Artist Reviews

Matt Kik’s Artist Page is Here

Hailing from Sheffield, Matt Kik released his self-titled solo debut, Eponymous, on 15 August 2025, offering twelve guitar-driven tracks that span more than 25 years. The album features songs he started writing in 2000 and continued to work on right up to the present day. With his band, Storm of Crows, currently on hold following the release of their Twenty-Five Years album, Matt decided to gather together songs that had lived with him for decades and shape them into a full album. What makes this record so impressive is that it feels both personal and carefully assembled, as if each track found its place exactly when the time was right.

I’ve known Matt for many years, so listening to “Smarter Than This” naturally carries a personal dimension for me. But beyond that connection, what really matters is that the music stands on its own. As a bassist myself, I’m always drawn to the low end and to the way a song’s rhythm section holds everything together, and that is something I truly appreciate here. A compact, tight rhythm section can make all the difference, and this record understands that perfectly.

What struck me immediately was the guitar riff that runs through the entire song. It is not only the track’s main musical thread but also the element that gives it its real power. The riff stays present from beginning to end, almost like a pulse that holds everything together, and that is exactly why the song hit me so strongly. It creates momentum, tension, and consistency at the same time, and it connects perfectly with the lyrics’ reflection on routine and the desire to break free from it.

“Smarter Than This” is especially effective in the way it builds around that central figure. The repetition gives the song a sense of insistence, almost mirroring the daily grind between home and work that the lyrics describe. At the same time, the arrangement never feels stuck; instead, it keeps moving forward with purpose. That balance between repetition and development is one of the things I like most about it.

The guitar solo is short, but it adds a lovely touch of character, with a slightly Spanish feel that gives the song some extra colour without distracting from its core. I like it when a solo does exactly what the song needs and no more, and that is very much the case here. It feels like a small gem placed exactly where it should be.

The closing lines — “We only get one chance to sing our song / Only one life, it’s not really that long / Smarter than this / I’m gonna be smarter than this” — leave me with a real sense of hope. They suggest that it is never too late to step out of routine and try to become a better version of ourselves. That message resonates with me not only as a listener but also as someone who cares deeply about music as a way of leaving something behind that lasts.

For me, that is part of what makes this song and the album around it so meaningful. “Smarter Than This” stands out on Eponymous for its strong songwriting, clear musical identity, and message that feels honest and genuine.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: PortobelloExpress

Their artist page can be found Here

Gail Vogel’s Artist Page is HERE

“Pleiades 2.0” de la artista Gail Vogel es una obra para quienes buscan en la música algo más que entretenimiento: un refugio de introspección y expansión mental.

Lejos de ser una composición minimalista, su aparente sencillez esconde un trabajo minucioso y profundamente intencionado. La pieza plantea una progresión narrativa que se siente como un viaje geográfico y espiritual: la música emerge de las profundidades oceánicas, se asienta firmemente en la tierra y, finalmente, se proyecta hacia la inmensidad del cosmos.

Uno de los aspectos más interesantes de esta obra es la simbiosis entre instrumentos orgánicos y sintéticos; Gail Vogel logra dar vida a una auténtica entidad sonora. Para ilustrarlo mejor, si en lugar de una pieza musical se tratara de una obra visual, encajaría sin esfuerzo en el personaje de Kusanagi Motoko, del anime Ghost in the Shell (de Ota Masanori), ya que evoca de inmediato esa dualidad existencial entre lo humano y lo artificial.

¿Se han dado cuenta de que, en ocasiones, reaccionamos de forma casi instintiva al ritmo de las percusiones? Es como un “latido primordial” grabado en el ADN, en el alma o en algún otro rincón de nuestro ser. Los sonidos de los tambores poseen la magia de un legado ancestral, una memoria que parece trascender el tiempo. Con Pleiades 2.0 sentí esa conexión en distintos momentos del recorrido.

¿Qué opinan ustedes? ¿Alguien más sintió algún tipo de conexión al escuchar Pleiades 2.0? Los invito a compartir sus impresiones en los comentarios.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Senti-Ente

Their artist page can be found HERE

Crossing Waves Artist Page is HERE

As a kid, I spent quite a bit of time studying popular musicals alongside rock, pop, and classical music. One song that always stood out for its dark brilliance was “Poor Jud Is Dead” from the immortal Oklahoma! It is a bizarre, morbid, and surprisingly fun tune in which the protagonist fantasizes about the death of his rival, Jud Fry, specifically to imagine how the townspeople might react once he is gone. It is a masterfully crafted study of macabre character development, and recently, I found its modern spiritual successor in a track called “Ballad of Robert Stone” by the indie project Crossing Waves.

