I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for “American Idol” to end its long, incredible run. It’s time.
It’s time to get back to the basics in creating fruitful music careers, through practice (lots of practice), solid songwriting, packing the band into a van, seeing every city in America and earning your stripes.
It’s time to get back to being discovered by a talent scout in a smoky venue, not being handed producer Greg Kurstin on a silver platter because you belted out a Whitney Houston tune on national television.
It’s time to get back to handing out demos of your new songs to anyone and everyone who will listen to them. If you can’t get that label deal, go at it alone. Yes, it’s a struggle, but you can do it, because you believe in yourself … just like these fine ReverbNation-affiliated artists who want their new or just-released albums or EPs to be listed on little ol’ Pauseandplay.com. We’re here for them.
Don’t stop believin’, indeed …
April 8, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Anydos (Canadian R&B singer) | “Stand Up” (Hear here) | (Anydos) |
| Luke Potter (British singer) | “Storms” (Hear here) | (LPM) |
| Tha Saint (Tallahassee hip-hop artist) | “I’m Still Here” (feat. Roze; Hear here) | (Elect of God Entertanment LLC) |
| Toy Called God (groove-metal quartet from Brentwood, Calif.) | “Dirt On Your Coffin” (Hear here) | (Toy Called God, April 5) |
April 15, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Lourdes Capall (L.A.-based pop singer) | “Over Me” (feat. Low F; Hear here) | (Lourdes Capall, April 18) |
| Kara Clark (Nashville alt-country singer) | “The Key” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Kara Clark Music) |
| Nate Currin (Atlanta-based Americana artist) | “The Madman and the Poet” (Hear here) | (Archaic Cannon) |
| Herrick (Nashville roots-rock band) | “Cottonfields” (producers: Herrick, David Walker; Hear here; See here) | (Breakaway Entertainment) |
| Mr. Candy Kane | “Bedroom Motion” (guests: Rodney Willz, Chelsea Davis, JC, Dfw Big Reese, Boss, Streetz, Kahamni B; Hear here) | (Candy Kane Music Entertainment) |
| Marina Rosemann (German singer) | “Komm Und Bleib” (Hear here) | (TUT i TAM, April 12) |
April 22, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Coming Up For Air (Dayton rock trio) | “Between the Party Lines” (Hear here) | (Coming Up For Air, April 26) |
| The Infinite Three (London art-rock trio) | “Lucky Beast” (recorded with engineer Jon Clayton; Hear here) | (Actual Size Music) |
| Daniel Jordan (Tulsa pop/folk singer-songwriter) | “Introduction” (Hear here) | (Daniel Jordan, April 23) |
April 29, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Black Slate (U.K. roots-rock reggae band) | “Peaceful Demonstration” (Hear here) | (TCD, April 28) |
May 6, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Kiirstin Marilyn (former lead singer of Verity In Stereo) | “Ghosts” (six-song EP; producer: Benny Reiner; first single: “Headlines”; Hear here) | (Spectra Music Group) |
| The Phoenix Rose (Brighton, England, reggae-pop band fronted by composer-singer Jarvis Smith) | “The Phoenix Rose” (producer: Native Wayne Jobson; Hear here) | (GypsyPop) |
May 20, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Dark Chocolate (hip-hop artist from Murfreesboro, Tenn.) | “From Prizms to Penthouses” (Hear here) | (Dark Chocolate, May 24) |
Recent Releases
April 1, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Katie Ainge (Salt Lake City-based singer-songwriter) | “Thrive” (Hear here) | (Tate Music Group, April 5) |
| Alex Boyé (British-born American singer and actor) | “African Gospel Inspirations” (guests: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Jenny Oaks Baker, Dan and Chad Truman, Carmen Rasmusen Herbert, Soulsaints, LDC; MP3; Hear here; See here) | (Boyé Central Music) |
