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TikTok Gives Songwriters Their Spotlight With New Songwriter Features Beta

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 13, 2025

TikTok Gives Songwriters Their Spotlight With New Songwriter Features Beta

Today TikTok is pleased to announce the beta launch of TikTok Songwriter Features, a new set of features and tools which have been designed to highlight and give due credit on TikTok to the amazing work of songwriters and the music they have created.

The new features mean that songwriters’ musical works and their shared content will sit side-by-side in one place on TikTok for the first time, giving songwriters the opportunity to highlight the works they have written or co-written, to share stories about their work, their music and their lives, and to help fans of their music to explore, use, share and save further works from their catalogue.

TikTok Songwriter Features include:

Songwriter Account Label: Songwriters can register for a Songwriter Account, which will identify them as a Songwriter under their profile.
Songwriter Music Tab: The Songwriter Music Tab will spotlight a selection of the tracks that they have written/co-written

Songwriters including Lauren Christy, Toby Gad and Justin Tranter are among the first to use TikTok Songwriter Features.

The new TikTok Songwriter Features are in addition to an array of tools that songwriters can already use to raise their profile, build an audience and promote their music on TikTok and on other platforms, including:

#BehindTheSong: A campaign to shine a light on the unique stories behind the music created by songwriters, producers, and artists
‘New’ tag on latest releases: A label to highlight new music releases to the TikTok community
Add to Music App: A feature which helps users to save a song that they discover on TikTok to their favorite music streaming service

TikTok Songwriter Features were developed in response to the feedback given by songwriters as part of a comprehensive songwriter survey by TikTok, featuring 871 songwriter respondents, and 18 in-depth interviews. The survey findings have informed the design of the TikTok Songwriter Features, with the goal of improving discovery, monetisation opportunities and raising the profile of songwriters on TikTok.

MIDiA Research’s newly-released second annual songwriter report complemented our findings in revealing that:

More than 80% of songwriters in Midia’s survey post on social media for their songwriting careers, and nearly one-quarter say that building a social media brand is among their top goals for this year
53% of full-time songwriters who post content about their careers on social media do so on TikTok

Jordan Lowy, Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnerships at TikTok, said: “We are passionately committed to supporting songwriters at TikTok, which is why we built these tools to celebrate and elevate songwriters and their work on our platform. TikTok is unique in its ability to offer songwriters a way to highlight their musical works alongside their own content, helping them to tell stories about their music, their craft, and their lives, and to raise their profile and build their audience on TikTok, as hundreds of thousands of artist creators already do.”

Lauren Christy, Songwriter (Rihanna, Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, Shakira, Avril Lavigne), said: “Just as young Songwriters were losing hope on finding a pathway to success in music TikTok comes along to help save the day! I’m so thrilled to collaborate with TikTok on the beta roll out of their Songwriter features, helping songwriters share their music and stories. And I’m so proud to have been TikTok’s #BehindTheSong’s featured songwriter for the month of June 2025. Remember 48% of all streaming revenue is created by independent artists, and that would have been impossible without the help of TikTok. I am cheering along as this amazing tech company TikTok celebrates songwriters!” said

Toby Gad, Songwriter (John Legend, Beyonce, Fergie, Madonna, Leona Lewis), said: “It’s so exciting that this feature allows songwriters to step out from behind the curtain and claim ownership over melodies and lyrics they hold so dear.”

KOLE, songwriter (Kelly Clarkson, Meghan Trainor, Ingrid Michaelson, Jason Mraz, Mimi Webb) said: “TikTok’s new songwriter features are an important step forward in recognizing and appreciating the creators behind the music that shapes our world. Since joining the platform, I’ve been able to connect with fans of my work who might never have found me otherwise. They didn’t need to search — I appeared on their For You Page, letting them know I had a hand in making a song they already loved. TikTok has become the ultimate connector for creatives, and I’m thrilled that these new features will make it even easier for songwriters like myself to build meaningful, direct relationships with listeners. In turn, this can empower songwriters to confidently advocate for their contributions, their creative value, and their essential role at the foundation of the music industry.”