The song opens with a deceptively catchy guitar strum that feels lighthearted, masking the weight of the narrative. It tells the story of Robert Stone, a neighbor living two floors down who met a sudden, calamitous end during an unfortunate night walk. Following his passing, the neighborhood “buzz” begins to paint a vivid, if slightly eccentric, picture of the man: he had long hair and a grey mustache, he was a total loner, and, according to local gossip, he was essentially married to his umbrella. He was the kind of person who existed solely in the background of everyone else’s life: a mystery that no one bothered to solve while he was still breathing.

While you might find yourself wandering through the intoxication of the melody, the song eventually hits you with a keen, stinging observation: “His life had no attention, his death got quite a lot.” It is a profound look at the irony of human interest and the inherent selfishness of communal curiosity. Crossing Waves uses Robert’s story to showcase the “faux friendships” and performative grief that suddenly bloom the moment a TV camera or a news reporter appears.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Jake Sommer

Their artist page can be found HERE

Last “Ravage” Opinion’s Artist Page is HERE

Para mí, existe una verdad fundamental en el arte musical: la ausencia de letra no es un vacío, sino una expansión de posibilidades. La música instrumental posee la gran virtud de potenciar la comunicación emocional pura, permitiendo que el rango de interpretación sea prácticamente infinito y profundamente personal. En este escenario, “Maga Noctis”, de Last “Ravage” Opinion, emerge como una pieza con dinamismo cinematográfico, capaz de guiar al oyente por una narrativa sonora en constante evolución.

La obra comienza sumergiéndonos en una atmósfera tranquila, de carácter onírico y misterioso, donde el sonido se manifiesta de forma sutil. Sin embargo, lo que hace destacar a esta composición es su desarrollo: desde la calma, se transmuta gradualmente hacia una atmósfera heroica. Esta característica posiciona a la pieza como un acompañamiento ideal para una producción audiovisual de ciencia ficción o fantasía.

En ciertos pasajes se percibe una influencia de Jean-Michel Jarre. Esto provocó en mí una conexión sonora con mi infancia. Siempre me ha sorprendido la magia que tiene la música; en este caso, su poder para viajar en el tiempo con la mente. Quién sabe si en el futuro se logrará hacerlo de forma física, como ocurre en “Visiones de Robot”, de Isaac Asimov, o en relatos de siglos pasados.

La música es quizá el único vehículo que nos permite habitar otros mundos y épocas distantes en pocos segundos. Al prestar atención y sumergirme en la canción, me pregunto: ¿a dónde los transporta a ustedes? ¿A un futuro tecnológico o a un recuerdo de la infancia? Los invito a compartir su viaje en los comentarios.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Senti-Ente

Their artist page can be found HERE

Jezuro Artist Page is HERE

There is a peculiar phenomenon in art where a new creation feels like a recovered memory. “Better Living Underground!” by Jezuro is a premier example of this kind of “hallucinated recognition.” At first listen, the track feels so much like a classic cover that it practically demands a deep dive into the archives of 1950s jazz. Yet the research yields a surprising result: it is a contemporary original. While it draws its lifeblood from the Fallout universe, the song is a modern triumph of stylistic mimicry. If broadcast on an oldies station, most listeners would nod along, convinced they had heard it on a grainy transistor radio decades ago. That ability to fabricate nostalgia is the mark of a high-caliber creator.

The track functions as a study in “the uncanny.” Stephen King famously suggested that true terror is not found in a man with a knife, but in coming home to find your entire life replaced by a perfect, reasonless facsimile. Jezuro taps into this idea perfectly. By recreating the sonic landscape of the mid-century with such precision, he forces us to wonder what he is trying to teach us about our own timeline. Let me take a crack at that.

“Better Living Underground!” serves as a moment where music acts as a reflective mirror for society. In hindsight, the lyrics highlight the absurdity and hubris of believing we can survive a volatile geopolitical climate using the same survivalist tropes we have leaned on for generations. Jezuro suggests that we are navigating a 2026 armory with 1950s logic, a combination that is as dangerous as it is delusional. The “underground” is not just a physical bunker; it is a psychological retreat from a reality that has become too complex to manage.

Production and Performance

The technical execution of the track is where the illusion becomes airtight. The song opens with a disorienting charm, sounding as if a Benny Goodman or Johnny Mathis record has hijacked your digital device. It bridges the gap between the sleekness of modern streaming and the warmth of vinyl.

Jezuro utilizes a specific “white fuzz” and analog saturation to replicate the texture of a bygone era. This is not just a filter; it is an engineered atmosphere that evokes the dust on a needle.