| Dead Day Revolution (L.A. alt-rock band) | “On Our Own” (producer: Larry Goetz; Hear here; See here) | (Dead Day Revolution Music, April 5) |
| Ghosts of Tomorrow (Overland Park, Kan., rock quartet) | “Organic Air” (Hear here) | (Ghosts of Tomorrow, March 30) |
| Julia McDonald (Orlando pop singer-songwriter) | “Something to Talk About,” “Games,” “No Good For Me” (producer: Kevin De Clue; Hear here) | (Julia McDonald) |
| MrXrated (Atlanta dance/hip-hop artist) | “We Made It,” “Hola Hola” (Hear here) | (BlockBuster) |
| Ralphy (L.A. pop singer) | “PeaceLover” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Ralphy, April 5) |
| Willy ARQ (St. Paul, Minn., hip-hop artist) | “Black Sheep” (six-song EP; Hear here) | (SWITCHH Entertainment, March 31) |
March 25, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Aldo (Chicago hip-hop artist) | “I Rep It” (Hear here) | (Aldo, March 26) |
| The Jacob Cade Project | “The Prince of Rock N Roll (Deluxe Edition)” (2015 album, with four bonus tracks; Hear here) | (Chito 3 Productions, LLC) |
| Chaser Eight (New Haven, Conn., rock quintet) | “Lightning” (Hear here) | (Chaser Eight) |
| Cosmonaut Radio (Brooklyn funk quartet) | “Work Harder, Comrade!” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Cosmonaut Radio, March 26) |
| Endlings (alt-rock act from Hønefoss, Norway) | “Somethin’ Old” (six-song EP; Hear here) | (Aldo, March 26) |
| Eddy Faulkner (Arlington, Va., pop singer) | “All For You” (Hear here) | (Eddy Faulkner) |
| FRANKIE Doc (Italian dance artist) | “The Best Dance” (Hear here) | (Essentia, March 22) |
| Jonivan Jones (alt-western folk-blues artist based in Panama City, Fla.) | “Ghostwriter” (Hear here) | (Animalsound Music, March 22) |
| Mitch King (Ventura, Calif., rockabilly artist) | “Live in 55” (Hear here) | (Mitch King, March 28) |
| Midnight Mob (NYC powerhouse rockers) | “Honest Brutal Glorious” (six-song EP; first single: “Ghosts”; Hear here) | (Midnight Mob) |
| Rivers & Rhodes (Goldsboro, Md.-based pop-rock duo) | “Rivers & Rhodes” (Hear here) | (Rivers & Rhodes, March 24) |
| Sarah C (Australian pop singer) | “Fearless” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Lipstick Mafia) |
| Secondborn (Lafayette, La., rock group) | “Take Me Home Tonight” (Hear here) | (Aldo, March 26) |
| Shiest City (Brooklyn hip-hop artist) | “So Loud” (Hear here) | (BoyzRecord, March 26) |
| Silvertip (Montana country singer Austin Truax) | “Where I’m Goin'” (Hear here) | (Silvertip-Austin Truax, March 29) |
| Sway Jah Vu (Tallahassee reggae-rock group) | “In the Company of Wolves” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Sway Jah Vu, March 29) |
| Carly Van Skaik (L.A.-based singer-songwriter) | “Blue Diamond Eyes” (Hear here) | (Carly Van Skaik, March 24) |
March 18, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Micah Brown (Dana Point, Calif.-based rock singer-songwriter) | “You and I” (Hear here) | (17th Street, March 17) |
| Iará Delice (Georgia-based R&B singer) | “Right Now Man” (Hear here) | (Iará Delice Music, March 16) |
| Dirt Road Sunset | “The Music You Hear” (Hear here) | (Dirt Road Sunset, March 16) |
| Joey Farr (Fayetteville, Ark., rocker) | “Caving In,” “Mama Said (Go to Bed)” (Hear here) | (Fuggins Tanky, March 21) |
| Caroline Ferrante (Olney, Md., singer-songwriter) | “Strand(-ed)” (18 songs; Hear here) | (Caroline Ferrante, March 21) |
| FunkySundayParty (Erie, Pa., blues-rocker) | “Hey Charla Rae” (Hear here) | (Iamtvmusic) |
| Rapper Hostile (Charlotte hip-hop artist) | “Till I Get Signed” (guests: Lord Mezo, Aliensa, Genitic; Hear here) | (Zown Out Ent., March 20) |
| Ben Steezy (Arizona hip-hop artist) | “MTW” (Hear here) | (Gone Green) |