Savan Kotecha, Songwriter (Usher, Britney Spears, One Direction, Ariana Grande, Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Justin Beiber, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Tate MCrae) said: “In this ever-changing music business, I’m always grateful for those who make a real effort to shine a light on songwriters—who can sometimes get lost in the conversation. I’m especially thankful to Tara Brady and the team at TikTok for constantly finding ways to highlight and support us. This new feature does exactly that—it gives songwriters the platform and recognition they deserve.”

Derek Cournoyer, SVP, Global Digital Business, Kobalt Music, said: “We’re proud to partner with TikTok on this meaningful evolution in how music is experienced and credited. Fans are increasingly fascinated not only with the artists they follow, but also with how songs are written, who’s behind them, and the creative journey that brings them to life. These new songwriter features tap into that curiosity by giving songwriters a dynamic way to showcase their work, and TikTok is leading the way in elevating how their contributions are recognized on digital platforms.”

Rell Lafargue, Reservoir President and COO, said: “At Reservoir, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, looking to new platforms and tools to elevate the impact of our catalog and the work of our songwriters. TikTok continues to be a leader in music discovery, and we were pleased to collaborate with them on the beta rollout of their songwriter features. This initiative offers meaningful new ways for songwriters to connect with fans, spotlight their music, and share the stories behind their songs. It’s encouraging to see a tech platform like TikTok recognizing and celebrating songwriters, and we are proud to support these efforts.”

Sentric’s CEO Chris Meehan, said: “We’re proud to put our songwriters forward to take part in important initiatives like TikTok’s new Songwriter Product features. This launch is a meaningful step toward ensuring writers are properly credited, gain more visibility for their work, and are truly spotlighted as the creators behind the music.”

Laura Willoughby, Director of Global Creative Services, Warner Chappell Music, said: “This marks a significant step toward boosting songwriter visibility on TikTok. We’re seeing a growing trend of music fans wanting to discover and follow the creators behind their favorite songs, and we’re proud to champion an initiative that enhances in-app songwriter and music discovery.”

Songwriter Features are launching today as a small-scale, closed beta with a limited number of publisher partners. Songwriters and publishers who want to be next in line to sign up for the Songwriter Features beta test should complete a TikTok Songwriter Features waitlist form (EU / US / ROW).

All Roads Lead To Route 66: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Celebrates 100 Years Of The Mother Road

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 13, 2025

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All Roads Lead To Route 66: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Celebrates 100 Years Of The Mother Road

Dusty trails, gleaming chrome, neon motel signs and the hum of the open highway — all roads lead to Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops, a new exhibition opening Feb. 6, 2026, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum that runs through May 4, 2026. Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the iconic “Mother Road,” the exhibition explores the history and romance of Route 66 and its enduring ties to the American West.

“At its core, the story of the West is one of movement: people, cultures and communities forging new lives across vast landscapes,” said David Davis, Chief Curatorial Officer at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. “Westward expansion was primarily driven by the need to move people and goods, and the paths carved across the frontier shaped settlement, commerce and identity. From Native trade routes to wagon trails, riverboats, railroads, automobiles and 18-wheelers, each left its mark on the American story.”

The exhibition will showcase artifacts, photographs, maps and multimedia experiences that reveal how the routes of the past evolved into a cultural phenomenon.

Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops explores three major themes:

The Ways West — Early Native American trade routes, migrant trails, railroads and early road systems that laid the groundwork for America’s transportation network.
The Mother Road — The origins, history and golden era of Route 66, including its role during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression and its rise as a symbol of American freedom and adventure.
Roadside Attractions — The explosion of roadside tourism and Western iconography along Route 66, from diners and motels to the birth of the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1955.

“There is no better place to celebrate the centennial of Route 66 than right here in Oklahoma, where the highway stretches across more miles than any other state,” said Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. “From Tulsa to Oklahoma City to small towns along the way, Route 66 has always been part of our identity and economy. The Cowboy’s new exhibition will be a centerpiece of the 2026 centennial celebrations taking place throughout Oklahoma. As we welcome visitors from across the world in 2026, Oklahoma will once again be at the heart of America’s greatest road trip.”

