Seletute – Lean

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“Lean” Into The Light With Seletute Katalina 

Seletute (“Tootie”) Katalina has seen her world come apart. And not just her own world. The world. Our world. Tootie saw relationships hewn in half. Witnessed loved ones perish. Dreams dashed on rocks. What’s more, Tootie knows that you have seen those things too. With her new single, “Lean,” Tootie brings a votive of hope into the swirling storm around us.  

“I connected with [‘Lean’] because I found that the ultimate message of it was a healing that people need to hear,” said Tootie. “There are plenty of songs that talk about division or what experience you’ve been through.” Tootie continued, “I wanted to put out a word of healing and unity. It’s a hopeful song. We are going through a difficult time, but there is hope at the end.”  

Tootie’s manager, Lilo, fell in love with the song’s ability to provide meaning to the anguish of anyone who heard it. “[‘Lean’} speaks directly to the sufferer,” said Lilo. “It’s a message for the person who is suffering. It says, ‘I see you. I hear you. I feel what you’re feeling.’” Suffering remains a common lot for all of humanity. “Lean” tells us that suffering unites us. With that knowledge, we can bolster one another. “We wanted someone to apply ‘Lean’ as though it was written just for them,” Lilo said. “But it isn’t just to the one sufferer. It’s a song that speaks to the masses.” 

“Lean” both mourns and celebrates the lives of departed loved ones. In the regal music video for “Lean,” viewers notice the hashtags #moose, #davi, #vai, and #ray. “Moose was my uncle,” said Tootie. “But he was much more like a brother. I basically raised his kids. He passed away last year at the prime of his health. It was an unexpected heart attack.” “Lean” grieves not only individual losses, but communal losses as well. Explaining the other 3 hashtags, Tootie said, “Here in the Utah Polynesian community, many young mothers became widows. Ray, Vai and Davi were all young fathers who lost their lives. They left behind widows with children all under 10.”  

Production for the “Lean” music video demanded ardor and faith. Lilo recounted the tenacity of those who helped make the video a reality. “Our resilient ballerina is the only African-American ballerina dancing at Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah,” Lilo said. “She was dancing outside in zero degree weather. Bingham High school took 1st place in their home state. We had 4 of their best dancers in the video. It was hours and hours of reshoots, rerecordings. Making sure the location was right. It was a lot of sacrifice from everybody.” 

“Lean” proclaims that it’s time for kings and queens to rise up. To carry one another’s burdens. Just like Simon of Cyrene helped carry the burden of a Nazarene carpenter. Seletute Katalina will release more singles during the summer months. Look for tour dates to be released around the same time.  

“For fans old and new,” said Seletute Katalina, “be more cautious and courteous to one another. Allow others to lean on you. And, have the courage to lean when you are in need. There could be no better time to be a part of the human race. Everybody truly does have the power to make a difference to just one soul. Even if that soul is your own. Honey, lean.” 

Watch the music video for Seletute Katalina’s “Lean,” and follow her on all social media channels, via the links below.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MOpkfk9eq7Q 

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=bookmarks 

https://www.instagram.com/tootzkinikini/ 

https://youtube.com/channel/UCrOYFj8GGqBXUuwkRBwABRA

Yevae – Free Me

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International sensation Yevae tackles tough topics with catchy Electro-Pop grooves 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Electronic-tinged Jazz and Blues riffs with deeply meaningful lyrics and an attractive international sound have been making their way to the world from Yevae for years. The Ukrainian-American singer blends an eclectic mix of mesmerizing vocals, pulsing electronic rhythms and memorable melodies with a message of uplifting positivity. And her latest music is created with a purpose of empowering and helping everyone to realize their strengths, to gain confidence, and to find a sense of independence through music.  