March 11, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Alicia G (pop/hip-hop artist from Buffalo, N.Y.) | “The Real Me” (four-song EP; Hear here), “No Photographs” | (Alicia G / LRT) |
| The Apollo Affair (Madison, Wis., alt-rock duo) | “Charade” (Hear here) | (Dartboard, March 8) |
| Ari B | “Break the Ice” (Hear here) | (Ari B, March 15) |
| BhadWaiz (Columbus, Ohio-based hip-hop artist) | “Numb to the Feelin” (Hear here) | (Vivid Music Group, March 15) |
| Built By Titan (Nashville pop act) | “Infinite (Unsung Heroes)” (feat. Joel Smallbone; Hear here) | (Built On Robots, March 10) |
| Gittstreetz (Tampa rapper/producer) | “Leap Year” (Hear here) | (Born to Die, March 16) |
| Ceekay Jones (Taos, N.M., alt-rock singer-songwriter) | “San Angelesisco” (Hear here) | (Redor, March 15) |
| Meccaudio | “Space High,” “Change,” “Rock With You” (Hear here) | (Meccaudio, March 14) |
| Nick McGuiness (Hoboken, N.J., pop-folk artist) | “Young and Beautiful” (Hear here) | (Nick McGuiness, March 10) |
| Noble Wolves (Canadian alt-rock quartet) | “Where the City Meets the Sky” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Noble Wolves) |
| Reverse Order (pop-rock trio from Hackettstown, N.J.) | “Nothing to Hide” (three-song EP; first single: “Erase You”; Hear here) | (Reverse Order, March 15) |
| David Sanya & EhCee | “Liquid Love” (four-song EP; Hear here) | (David Sanya & EhCee, March 9) |
| ShapeShiftingAliens (Stockholm pop duo) | “Just a Boy” (two-song EP; Hear here) | (The Sublunar Society, March 10) |
| Soul Phlegm (blues-funk band from Iowa City) | “Pyramids” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Soul Phlegm, March 13) |
| Suede Savv (Texas hip-hop artist) | “Murk Klassic” (three-song EP), “Beef II” (Hear here) | (Pricipality Entertainment, March 13) |
| XLC (Atlanta electronic artist) | “Keys Are Still Hidden” (four-song EP; Hear here) | (XLC, March 15) |
March 4, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Dion Atlas (San Francisco singer) | “Getaway” (Hear here) | (Dion Atlas) |
| AHLIYON (NYC-based EDM-pop artist) | “SP/.\CESTATION” (Hear here) | (AHLIYONATION™ / REDPL/ . \NET, March 7) |
| Jocelyn & Chris Arndt (sibling rock duo from Cambridge, Mass.) | “Edges” (Hear here) | (Bridge Road Entertainment, March 7) |
| Attacca (Blue Springs, Mo., rock group) | “Samples of Humans” (Hear here) | (Attacca, March 1) |
| Bigmouthben (Atlanta rapper) | “Act Like It” (Hear here) | (Profitable Publishing Company, March 1) |
| Damon & Matthews (rock duo from Brandy Station, Va.) | “We Go Kartin'” (Hear here) | (Isle Royale) |
| Devin Dygert (North Hollywood, Calif., pop singer-songwriter) | “Ambien” (Hear here) | (Devin Dygert) |
| Hero the Band (pop-rock group based in Decatur, Ga.) | “Bleach” (Hear here) | (Nova Love, March 1) |
| C.J. Johnson (Lewisville, Texas, singer-rapper) | “Love Is in the Air,” “Promise” (guest: Nathan Ballard; Hear here) | (C.J. Johnson Music, March 3) |
| Pieter Kruger (Australian singer-songwriter) | “A Secret” (Hear here) | (Pieter Kruger, March 1) |
| linadrena (French musician based in Sydney) | “According to You” (Hear here) | (linadrena, March 7) |
| RC Manor | “Off to Paradise” (six-song EP; Hear here) | (RC Manor, March 1) |
| Dan Marro (indie singer from Williamstown, N.J.) | “S.N.A.F.U!” (producer: Marrow; mastered by Rodney Mills; Hear here) | (Dan Marro, March 1) |
| The Mellow Relics (groove-rock quintet from Winter Park, Fla.) | “On the Fly” (Hear here) | (Relic, March 7) |
| Metorana (NYC indie-rock trio) | “Sick Sad World” (Hear here) | (Fenix, March 1) |
| Rhea Raj (eclectic pop singer from Skillman, N.J.) | “Neon (Hello Beddo Remix)” (Hear here) | (Clubstream Orange) |
| Ferdinand Rennie (Glasgow-based singer-actor) | “The Rose” (Hear here) | (Fabscots Music, March 2) |