Legacy of the Mother Road

Named in 1926, Route 66 stitched together existing roads into a lifeline from Chicago to Los Angeles. It carried families fleeing drought and depression, tourists drawn to neon and novelty, and dreamers chasing the horizon. John Steinbeck gave it an enduring name — the “Mother Road” — in The Grapes of Wrath.

“For nearly 60 years, Route 66 tied East to West until its decommissioning in 1985, but by then it had become much more than pavement,” said Davis. “It came to signify freedom, adventure and the American spirit — especially the untamed spirit of the West. Fittingly, the Cowboy Hall of Fame, as the Museum was originally known, was planted directly on the Mother Road in 1955.

Though no longer an official highway, Route 66’s spirit still runs strong. The 2026 centennial will celebrate how a road that became a legend, inspired generations and continues to carry the romance of the West worldwide.

“The Route 66 centennial is as much about the future as it is the past,” said Kerry Barrick, Route 66 Coordinator with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “Communities are using this moment to invest in tourism, revitalize main streets and share Oklahoma’s story with a new generation of travelers. The Cowboy’s exhibition will showcase the cultural heartbeat behind those efforts, connecting the highway’s history to the opportunities it continues to create for our state.”

The Museum’s Connection to Route 66

Route 66 isn’t just part of the Museum’s story — it’s the reason the Museum is located in Oklahoma City. More than 70 years ago, when cities across the country competed to host a new institution honoring the legends and landscapes of the American West, Oklahoma City’s bid succeeded through equal parts determination and geography.

The site chosen was Persimmon Hill in northeast Oklahoma City, perched directly on Route 66. High traffic counts made it a natural destination, and the city strengthened its case by donating the property. From the start, the Cowboy Hall of Fame was placed on Route 66 not only as a convenient stop for travelers, but as a lasting symbol of the freedom and adventure the Mother Road represented.

For more information, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Pop Artist Chloe Florence Turns The Dancefloor Into Her Diary On ‘Endlessly Borrowed’

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 13, 2025

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Pop Artist Chloe Florence Turns The Dancefloor Into Her Diary On ‘Endlessly Borrowed’

Chloe Florence is opening a new chapter with her latest EP, “Endlessly Borrowed,” a deeply personal project that blends her love for dance music with intimate, diary-like songwriting and her visual artistry. Each track offers a glimpse into her world, moving seamlessly between reflection, joy, and celebration.

The EP includes standout tracks such as “Endlessly,” which sets the tone with a sense of freedom and movement, and “Euphoria,” a track made for letting go and feeling alive. “Do It” encourages listeners to embrace the moment, while “Log Off” is a gentle reminder to disconnect from screens and enjoy the world around them. The focus track, “Rhythm of Love,” pairs heartfelt lyrics with irresistible beats, and “Heaven on the Dancefloor” brings a euphoric energy that makes it impossible to stay still. Closing the EP, “Borrowed” reflects on memory and experience with quiet, emotional depth.

Chloe describes the process behind the EP as natural and unpressured. “Every track came together differently,” she says, “sometimes in one session, sometimes over weeks. I wanted to create songs that feel honest and real, that let people feel, move, and just be themselves.”

Following hits such as “Golden Hour,” “In Due Time,” and her viral Amy Winehouse cover of “Back to Black,” Chloe continues to prove herself as a versatile artist. Her music doesn’t just entertain, it tells a story, invites listeners to connect, and creates moments to be felt both on the dancefloor and beyond.

“Endlessly Borrowed” is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Why Modern Leaders Rely on Project Management Software to Drive Impact

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 13, 2025

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By Mitch Rice

Leadership has always been about getting things done, but in today’s environment of hyperconnectivity and hybrid-first thinking, getting results takes more than just instinct. It depends on systems that make things clear, connect people, and speed things up.

Modern executives don’t have a problem coming up with new ideas; they have too many to choose from. Teams work across time zones, decisions need input from more than one person, and projects change quickly than traditional tools can keep up with. Leaders can’t spend hours on details; they need information that leads to action.