Yevaes nine-song album, Unchained” is slated to drop later this year, but five songs from the project have already been released. And now a sixth song, Free Me,” is coming to the world. With its release, this Electro-Pop artist shows how shes using her music to start a conversation about mental health issues, suicide prevention, social justice and womens rights. She has a new way of raising uncomfortable topics and delivering heavy messages with the help of modern dance music. Music lovers and Electronic Dance fans will definitely find her sound and style attractive and want to dive more deeply into her records. 

I have a deep and theatrical sound with an electronic mix of music and beats that fuses in the Jazz and Blues techniques of my voice,” Yevae said. I really love Jazz and Blues, but I also really love Electronic music and have wanted to mix those things together for years. Also, all of the lyrics I write actually have meaning. I get so sad when listening to songs on the radio today that make the English language sound very poor. Thats influencing the masses in negative ways. I want to elevate that and put some meaning behind the words Im choosing to use. With Free Me, Im talking about a girl who understands she has been in a dysfunctional relationship for quite a while, and when she realizes how much the relationship has drained her – physically and mentally – she decides its time to get away from it. I want it to be a song that serves as a message to other people who might be going through something like that. I want all of my music to be about empowering people. No matter what youre going through at the moment, theres always a light at the end of the tunnel. Keep pushing. Its OK to feel whatever youre feeling right now, but have hope. 

Born and raised in Ukraine, Yevae moved to the U.S. as a young adult. She diligently built a career in the tech industry, but after major life changing event in 2019 she decided to follow her heart and pursue her passion for music. Over the past two years, shes developed her signature style while building an international audience of fans that are eager for more and more music from her. In the coming months, she plans to release another song from her upcoming album called Breathe,” which continues the conversation of mental health.  

To listen to Yevaes music or to follow her on social media, please visit: 

https://twitter.com/yevae_ 

https://www.instagram.com/yevae_/
https://www.facebook.com/YevaeMusic 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK-J7DGwXhHReUXOGu5-1fA 

https://linktr.ee/Yevae 

noto – Rather Be

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Fast-Rising Pop songwriter noto drops another hit single with ‘Rather Be’

BROOKLYN, NY – Noah Thomas – better known by his stage name noto – is a Pop singer, songwriter and guitarist from the East Coast whose unique style is rooted in his deep love for the narrative lyrical tradition present in traditional Country music but coupled with the sonic qualities of R&B and contemporary Pop. Often drawing comparisons to the likes of John Mayer and Daniel Caesar, noto also cites a diverse array of influences including Jeff Buckley, Tyler Childers, and Phoebe Bridgers.

His latest single, “Rather Be,” is his third professional release and follows the extremely successful releases of “Girl from the City” and “Drugs in the Bathroom,” both of which have seen hundreds of thousands of streams since wide distribution on all streaming platforms over the past three months. In fact, the music video for “Drugs in the Bathroom” is about to hit 100K views on YouTube.
Much like “Girl from the City” – which is featured on nearly 400 Spotify user playlists and recently appeared in a viral TikTok video by @olympusgreatdanes with 12.4 million views – “Rather Be” is an upbeat dance song that’s ready-made for another TikTok viral sensation. Written after a night out at the club with some friends, the song explores class boundaries and the grotesqueries of the ultra-elite.
“I remember that night we started at a club that had a cover of $200 and we had to go somewhere else because it was so expensive,” noto said. “I couldn’t get that out of my head and so when I went home that night, I wrote the song. It started out with me trying to figure out what it would take to get my foot in the door and try to impress a girl from that upper echelon. Part of me is infatuated with that entire sphere and lifestyle, but the real me is incensed and grossed out by it.”

With a groove that has a Future Pop and R&B vibe, the song showcases noto’s adept ability to bring lyrical content that is more narrative-based than what most people are listening to. Originally written on acoustic guitar before it was fully produced by Ghidrah of Studio G in Greenpoint Brooklyn, the song definitely plays like a songwriter’s tune, albeit with an upbeat tone and aggressive energy that makes the listener want to move.