| The Sick Calicos (Lancaster, Calif., hip-hop group) | “Fighting the Good Fight!” (Hear here) | (Run-A-Muk, March 7) |
| Some Velvet Morning (U.K. alt-rock trio) | “Musical Chairs” (four-song EP; Hear here) | (Some Velvet Morning) |
| VanDeRocker (Santa Monica alt-rock band) | “Jupiter’s Kiss” (MP3; Hear here) | (VanDeRocker, March 1) |
| Walcot (Naperville, Ill., pop act) | “Walcot” (four-song EP; Hear here) | (Walcot Music, March 7) |
| RJ Word (L.A. pop/R&B singer-songwriter) | “Here Today,” “Rain Boxing” (Hear here) | (RJ Word, INC) |
Feb. 26, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Sean Michael Belding | “I’d Be There” (Hear here) | (Sean Michael Belding, Feb. 29) |
| Jenny Chandler (Dayton, Ohio, country singer) | “Lost and Found” (Hear here) | (Jenny Chandler, Feb. 29) |
| CrowFly (Orlando alt-rock trio) | “Losing Our Fear” (Hear here) | (CrowFly, Feb. 23) |
| Dario BianKi (Spanish DJ-producer) | “Smash That Seat My Dear” (Hear here) | (WasteMusicBusters s.r.l., Feb. 29) |
| Doctor G & FunkFusion (from Camarillo, Calif.) | “Be Cool” (Hear here) | (Great-House) |
| Jah Rooti (Jamaican rootical singer) | “Hush” (Hear here) | (Seventh Trumpet Production, Feb. 27) |
| J-Giles Son (Christian hip-hop artist from Pompano Beach, Fla.) | “Kill to Protect” (guests: Mouthpi3ce, Benjah, Kayla Starks, FLO, Wise, Swift, Kaitlin Connor; Hear here) | (J-Giles Son, Feb. 24) |
| Joka Beatz (instrumental act from Louisville, Ky.) | “The Plug Instrumentals” (Hear here) | (Hard Hustla Muzik, Feb. 29) |
| Rahshawn Merrick (pop-electronic-alternative artist from Irmo, S.C.) | “Electroamore” (MP3; Hear here) | (Kingdom Muzik, Feb. 26) |
| Ovie (Paris-based hip-hop artist) | “Slow Down” (Hear here) | (Oviesse, Feb. 27) |
| Perfect Fate (Manchester, Conn., alt-rock band) | “Opia” (Hear here) | (Excess, Feb. 29) |
| Mario Petrix (Italian EDM artist) | “Colors” (Hear here) | (Record Union, Feb. 25) |
| Project j.r. (Gardner, Mass.-based rocker) | “Tonight” (Hear here) | (Project j.r., Feb. 28) |
| The Reed Brothers (San Antonio rock band) | “The Reed Brothers” (six-song EP; Hear here) | (Reed Artist Group, Feb. 25) |
| Keith Semple (season 9 contestant on “The Voice”) | “Anytime Anywhere” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Keith Semple) |
| Velleta (Winnipeg singer-songwriter of Jamaican descent) | “Remedy” (Hear here) | (Velleta, Feb. 29) |
| Vision Within (South Hadley, Mass., rock quintet) | “Ride,” “Street Preacher” (Hear here) | (Vision Within, Feb. 29) |
| WastHead (Italian rock quintet) | “Fragile” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (WastHead, Feb. 29) |
Feb. 19, 2016
| Artist: | Title: | Label: |
| Pete Cannella (traditional pop singer from Barrington, N.J.) | “Off the Bridge” (Hear here) | (Pete Cannella, Feb. 21) |
| Rick Crouse (Albuquerque-based rocker) | “Try Again” (Hear here) | (Rick Crouse) |
| DaBeautifulKey (Houston soul singer) | “True Colors” (Hear here) | (DaBeautifulKey, Feb. 22) |
| Greg Gomes (L.A.-based rock singer) | “Born to Win” (Hear here) | (Greg Gomes, Feb. 22) |
| Johnny Kilroy (Zion, Ill., hip-hop artist) | “The Life of Kilroy” (guests: Bryan W, Dinasty Shadrealm, Dwane Wilson, Kevin Cassanova, Tay G, Mic Audio, Nysse, etc.; Hear here) | (The Society ent, Feb. 22) |
| DJ Rapper J Lee | “On Twenty 4’s” (Hear here) | (MrJs Findingthingsyouneed, Feb. 21) |
| Nikki Lerner (R&B singer from Columbia, Md.) | “The Things We Never Say” (Hear here) | (Nikki Lerner Music) |
| Steve Medea (Torrance, Calif.-based R&B singer) | “Friend Zone” (first single: “Boo Thang”; Hear here) | (Steve Mediavilla, Feb. 18) |
| Das-Kollektiv.net (German electronica act) | “Android” (five-song EP; Hear here) | (Das-Kollektiv.net, Feb. 22) |
| Red Star Deluxe (Australian indie-electro band) | “New Dawn Dreamer” (Hear here) | (Red Star Deluxe, Feb. 18) |