The Spotted Cat Magazine

Equal parts blues swing and old-fashioned country melodicism, the hook-powered “Chillin’ with Me” keeps one foot on either side of the artistic borderline but ultimately feels like a bright piece of Americana. It’s not the only such hybrid you’re going to hear in the new album A Señorita, A Sweet Tea and A Few Good Songs by

The minimalist movement has its hook in everything from pop music to jazz, country, and even hip-hop at the moment, and while you might assume that it’s having a big influence over the singer/songwriters emerging from the underground at the moment, you could also argue that cut and dry concepts have always been a part

Relaxed as a lazy afternoon spent under the summer sun, a whisper of an instrumental melody introduces us to the warmth of “There Will Be Light,” the closing track in Alex Krawczyk’s new album Le Olam. As the song begins to unfold, it quickly becomes obvious that this relatively simple ballad is bound to unleash a

Evolving from a gentle harmony that only gets stronger as we listen on, Larry Jay’s “Saving Lives” doesn’t immediately feel like a larger-than-life piece, but after its stirring intro, it quickly becomes obvious we’re not listening to a stock country song here. The ascending melodies pick up steam as the beat engages with Jay’s lead

“Owe It All” from New York City’s Ella Blicker is the song we all need now. It’s calm, cool and collected. Blicker caresses the listener’s ears with a finely-woven melody. Her wistful and reflective tones are the perfect balance to the murkier and grayscale music bed. “Owe It All” has a catchy chorus, and Blicker

Slow-churning emotional unrest in “How Did You Get in My Heart.” A bucolic sunset imagined in sonic terms for “What a Lovely Day.” Purist romance of the most virginal variety in the single-worthy “When We’re Together.” These three original songs would have been enough to get some positive feedback out of this critic for Bettman

Sacrifice and honor might be the first things you think of when you think of someone who has served or currently serving in the military. Those words might not be at the top of your list if someone is describing an artist or a musician. Still, an indie artist might vehemently disagree. Sacrifice seems to

AV Super Sunshine is at it again – tailoring a song that is unique to its artistic vision and ignites a wide range of emotions. In “Judas” the pop rock outfit proves it can pivot its sound to something deeper than what we’ve heard from AV Super Sunshine in the past. Still having a bit

Adrenaline is the name of the game in the new singles “I Don’t Mind” and “Can’t Fight the Feeling” from Gabriele Saro this spring, and although the urgency of the delivery is a big part of the reason why these tracks feel like a mad sprint to stardom, it’s not the only element influencing how

The spaztastic and cinematic, Elektragaaz has resurfaced with the 4th installment of The Synaesthetic Picture Show. Somewhere between Sonic The Hedgehog and Kraftwerk is the music of Elektragaaz. Elektragaaz has said that their goal is to create “movies in the mind of their listeners.” They certainly do require more effort from their audience than most,

It isn’t easy getting buzz in the competitive underground we’re seeing today, and it says a lot that Kate Lynne Logan has come as far as she has considering how especially cutthroat the northwest music scene she came up in can be. Logan’s 2018 album Sleeping Giants and its direct predecessor, Echoes, went under the radar for some

Panamanian American actress and trained dancer Deborah Lee Fong has parlayed her recent success at the Urban World Film Festival into even greater triumphs. Fong tackled the role of Agnes in the production of Secret Santa during the Live Screenplay Readings portion of the festival’s programming and scored big with a discerning audience. Fong’s numerous credits preceding Secret

Dici delivers a haunting performance in his music video and on his latest single “u n i.” Dici, who at 18, has already garnered thousands of followers and millions of views on his music videos. Pairing heartfelt lyrics with EDM influenced rhythms, “u n i” does not disappoint. Dici got the itch to make music

Eastern philosophy and spirituality made its first substantial impact on Western culture in the wake of the Second World War. Alan Watts, author of 1957’s The Way of Zen, and later cultural figures such as Ram Dass, among others, are responsible for opening Eastern mysticism to Americans and Europeans in a way hitherto unavailable. The mindfulness

Sarah Seifert makes things seem so crystal clear in her new, moving Christian-pop song “The Valley”. One would be hard pressed to not find this inspiring, lyrical gem one of 2022’s best yet. Featuring Seifert’s exceptional vocal prowess, an engaging piano bed and a warm synth bedrock, “The Valley” is filled with emotive colors and

It has been said often that a work of art is only abandoned, never finished. Florida’s Greye likely agrees with this sentiment based on their recent experience with the song “Everything”. The track, originally penned and recorded for the band’s 2016 release The Worrier, has popped up in occasional Greye setlists over the intervening 5+ years

Released in 2003, “Collide” from Howie Day is still a mainstay on adult contemporary radio stations across the globe. The touching ballad is the focus of the new cover from flutists Steve Markoff and Patricia Lazzara. The former student and teacher combo, both from New Jersey, are delightfully in their zone in this special ode