Music
Single Review: Heistheartist – “God Is On My Mind”
So divine and silky fine, Heistheartist slows things down on the graciousness of “God Is On My Mind”. Elegant chords radiate off into the distance. Pace gets brought back to a glimmering, gorgeous realm. The arrangement keeps things pared back to the essentials. Grooves are constructed in a way reminiscent of James Blake’s futuristic R&B. Here though things have that right level of smoothness to it, with the bass rolling through in this serene way. Melodies glow over the rest of the laid-back rhythm. Best of all are his vocals that feel ideally suited for the tender atmosphere that adorns the whole thing. Kept to the simplest of elements, this is greater that the sum of its parts, allowing for a magical property to frame the sound.
Right from the beginning he wastes no time at all in setting the mood. From there the few additional elements come on into the mix. Production quality matters and honestly the amount of attention paid to the low end is admirable. Everything about it seems stuck in a deliriously happy trance. Over the course of the journey the hushed awe that stems from each element reverberates out into the distance. By the time it all comes to a great conclusion the vividness comes into focus as it all neatly fades out in a truly classic fashion.
“God Is On My Mind” shows off the vivid imagery of Heistheartist in crafting this serene, sparkling universe.
Artist Spotlight
KENTON journeys through family, identity and healing in “Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” (EP)
“Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” is an extremely reflective acoustic EP that guides you through its six tracks as it explores memory, identity, and emotional reconciliation. Created at a moment of deep discovery, the project reveals KENTON’s process of forgiving others, of realizing who he is within himself, and of internally processing what he experienced as a queer Asian American child growing up in the United States.
The EP opens with “I’m Breaking My Father’s Heart – Acoustic,” a gentle track about the disconnection between what parents desire and what you believe is true. “Never Born – Acoustic” is inward-looking, exploring the existential uncertainty of financial suffering at home and prayers that hang in the air, unanswered.
“Let Light In – Live” is a release that captures emotional awakening, where letting go of past pain is the first step toward recovery. “Without You – Acoustic” is one of the most affecting moments on the EP, which recounts a tough relationship with a sick father. “Wannabe American – Acoustic” laments the falseness of the American Dream and how it commodifies the Asian identity.
On the final song, “The Times – Acoustic,” KENTON directs strength toward a message of survival, hope, and endurance in an emotionally suffocating world. “Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” is also the voice of the collective, and it’s a gift to immigrant and queer youth searching for belonging in spaces that often do not welcome them.
Photo credit: Ricky Chavez
Connect with KENTON on Website | Spotify | Instagram | TikTok
Artist Spotlight
Terrell Journey rewinds emotion and identity in cinematic EP “Retrograde”
The new reflective R&B EP, “Retrograde” by Terrell Journey, transports us back to the emotional origins of his Journey Digital Supercharged universe. It’s a cinematic prequel defined by tension, clarity, and artistic reinvention.
As a prequel to the famed Journey Digital Supercharged collection, it builds on Terrell Journey’s vision of a musical universe with separate but connected story worlds beneath that umbrella in the Journey Digital Saga. This project is a shift in point of view, and “Retrograde” examines the moments before acceleration, the tension and clarity that happens before everything moves forward.
The EP’s opening track, “Me vs Me,” invites introspection and sets the stage for the project. “Tit 4 Tat” sharpens the tension, while “We Listen and Don’t Judge” creates a space cleared by honesty and emotional control. “Run A Boston” feels fast and intentional, harnessing the force of movement before the EP enters what is its most personal closing stretch.
“Steal Your Heart” is a melodic peak that combines emotional tug with elegant R&B textures. “Love” closes the EP on a warm, resonant note that sounds resolved and open-ended. “Retrograde” expands Terrell Journey’s kaleidoscopic world by making introspection a narrative, and it serves as a crucial link between reflection and the forward momentum of Journey Digital Saga.
The EP challenges you to consider themes of internal conflict, emotional honesty, and change. This continues to cement Terrell Journey’s track record for creating in-universe sets of R&B storytelling narratives.
Connect with Terrell Journey on Website | Spotify | Instagram | X | TikTok
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