The vocal performance is a masterful display of crooning. The tones are reminiscent of the records that once sat atop schoolbooks in wood-paneled bedrooms. The delivery is smooth, haunting, and pitch-perfect for the era it inhabits.

Sometimes music transcends simple entertainment and becomes a living portrait. Like the most enduring art, “Better Living Underground!” only begins to educate the listener once they are willing to look beneath its polished, retro surface. It is a track that invites multiple listens, allowing the underlying message to slowly unravel. For those who appreciate music that challenges their sense of time and place, this is a highly recommended experience. It is a piece that does not just belong on a playlist; it belongs in a museum of cultural echoes.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Jake Sommer

Their artist page can be found HERE

Antoni Grzyb’s Artist Page is HERE

Despojarse de lo literal para abrazar lo abstracto es una acción de gran generosidad en una pieza musical. El oyente deja de ser un receptor pasivo, anclado por los versos y por el idioma, y se convierte en coautor del significado emocional: una experiencia única para cada persona.

Esa libertad interpretativa se refleja de forma perfecta en la canción “If I Could See You Now”, del autor Antoni Grzyb. Es directa y sincera; no abruma con progresiones complejas, sino que se sostiene sobre una estructura que privilegia la serenidad y la sensibilidad. Se siente como el abrazo de un ser querido que no has visto en mucho tiempo.

Esta pieza tiene un “motivo musical” que todos podrán identificar, pero su genialidad radica en la prosodia de la frase musical. Usa tu imaginación y podrás escuchar las palabras del título sin ser cantadas. Si te cuesta imaginarlo, te invito a cantar la siguiente estrofa justo en el tiempo 00:21; ahí se produce la magia:

If I could see you now
If I could see you now
If I could see you
If I could see you
If I could see you
Now

Esa estrofa es pegajosa, fácil de recordar; es lo que se conoce como un “hook”. ¿Qué sucedería si esta composición se transformara de un estilo “neoclásico contemporáneo” a “K-pop”? ¿Podría ser un éxito comercial? Sin duda. No importa el género: es una muy buena obra porque posee una gran eficacia melódica.

¿La música instrumental es la cúspide de la “ingeniería emocional”? Independientemente del género —clásico, electrónico, autóctono, new age, entre otros—, este tipo de obras siempre mueve algo en el interior del oyente. Y qué decir del compositor: todas las ideas y emociones que surgen durante el desarrollo de una pieza así forman parte de su profundidad.

“If I Could See You Now” es una pieza para ser contemplada. Escúchala y anímate a escribir comentarios sobre tu interpretación de esta obra y sobre la música instrumental.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Senti-Ente

Their artist page can be found HERE

MIK’s Reaction Artist Page is HERE

I have been a dedicated fan of MIK’s Reaction for quite some time. Whether I am hitting the pavement for a morning run or unwinding after a long day, I frequently find myself appreciating, saving, and liking his work. However, for me, among a catalog of impressive releases, “Incredible to Me Now” stands out as his most profound achievement.

From the very first bar, the track establishes a palpable, dysphoric mood. It does not scream for attention; instead, it seeps into the listener’s consciousness. The song opens with a delicate acoustic strum, shadowed by distant atmospheric echoes that roll in like a gentle morning fog over a silent valley. It is an exercise in restraint.

Soon, the bass line carefully anchors the guitar work, followed by an ascending drumbeat that provides momentum without ever sacrificing the song’s intimacy. The production ensures the instruments never overtake the lyrics, which are characterized by a quiet, heartbreaking sadness rather than outward blame.

The lyrical heart of the track lies in the repetition of the phrase “I don’t know why.” It is delivered with the weight of a perseverating, intrusive thought, the kind that circles the mind in the middle of the night and refuses to resolve. It serves as a haunting refrain of perceived failure and the hollow, quiet devastation that follows in its wake. There is no catharsis here, only the honest admission of being lost within one’s own history.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Jake Sommer

Their artist page can be found HERE

Blister Soul’s Artist Page is HERE

Friends, every now and then, a song comes along that feels like it understands the quiet pull we all feel to step back and take stock. I discovered Blister Soul’s “Part Of Me Still Beats” on a New Artist Spotlight playlist. Those NAS finds are abundant for anyone seeking fresh indie voices, and this one hooked me from the first listen. This four-piece out of Missouri, with songwriter Greg Ballew leading on vocals and rhythm guitar, Jason Otero on lead guitar, Bryan Bridgford on bass, and Tony Otero on drums, brings straightforward acoustic rock with unconstrained authenticity.