That’s why smart companies are using the best project management tools, which are platforms that not only let people work together, but also keep people and strategy in sync in real time.

Lark has become a strong ally for leadership among them. It connects communication, planning, and execution, which helps leaders go from micromanaging to making a real difference. Let’s look at how its most important aspects help modern leaders make better decisions.

Lark Wiki: Turning collective knowledge into leadership intelligence

The best leaders don’t merely choose what to do; they choose what to do based on facts. Lark Wiki makes sure that knowledge flows smoothly throughout a business, turning information into a shared, living asset.

In firms that move quickly, important information is generally stored in emails, chats, or personal folders. When a team starts a new project, they waste time looking for old regulations or lessons learned. Wiki fixes this by making a central, searchable repository of all the company’s information, from onboarding instructions and process documentation to leadership playbooks and product strategies.

Picture a high-level manager getting ready to enter a new market. She doesn’t ask managers to gather information. Instead, she opens Wiki and finds market entry data, compliance regulations, and best practices that have been updated by the teams that used them. This kind of rapid access gives executives the information they need to make choices quickly and confidently.

Wiki makes sure that leadership isn’t based on recollection, but on the intellect of the organization.

Lark Sheets: From reports to real-time performance dashboards

Great leaders don’t make assumptions; they use data. Lark Sheets lets executives see the figures that matter in real time and connects directly with other areas of Lark so that data refreshes automatically.

For example, a CFO doesn’t have to wait for spreadsheets to be emailed. The finance team, instead, tracks spending, forecasts, and targets directly in Sheets, syncing data from Base or Tasks. Every relevant metric stays up to date as departments update their records, ensuring that financial insights remain accurate and timely.

This live connection lets leaders quickly see patterns, such as projects that are going over budget, projects that aren’t working, or new opportunities that are growing. Teams can work together on the same sheet, leaving comments and notes, so insights turn into decisions in minutes instead of weeks.

Sheets replaces static reports with a living, changing source of truth. This makes leaders more flexible and based on real-time performance.

Lark Meetings: Where decisions turn into momentum

Leadership comes up in meetings, but too frequently they turn into time sinks. Lark Meetings turns them into things that help things get done.

Leaders can add agendas, pertinent documents, or Base dashboards to the invite before the meeting even starts. This makes sure that everyone is ready and that the conversations stay on track. At the meeting, everyone works together to write notes, give out tasks, and keep track of decisions.

The strength comes from what happens next: as soon as the meeting is over, all tasks, notes, and files are immediately synced across Lark’s ecosystem. A strategic conversation quickly turns into progress on the ground.

Imagine a CEO in charge of a quarterly evaluation for the whole world. In one meeting, she talks about updates from the region, adds things that need to be done, and gives people things to do. Those follow-ups are visible across departments in only a few minutes, with no extra work needed to coordinate.

In Lark, meetings aren’t only about getting everyone on the same page; they’re also about speeding things up.

Lark Mail: Connecting leadership communication to automated workflow

Communication has always been a strength for leaders, but with old tools, email can sometimes be a black hole for productivity. Lark Mail fixes this by linking communication with the systems where work really gets done.

Leaders may quickly turn an email update or proposal into a task, link it to a project, or forward it to the proper team without ever leaving their inbox. Conversations don’t just sit there anymore; they go straight to action.

For example, a sales VP might get a chance at a customer contract. Instead of sending it to legal by hand, she connects it to the project workspace and tags the legal head. As part of an automated workflow, the review process starts automatically. The team gets alerts, modifies the record, and the result is added to the contract database.

Mail is a link between outside input and inside action, allowing executives to keep things moving directly from their inbox.

Lark Base: Visibility that empowers leadership agility

Executives need more than static reports to lead effectively—they need real-time visibility into what’s happening across their organization. Lark Base provides exactly that, enabling leaders to create dynamic, data-driven dashboards that automatically update with information from every project and department.