“Rather Be” is one of many singles that noto is in the midst of releasing to the world as he tries to carve out a niche in the crowded music marketplace. He considers these songs his calling card and a way of showing an ever-widening fanbase what he’s capable of writing and creating. Through it all, he hopes that his narrative voice will shine through and serve as the definitive, iconic thread for which he becomes known.

“I love platitudes and listening to people talk in public places,” he said. “I write a lot of stuff down that I overhear in passing – whether it’s at a restaurant or on the street. A lot of times, I’ll write songs around a single line that I’ve heard come out of somebody’s mouth. I also like to draw from personal experience. My first song and this song are deeply personal because they’re literally about my life. Some of the next few tracks are intimate and detail accounts and moments from my life. More than anything, I just want the lyrics to shine through while I try to put out a lot of different things sonically.”

“Rather Be” was released wide across all streaming platforms on March 19.

To listen to noto’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/n0_t0/
https://twitter.com/n0t0music
https://www.facebook.com/noah.thomas.92
https://www.tiktok.com/@noto_music?lang=en
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd4Iy0cJjzr839https://soundcloud.com/user-337796275uVbBo-Qgw/featured

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TSvLMH192J7IP68qDTK1L
https://open.spotify.com/album/1aNaZhYtmpoOSPJlAJrrC0?si=r2huMHquSU-l3LRahHGowg
https://music.apple.com/us/album/rather-be-single/1554487193

Kennedy – Moment

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17-year-old Kennedy Beatty showcases mature vocals and relevant style with new singles ‘Bill$ Turn Blue’ and ‘Moment’

LEXINGTON, KY – A rising young star out of Lexington, Kentucky with a soulful and mature sound is causing a stir among music industry insiders. Kennedy Beatty is a 17-year-old singer and artist who has been gathering a wave of fans over the past year since she was first discovered by producer Frank Mabson and musician Doug Ford when she was a featured performer at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast in Lexington. Mabson and Ford knew immediately that her sound was unique and different than anyone else on the market today.

Beatty’s currently released single, “Bill$ Turn Blue,” was produced and written in Terry Baker’s (who has credits with Kirk Franklin and Bishop TD Jakes/Potters House) camp in Dallas, Texas. With a definitive R&B base mixed with Pop and Soul elements, “Bill$ Turn Blue” is a perfect showcase of this young star-in-the-making’s one-of-a-kind vocals and artistic ability. It’s a song that shows how versatile she can be with different genres, and how naturally it is for her to merge those genres into something truly original.

“When we were recording the song, the interpretation was open,” Beatty said. “My interpretation is that you’re in this relationship that is a very expensive relationship, but you want more than just an expensive relationship. You want a relationship that means something. That’s what was going on in my head at the time. I want my music to be relatable and have a message. That’s the kind of music I like to listen to. Right now, I think things that are relatable are relationships, because it’s something everyone goes through.”

Another single set to be released soon is “Moment,” which has more of a Pop record feel to it. It’s a song that Beatty said is all about taking a deep breath and allowing oneself to step aside from the hubbub of life for a moment to recenter and compose. She said it’s a great song for people today considering the up-and-down nature of the world and the stress it can cause on so many people.

At age 17, Beatty has a maturity beyond her years. Not only is she a full-time musician but she’s also a full-time student and a varsity starter on her school’s volleyball team. She juggles all of those activities with grace, however, and has a healthy perspective on what it takes to be successful in the things with which she hopes to succeed. Beatty acknowledges her faith in helping her stay centered, and like many talented vocalists she first started singing in her church.

“I have to stay extremely focused and know what’s going on in my life,” she said. “It’s kind of difficult, but it’s also fun. I’ve definitely proven to myself that I can do it and I can multi-task. I have a lot more music that I’m planning on putting out, and eventually I’m going to work toward a full project. More than anything, I hope people see that I’m becoming more eclectic in terms of some of the vibes I can offer. The biggest thing for me right now is to be relatable.”

