Artist Spotlight
Sam Stokes channels power and identity in new release “I’ll Still Hold Up”
Sam Stokes’ new single, “I’ll Still Hold Up,” is an anthem of self-worth, strength, and identity. The fourth song from the upcoming album, “The Tale of Gaia,” helps to tell a larger story about Earth, mankind, and connectedness. But it also emerges as a bold, character-driven rock anthem.
“I’ll Still Hold Up,” which is great for long drives and strong feelings, captures that indescribable feeling of freedom. Analog MP3 handled the production, which is gritty and guitar-forward but still polished and ready for radio. Stokes sounds extremely sincere, and the performance has a rawness and an almost filmic quality. You can hear the tension between being weak and being strong, like every line is pushing back on what it’s allowed to do.
The songwriting, joined by Hannah Johnson, is about strength and sensitivity, revolution and introspection. The song is about reclaiming power when it feels threatened, and this message hits home, especially for people finding their identities and voices. “I’ll Still Hold Up” is a broader tale about hope and interconnectedness. It supports Stokes’ artistic vision, and it reminds us that strength often lives in the heart and does not need to be proven.
Connect with Sam Stokes on Website | Spotify | Instagram | TikTok
Album Review
Block turns heartbreak into light on “Love Crash,” a raw journey through survival
Block’s sixth studio album, “Love Crash,” is a 10-track rock record that takes a human, quietly hopeful approach to heartbreak. Illuminated by openness, humor, and a surprising sense of joy, the album is a 32-minute, 45-second journey through grief, reflection, and emotional recovery.
With the first track, “I Thought I Won The War,” Block sets a tone of emotional ambiguity where wins are dubious, and wars within are still raging. “California Calls” wants to be far away, wants to go away, but memory tugs the other way. “Over And Over” is about cycles of emotion that keep repeating, even when you want to move on. “Firefly” offers a softer light, pointing to fragile hope in emotional weight.
“All In My Head” explores the inner turmoil of the mind, which is louder than the world outside. “Song To Jamie” feels like a letter written from regret and memory. “The Heartbreak Song” is a total embrace of emotional collapse, but it’s structured and honest. “Carly Says” is about the voices outside that inform the decisions inside. “No One Ever Taught Me How” emphasizes the lack of emotional experience and difficulty in dealing with emotions. “Still Life” ends on a quiet note of pause, as if everything has been dealt with but not forgotten.
The album was written from a dark place, and each song was a step to emotional healing. Produced by Chris Kuffner, with final mixing and mastering by ECR President Blake Morgan, “Love Crash” is a patchwork of imperfect moments, sewn together with honesty, of an artist processing pain while still reaching for the light.
Photo Credit: Dave Doobinin
Artist Spotlight
seeTrees embrace renewal and reflection on “Easy Times”
seeTrees are back with “Easy Times,” a meditative Americana-rock tune that’s like sunlight breaking through after a long storm. It’s based on the emotional reality of sticking with something and making amends, and it exploits the idea that relationships can survive a storm if you choose to recall what you initially fell in love with.
The song pulls from classic and modern Americana touchstones, reminiscent of the warm storytelling of artists like Wilco and Tom Petty, while carrying the atmospheric pull of artists like The War on Drugs and Ryan Adams. seeTrees’ vocals combine a lifelike, relatable texture with conviction. Their performances conveys clear emotions through an open, accepting view, which allows the newfound resilience in their lyrics to land naturally.
“Easy Times” captures a rare moment after a struggle has ended, when relief slowly replaces tension and possibility feels real again. seeTrees offers a song that is both personal and universal, one that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to rebuild something meaningful. “Easy Times” sees seesTrees as storytellers with a heart for emotion, a band whose sound is looking both backward and forward.
Photo Credit: Anthony Bradley
Connect with seesTrees on Website | Spotify | Instagram | TikTok
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