A COO overseeing multiple initiatives can instantly assess progress percentages, dependencies, and potential risks without requesting separate reports or scheduling meetings. With Base, critical data is always connected, current, and accessible through an automated workflow that keeps every insight flowing to the right place at the right time.

This real-time intelligence empowers leaders to act before issues escalate. When a product launch milestone is delayed, Base automatically highlights the dependency chain and shows which teams are affected. One informed decision can cascade across the system immediately—saving hours of coordination.

Lark Base moves executives from reactive management to proactive direction—a defining capability of modern organizations focused on growth, precision, and meaningful impact.

Lark OKR: Aligning leadership goals with organizational outcomes

Aligning what teams do today with where the firm is going tomorrow is what makes a real leader. Lark OKR enables leaders set, talk about, and keep track of that alignment in real time.

Executives can set goals for the organization and connect them directly to critical results at the department or team level. As teams change their work in Tasks or Base, OKRs immediately update to demonstrate how close they are to reaching their strategic goals.

Think about a CEO who makes innovation a top priority for the whole firm. She made an OKR this year to launch three new items. Each product team connects its own goals to this one, making it clear from the top down. The CEO can see how much progress each team has made toward the corporate goal without having to use spreadsheets or keep track of things by hand.

This makes it possible for leaders and teams to work together. Everyone knows what success looks like, how to quantify it, and how their work fits into the overall picture.

Conclusion

Leadership in the modern world is about using power, not controlling it. It’s about giving teams the tools they need to move quickly, think clearly, and stay on the same page. Lark gives you that edge with smart connectivity, real-time data, and smooth automation.

It replaces manual oversight with clarity, speed, and trust from communication to execution. Leaders don’t have to spend time managing procedures anymore. Instead, they build vision, monitor effects, and confidently lead with facts and direction.

Lark is the next generation of project management software for decision-makers today. It changes leadership from reactive to strategic and teams from managed to empowered.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

11 Songs That Became Anthems

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 13, 2025

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Pop quiz: what happens when a song becomes bigger than itself? It turns into an anthem. These tracks fueled movements, broke hearts, lifted fists, and made the world sing along in perfect rhythm.

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Motown magic at its finest. This duet turned love into a team sport, teaching generations that distance means nothing when the harmony’s strong.

Born This Way – Lady Gaga
Pop meets purpose. Gaga handed the world a mirror ball of self-love and told everyone to shine exactly as they are.

Freedom – George Michael
A groove that let everyone exhale. George flipped the script on fame and gave us a sing-along about claiming our own story.

Glory – Common & John Legend
A powerful sermon in melody. From movie screens to marches, this song became a soundtrack for change and courage.

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Disco’s greatest comeback line. Gloria made heartbreak sound like empowerment training with a beat you can strut to.

Imagine – John Lennon
A dream sung into existence. Lennon’s piano turned hope into homework for every generation that followed.

Respect – Aretha Franklin
Two minutes and 29 seconds that redefined power. Aretha didn’t ask for it—she spelled it out and made the world listen.

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
A guitar riff that rewrote teenage history. Cobain gave youth rebellion a permanent anthem and blew up the rulebook in the process.

We Are the Champions – Queen
Rock opera meets locker room victory chant. Freddie turned triumph into an Olympic-sized singalong heard in every arena on Earth.

What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
A soulful question that still echoes today. Gaye turned empathy into rhythm, proving that awareness can groove too.

5 Surprising Facts About Lou Reed’s ‘New York’

Eric Alper

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Oct 12, 2025

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5 Surprising Facts About Lou Reed’s ‘New York’

When Lou Reed released New York in 1989, it was a comeback, sure, and what a statement it was. Gritty, poetic, and unapologetically political, the album captured the pulse of a city and the conscience of an era. Here are five facts that reveal the deeper story behind one of rock’s most fearless records.

1. Reed Wanted the Music Simple — So the Words Could Hit Hard
Lou Reed designed New York with stripped-down arrangements to ensure his lyrics took center stage. He described the album as “a book or a movie,” meant to be experienced in one sitting — a 57-minute narrative filled with anger, empathy, and razor-sharp observation.