“Bill$ Turn Blue” is currently available across all streaming platforms, while “Moment” is set to release world-wide on April 1.

To listen to Kennedy Beatty’s music or to follow her on social media, please visit:

www.kennedybeatty.com
https://www.instagram.com/kennedyfromky/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIOE2BeLF8LjbbvyvopUBZg

“Bill$ Turn Blue”
https://soundcloud.com/user-646455069/bill-turn-blue

Stonaawulf – Nope

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Walk the Warrior’s Way with Stonaawulf on New Track “Nope”  

Warrior Creator Those are just two aspects of Stonaawulf’s musical self. He’s also an artist. He’s many things, but a rapper is not one of them. Though his father introduced him to Rap, Stonaawulf sought to evolve beyond Rap. “I’ve always had passion for music,” recollected Stonaawulf. “My whole life, I was always into it. When I got into high school, that’s when I wrote my first song. And I haven’t stopped since.” Beginning with that first song, Stonaawulf embraced a warrior’s ethic. “One of my friends came up to me and said, ‘Let’s write a song.’ I called it ‘My Opponent,’” he explained. “I heard that beat and felt like my opponent couldn’t defeat me.”  

Now 27, Stonaawulf has chiseled and expanded his sound for a decade. He further differentiates himself from Rap, even recording a song called “Not A Rapper.” “When I heard that beat, something told me to say, ‘I’m not a rapper,’” said Stonaawulf.  “The new music that I’m putting out now, I’m still rhyming, but I’m not rapping.” Stonaawulf recalled being encouraged by a sound engineer, who motivated him to push his own limits. “I wasn’t that confident in my older music,” Stonaawulf said. “My engineer who engineers my vocals, I consider him to be my big brother. He said, ‘We’re going to do something different.’ He suggested that I shouldn’t use profanity. I went along with that advice.” 

The warrior’s ethic often separates him from others. With a trained eye on his purpose and mission, the warrior can have little patience for those who give little thought to their own lives. Stonaawulf explores these ideas on his track “Lonely Road.” “I feel like a lot of people are sheep,” Stonaawulf said.  “I tend to be an introvert, but I have love for people. A lot of people are the same, they act like robots. They don’t have a mind of their own. When you try to tell them the truth, they don’t want to listen. But me, I choose to elevate. The Creator put this spirit in me. I feel like they will never know what the truth is. They will never be woke and conscious.”  

Stonaawulf’s latest track “Nope” crystallizes his sound. He refers to his music as “spirichill,” a portmanteau of “spiritual” and “chill.” “That’s just how the songs come out of me,” Stonaawulf said. “In the beginning, I was just a straight rapper. But now I do a whole new genre. ‘Nope’ is a newer song that’s a prime example of me not being a rapper. I’m harmonizing and being more melodic on it. ‘Nope’ is the beginning of the rest of the music that I’m putting out. It’s going to be melodic and wavy.”   

Stonaawulf wants fans to keep listening, and said he has a ton of music in the works. “Follow the Creator,” he admonished. “And believe in Him. Keep Him first. I know it’s a cliché, but you can be anything you want to be. Keep your mind healthy. Keep it strong. Be authentic, be original.”   

Stream Stonaawulf’s music and follow him on social media channels.  

https://www.instagram.com/stonaawulf/ 

https://twitter.com/stonaawulf1 

https://www.facebook.com/StonaaWulf-Music-110366030891519 

Snapchat:@stonaawulf

Coco Kimmie – Keep Ya Head Up

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Coco Kimmie combines sultry 90s vibe with modern-day twist on debut single ‘Keep Ya Head Up’

