingly different.

The track establishes its own identity right from the first moments. The alternative rock styling provides a sharper edge to the song’s timeless themes, making for a dynamic listening experience that feels vibrant and contemporary. With confidence in every note, the performance can stand on its own but still respect the legacy of the original.

While acknowledging the song’s emotional and cultural significance, Saint Escape also celebrates a more rebellious aesthetic. The “baddiecore-lite” influence adds an interesting attitude to the track, making it feel fun, confident and effortlessly cool.

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