2. “Dirty Blvd.” Topped Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart
The album’s single “Dirty Blvd.” hit #1 on Billboard’s then-new Modern Rock Tracks chart, staying there for four weeks. The song’s three-chord structure and biting social commentary made it a defining anthem of late-80s New York realism.

3. The Album Sparked a Velvet Underground Revival
By the late ’80s, Reed’s solo career had cooled, but the success of New York reignited his legacy and led to a Velvet Underground reunion tour. Drummer Moe Tucker even played percussion on two of the album’s tracks, tying Reed’s past and present together.

4. Reed Took Aim at Nearly Everyone
New York is packed with lyrical name-drops — from Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani to the Virgin Mary and Mike Tyson. Reed channeled his outrage at politics, religion, and celebrity culture into songs that cut through hypocrisy with brutal honesty.

5. The Cover Was a Layered Self-Portrait of the City
Photographed by Waring Abbott and designed by Spencer Drate, Judith Salavetz, and Sylvia Reed, the cover shows five overlapping images of Reed standing in the same street scene — a visual metaphor for New York’s chaos, multiplicity, and motion.

Three decades later, New York still sounds like a dispatch from the front lines — an unflinching portrait of a city, a country, and a mind refusing to look away.

5 Surprising Facts About Midnight Oil’s ‘Diesel and Dust’

Eric Alper

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Oct 12, 2025

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5 Surprising Facts About Midnight Oil’s ‘Diesel and Dust’

When Midnight Oil released ‘Diesel and Dust’ in 1987, it became a global phenomenon built on passion, politics, and purpose. Beyond its iconic singles and legendary message, here are five facts that reveal the album’s deeper story.

1. The Album Was Inspired by a Transformative Outback Tour
In 1986, Midnight Oil joined Indigenous bands Warumpi Band and Gondwanaland on the Blackfella/Whitefella Tour, performing in remote Aboriginal communities across the Australian outback. The experience changed them profoundly, sparking the themes of land rights, reconciliation, and environmental awareness that shaped ‘Diesel and Dust’.

2. One Song Was Removed from the U.S. Release
The track “Gunbarrel Highway” didn’t appear on the U.S. version of the album. The lyric “shit falls like rain on a world that is brown” was reportedly considered too offensive for American audiences, leading Columbia Records to omit it.

3. The Album’s Artwork Won an ARIA Award
Photographer Ken Duncan and visual artist Wart (Jen Waterhouse) designed the now-iconic album cover, which captures the rugged, sunburnt beauty of rural Australia. Their work earned ‘Diesel and Dust’ the 1988 ARIA Award for Best Cover Art.

4. ‘The Dead Heart’ Was Written for Uluru’s Historic Handback
“The Dead Heart” was originally created for the 1985 ceremony that returned Uluru to its traditional Aboriginal caretakers. Midnight Oil donated all royalties from the song to Indigenous communities, further grounding the band’s activism in tangible action.

5. It Became One of the Most Celebrated Australian Albums Ever
Rolling Stone named it the best album of 1988 and later ranked it among the greatest of the decade. In 2010, ‘Diesel and Dust’ topped 100 Best Australian Albums, and in 2021, Rolling Stone Australia placed it at No. 5 on their list of the 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time.

‘Diesel and Dust’ remains a landmark of conscience and creativity — a record that connected rock music to the heart of Australia’s story and the world beyond.

10 Essential Albums For Country Traditionalists From Modern Artists

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 12, 2025

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10 Essential Albums For Country Traditionalists From Modern Artists

If you love the sound of steel guitars, storytelling, and songs that feel like home, this list is for you. These 10 modern country records carry the flame of tradition while keeping it alive for new generations.

1. Zach Bryan – ‘American Heartbreak’
Raw, poetic, and straight from the gut, this album introduced Zach Bryan as one of country’s most honest voices. It’s campfire soul mixed with heartland grit.

2. Tyler Childers – ‘Purgatory’
Produced by Sturgill Simpson, this modern classic feels timeless. The fiddle, the twang, and the storytelling make it pure Appalachian gold.