The sound opens warm and welcoming: bright acoustic guitar strumming simple, solid progressions, a second guitar weaving in a clean picking pattern, and bass and drums laying down a steady foundation that supports without crowding the song. It has that easy ’90s mood, think Tom Petty’s heartland straightforwardness blended with Counting Crows’ emotive vocal style, though the arrangement stays leaner and more direct, allowing Greg’s distinctive, vulnerable vocal delivery to shine through.

The lyrics speak directly to something most of us encounter from time to time: the world spinning out of control, the urge to look in the mirror and sort out your place, and the weight of time and choices settling in. It is introspective and honest, but never overwrought. The chorus delivers the payoff perfectly when Greg sings, “Those that depart leave a trace for those of us that still remain.” The melody lifts just enough to make it stick, turning reflection into something quietly hopeful. That line captures the lingering presence of people and moments, a reminder that we are shaped by what stays behind, and by who.

I might play this song on a long drive through the backroads, maybe with a friend, maybe on my own, humming the chorus as the drums kick into a gentle double time and the miles roll by. It makes the moment feel a little more centered.

If relatable lyrics that touch on the human struggle, a catchy chorus melody that settles in deep, and classic indie/heartland rock warmth are what draw you in, then “Part Of Me Still Beats” is right up your alley. It is honest music that keeps a steady beat, ready whenever you need a moment to breathe and keep going.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: InnovaniacMusic

Their artist page can be found HERE

Origin Crxss’s Artist Page is HERE

The opening notes of “Chop ’em Down” by Origin Crxss arrive with a deceptive tranquility, floating through the air on a soft treble piano riff that feels as fragile as glass. The moderate use of reverb creates an expansive, lonely atmosphere, placing the listener at the edge of a fog-covered riverbank where the world feels muted and still.

This serene introduction, however, is merely the calm before a very intentional storm. As the vocals enter, they do not slide into the melody; they cut through it. The performance is surgically precise, using staccato phrasing that functions more as a percussive instrument than a traditional melodic line. This rhythmic “stop-start” energy echoes the pacing of an intentional jog through both literal and metaphysical thoughts, where every breath and every step is a conscious decision to move forward.

In a modern musical landscape that frequently leans into the glamorization of escapism through substances, Origin Crxss takes a hard, refreshing pivot toward radical clarity. The lyrics serve as a manifesto of sobriety and boundaries, stripping away the romanticism often found in the “pills, meds, and drink” culture of contemporary alternative music.

There is a palpable sense of reclamation in the line, “I can’t pop no pills / I don’t even like prescription meds,” establishing a narrative of someone fighting to inhabit their own mind without filters. The artist displays a rare, raw honesty by referring to the body as a “defective vessel,” yet this is not a plea for pity. Instead, it is a vow of resilience: an acknowledgment of internal struggle paired with the grit required to “make it work.” This transparency grounds the track in a reality that feels earned rather than performed.

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Jake Sommer

Their artist page can be found HERE

Fear 2 Stop’s artist page is HERE

Después de mucho tiempo, logré entender que la música es libre y que en cada composición habita la esencia imborrable del creador. Escuchar piezas que desafían ciertos patrones culturales establecidos y las estructuras comerciales es un ejercicio refrescante, casi necesario, para el oído.

La obra “Pet Sounds”, del artista Fear 2 Stop, se presenta precisamente como ese tipo de desafío: un juego sonoro. Su inicio evoca de inmediato la tensión minimalista de la película Tiburón (Jaws), pieza compuesta por John Williams. Sin embargo, la canción se transforma casi de inmediato, envolviéndonos en una atmósfera especial. Sus matices agudos hacen pensar en las melodías de Brian Wilson, integrante de The Beach Boys, y aunque quizá sea solo una coincidencia que esta canción comparta nombre con el álbum de 1966, es un detalle imposible de ignorar. Al crear música, la información almacenada en el inconsciente a menudo se expresa de formas misteriosas.

Lo valioso es que “Pet Sounds” no intenta imitar el pasado, sino que lo utiliza como cimiento conceptual para construir una identidad propia. Es una narrativa de texturas, donde el silencio y la nota sostenida tienen tanto peso como el riff más enérgico, creando un contraste que mantiene atento al oyente. Al ser una pieza sin palabras, se potencia la comunicación emocional, y el rango de interpretación se vuelve infinito y profundamente personal.

Te invito a escuchar “Pet Sounds” y a escribir en los comentarios: ¿qué recuerdos o imágenes estimuló en ti?

This review was submitted by fellow NAS artist: Senti-Ente

Their artist page can be found HERE