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Artist Spotlight

Single Review: Larry Jay – What Do I Have

A fantastic slice of country rock from the heartland, Larry Jay sings with soul on “What Do I Have”. Guitar playing is of the essence for he makes sure that the song unfurls along at its own pace. His voice remains steady throughout the duration. By far though the true highlight comes from the way he manages to bring all these many elements together, building them up until they become cinematic in scope. Everything about it displays an uncanny sense of timing, patience and atmosphere. Upon the song coming into bloom the amount of color that bursts forth in particular has a fantastic stately grace behind it. Volume is not a must it is a given for the way that the song increases in intensity gives it a whirlwind aspect to it one that feels undoubtedly lovely.

Things start off quiet, a hushed awe running though. Not much time is wasted before those sweet, reassuring elements are brought into the fray. Layer upon layer gets added with such serenity. Balance matters for there is a playfulness to the way he lets the song grow. Akin to a sheer force of nature, a gentle breeze becoming a great gust, there is something captivating about it. Lyrics feature a true understanding of the world. Sung with his personal experience there is a real, earnestness to all of it.

“What Do I Have” shows off the splendid storytelling of Larry Jay in speaking from an entire life lived to the absolute fullest.

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–B.S.

Artist Spotlight

Kayla Marque lights a fire with “Slow Burn”

Kayla Marque

Kayla Marque has returned with a new single, “Slow Burn,” a simmering, soul-passionate affair that holds you well past when the last notes die out. True to her endlessly evolving artistry, Marque serves up something future-facing and thoughtful, stitching together a grunge-adjacent bassline with ethereal melodies and haunting vocal dynamics.

Right from the outset, “Slow Burn” sucks you into its smoky milieu. The measured bassline sounds plucked from the ‘90s alt-rock golden age and dunked in modern, velvety skin. But Marque’s voice brings center stage, fluent, forceful, and emotionally detailed. She doesn’t only sing; she tells stories, whispers, and wails, and her approach lends the music an astonishing contrast between restraint and release.

As the song progresses, there’s something undeniably mesmerizing about how the instrumentation interacts with the vocals. The melodies shimmer like heat off the pavement, entrapping listeners in a hypnotic haze that feels at once intimate and cinematic. Marque displays not only her vocal range but also her emotional depth. Every note feels deliberate, and every word feels lived-in.

What’s so exciting about “Slow Burn” is how it feels like another chapter in a broader story. Kayla Marque has consistently refused to settle into a single groove, and this track demonstrates that she’s continuing to push limits and defy expectations. There’s a rawness here, an audacity that doesn’t plead for attention but commands it regardless. It’s a song that reveals more textures and emotions after every listen. “Slow Burn” is a vibe, a feeling, a statement. It’s another step in Kayla Marque’s evolution as an artist, and if this is what’s to come, we’re in for something special.

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Artist Spotlight

Michael Gungor shares a beam of light in a noisy world for “Same Sky”

Michael Gungor

Michael Gungor is back with a bright new offering in “Same Sky,” a song that brims with hope, heart, and harmony. Famed for pushing musical boundaries and weaving soul-stirring messages into his work, Gungor once again taps into something universal, but this time, it feels even more personal.

“Same Sky” is quietly earning it. From the opening couple of seconds, Gungor’s earnest vocals draw you into a dramatic pop arrangement that swells with elegance instead of aggression. It’s uplifting without being preachy, powerful without overwhelming, and an emotional sweet spot that only an artist as seasoned as Gungor could easily manage. What really lodges, though, is the chorus. It is an anthemic quality, the kind you pause mid-scroll or mid-thought to take a breath during. It’s as if to remind you that we still live under the same sky, however divided the world feels. That simple but profound message feels like a quiet awakening in an era of turmoil.

The production is clean and warm, imbued with a modern pop sensibility that never overwhelms the emotion at the center of the song. Every element, the soft percussion, the delicate synth layers, the melodies that tilt toward the sky like a beam of sunlight breaking after a storm, feels carefully placed as an accompaniment to Gungor’s voice, which wavers between tender and assertive.

It’s a timely song. “Same Sky” takes note of our common humanity without getting preachy in a world that can feel like splintering apart at the seams. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering his music, “Same Sky” is a lovely entry into Gungor’s world, one marked by purpose, artistry, and the kind of emotional honesty we could all stand to listen to more.

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