3. Cody Johnson – ‘Human: The Double Album’
A love letter to cowboy tradition and country radio all at once. Every song rides high with sincerity and old-school craftsmanship.

4. Carly Pearce – ’29: Written In Stone’
Carly leans into classic country textures with elegant grace. Her voice shines over pedal steel and fiddle like it was meant for the Opry stage.

5. Chris Stapleton – ‘Traveller’
A soulful journey across whiskey-soaked highways and open skies. Stapleton’s powerhouse vocals bridge roots, country, and blues with ease.

6. Colter Wall – ‘Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs’
A baritone that rumbles like thunder, Colter Wall revives cowboy music with cinematic spirit. Every track feels like a ride through open plains.

7. Kacey Musgraves – ‘Same Trailer Different Park’
Bright, witty, and true to tradition, Kacey’s debut blends clever storytelling with the charm of vintage country-pop.

8. Jon Pardi – ‘Mr. Saturday Night’
Boot-stomping honky-tonk made for neon dance floors. Jon Pardi keeps the Bakersfield sound rolling with pure joy and swagger.

9. Charley Crockett – ‘The Man From Waco’
A modern outlaw with timeless flair, Charley mixes Tex-Mex soul, country twang, and storytelling that feels straight from the 1970s.

10. Hailey Whitters – ‘Raised’
Rooted in Midwest values and front-porch wisdom, this album sparkles with nostalgia, fiddle flourishes, and small-town heart.

Country traditionalists never went anywhere — they just found new voices to carry the sound forward. From the Appalachians to Austin, these albums prove that country’s heart still beats strong.

Jolie Anastasia’s ‘Guiding Light’ Shines With Folk Wisdom and Emotional Depth

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 12, 2025

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Jolie Anastasia’s ‘Guiding Light’ Shines With Folk Wisdom and Emotional Depth

There’s a certain presence that comes with hearing Jolie Anastasia sing—a wisdom far beyond her years, wrapped in a voice equal parts tender and unshakable. With her debut full-length album ‘Guiding Light’ arriving November 7, 2025, and the title cut out now, the Collingwood-based singer-songwriter is quickly establishing herself as one of folk and roots music’s most promising new voices.

Jolie’s music doesn’t rush. It lingers, reflecting on heartbreak, healing, and the fleeting beauty of everyday life. In her songs, listeners encounter a rare gift: the ability to transform personal trials into universal truths that speak across generations.

Born and raised in Collingwood, Ontario, Jolie Anastasia (née Jolie Smith) has been steeped in song since childhood. “I am a deeply emotional and sensitive person. I find solace in the strum of a guitar and the hum of a tune,” she reflects. That instinct to create has led her from living room strums to festival stages, crafting a style that balances raw honesty with refined artistry.

Her forthcoming album ‘Guiding Light’ is a family affair, shaped by the guidance of her producer and father Craig Smith. “Ever since I was young he always encouraged me to play music, so naturally, as soon as he noticed I was writing anything worth recording we jumped straight into the studio,” Jolie says. What began as solo expression soon blossomed into a full-band endeavor, expanding her sonic palette without losing the intimacy of her earliest songs.

Jolie has already become a fixture in Ontario’s folk community, performing at local festivals and intimate listening rooms with her band: Braden Mahon (guitar), Rae Melvin (drums/harmonica), and Kyle Dreany (bass). With her single ‘Lucky To Find’ set for release on October 8, 2025, Jolie is poised to step onto a larger stage, carrying the traditions of folk forward with a modern voice.

To hear Jolie is to hear echoes of artists who have redefined the boundaries of folk and Americana. Her storytelling has the resilience of Brandi Carlile, her atmospheric guitar work hints at the quiet storm of Phoebe Bridgers, and her melodic sense carries shades of Madison Cunningham’s adventurous pop-folk fusion.

And yet, Jolie’s sound is unmistakably her own. With layered harmonies, open tunings, and a deep sense of place, she creates songs that feel timeless, as though they could live comfortably beside Joni Mitchell or Nick Drake, while still carrying the urgency of a new generation’s voice.

Her lyrical gift is evident from the opening lines of ‘Lucky To Find’: “Looking at your face, and seeing through your smile / As you try to hide a trace of riveting disguise.” It’s an image at once intimate and revealing, capturing the duality of tenderness and hurt that defines much of her work.

On the title track ‘Guiding Light,’ Jolie frames her artistic mission with a striking honesty: “I spent all my money-making time / Playin’ for a dollar, all I ever make is a dime / But playin’ is all I’ve got on my mind / Playin’ is the only thing that leads me to the guiding light.” These words are a credo, a testament to pursuing art as both survival and salvation.

To celebrate the release of ‘Guiding Light,’ Jolie Anastasia will bring her songs to the stage this fall with a pair of special performances:

November 6, 2025 — Small Halls Festival — Collingwood, ON

November 8, 2025 — Marsh Street Centre — Clarksburg, ON (Album Release Show). Tickets here.

With ‘Guiding Light,’ Jolie Anastasia joins a lineage of artists who remind us that folk music is as much about listening as it is about singing. Her songs ask us to slow down, to lean into the quiet, and to find the courage to face the light—even when the road is shadowed. As she prepares to step onto festival stages and into wider recognition, Jolie carries with her a body of work that feels like the beginning of a long, luminous journey.

Toronto Shoegaze Outfit AloneKitty Rebuilds and Roars on “Stay The Same” From Upcoming ‘Sad Not Sad’ Album

Music

Eric Alper

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Oct 12, 2025

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Toronto Shoegaze Outfit AloneKitty Rebuilds and Roars on “Stay The Same” From Upcoming ‘Sad Not Sad’ Album

Engines make the loudest noise right as you flip the ignition. Animals roar their mightiest when their peace is broken. Sometimes starting over, leaving comfort, stumbling forward is the biggest noise we can make. Toronto’s AloneKitty writes like someone who rebuilt life brick by brick. Because that’s exactly what happened. After a period of intense personal upheaval – losing a job, a long-term relationship, and nearly everything that felt like home – AloneKitty was, yeah, alone. Untethered, with one lone familiar thing to hold onto. That thread became a lifeline. Then it became a record. Writing songs became a way to navigate from a before into an after. It wasn’t neat, it wasn’t clean, it never is. But it was honest. Like it or not.“I kind of think I lost my mind by playing these in front of other people as I feel re-traumatized or upset by what’s at the core of some of these.” Despite the name, AloneKitty is no longer going it alone. Stefan’s on drums, Mike’s on bass. “I never worry about them…which is great because I do everything else.”

Brick by brick. Layer over layer. Track on top of track. It’s a melodic wall of sound that doesn’t hide emotion, but forces it out of hiding. Instinct, tension, and release. The guitars (sometimes five or six deep) shift and surge like weather. Hooks break through like the sun, then vanish again. Think MBV, Ride, or Hüsker Dü. Where pop collides with the primal. Tracks were laid down live at Canterbury Music Company on a legendary 1976 NEVE console, the sonic Grail. No grid, no polish, just feel. “Twelve songs in two days,” as Alonekitty remembers it. “Live. Two or maybe three takes of the beds for some of the songs at most.”

Produced with Josh Korody (Beliefs), mixed by Luke Schindler (Alexisonfire, Broken Social Scene) and mastered by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, the Sad Not Sad (out October 24, 2025) is both massive and painfully intimate. “Every time I opened a new song, it became my favorite,” Schindler says. “It’s something I’d have in my rotation.” Scott adds: “[Alonekitty’s] music is great and I’m playing the songs over and over.” That’s not just high praise. It’s a seismic nod from a god, a true creator of genres. From the jangle of “She Lets You Down Again” to the 10-ton blanket of “2Tired2,” the hooks are everywhere. You just have to wade in. Let it all slowly close over you. And call it shoegaze. Call it dream-pop. Call it post-rock. But AloneKitty calls it what it is: music shaped by upheaval, fluidity, and reinvention.