VIRGINIA – The debut single from up-and-coming artist Coco Kimmie is the kind of track that immediately demands attention. “Keep Ya Head Up,” released across all digital platforms on Feb. 11, is a bouncy R&B and Pop single that feels like a throwback to the sultry singers of the 1990s, but with a modern-day edge that is refreshing and needed in today’s industry. With a vibe that’s indicative of greats like Beyonce and Lauryn Hill, Coco Kimmie’s style showcases a mastery of R&B, Hip-Hop and Gospel.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Coco Kimmie started singing as a young child in the church. She learned to play the piano by ear and was trained to play classical music as an adolescent. Her mom loved Gospel and James Brown, and her dad loved Blues and Country music, so she was exposed to several genres from an early age. When she attended college at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, she sang in the USAFA Cadet Gospel choir and recorded her first CD. She served for 21-plus years in the U.S. Air Force, and upon her retirement in 2015 was inspired to sing again by her daughter. She began singing with the Chocolate Factory Band in 2019, performing in places such as the Sunset Room National Harbor in Maryland and some upscale private parties through Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. After working with the N2N Band and some other artists in the industry, Coco Kimmie eventually started working on her own music and is now ready to launch her solo career with her first single “Keep Ya Head Up.”

“It’s a song that stems from thinking about people during the pandemic and everything we’re all collectively experiencing,” she said. “The way our life has been has fundamentally changed. Everything we used to do or were familiar with is different now. There’s a new normal. I’m a very empathetic person and I have a tendency to sense how people feel. So as I was thinking about myself during this pandemic and how my life has changed, I started thinking about other people who might have it even worse and that was the impetus for writing this. I wanted to send a message of encouragement and hope.”

Coco Kimmie said she’s following that single up with another called “Shine” in April. Much like her debut song, “Shine” will feature her throwback 90s feel with some modern-day fusion. It’s a slow jam with a smooth R&B feel set against her soaring soprano vocals, and it has a definitive uplifting vibe. There’s a bit of a sway and a swag to it, and listeners will find themselves moving to the music as they listen to it.

Coco Kimmie said she’ll follow that up with more singles over the course of the year as she aims to build this new career and get her music in front of new fans all over the world.

To listen to Coco Kimmie’s music or to follow her on social media, please visit:

https://cocokimmie.com/
https://instagram.com/cocokimmie
https://twitter.com/cocokimmie1
https://www.facebook.com/kimmoncrieffe
https://cocokimmie.hearnow.com/

Jillian Ferrara – Losing My Mind

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Small town girl chasing a dream inspires others with introspective new single ‘Losing My Mind’ 

STATEN ISLAND, NY – A young, 22-year-old new Pop princess is on the rise on the East Coast, and her latest single “Losing My Mind” is set to launch her into international fame. Jillian Ferrara is a new name in the business that has been generating a lot of buzz in recent months with her fresh take on Pop, R&B and Rock.  

With touches of inspiration from artists as wide-ranging as Patti Russo, Pat Benatar, Ariana Grande and Britney Spears, this up-and-coming star has a sound that is both pleasing to the ear and progressive in its approach. More than that though, her message is one that is reverberating with millions of people int its drive to inspire people to overcome their obstacles and achieve their dreams. Diagnosed at age 13 with Aspergers Syndrome – which is on the Austism spectrum – as well as bipolar disorder, Ferrara uses her music not only to help cope with the challenges of her life but also to motivate others. 

“I’m just a typical girl living in a small part of New York who is just trying to live out a dream,” she said. “I’m trying to see where it goes and where the journey takes me. I’m a very old soul who has liked artists like Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand, but who also likes Queen and Led Zeppelin and Joan Jett and Patti Russo. I want to get people to be inspired, just like I was inspired. I want to show people who have the same disabilities as I do that even though you have these obstacles, you can achieve your dreams and live the lifestyle that you want. There is life beyond your obstacles and downfalls.” 

“Losing My Mind” is the most recent of her musical offerings to the world. Written during the time of COVID, it’s a song that Ferrara said is a very personal and transparent look at life during one of the loneliest times of her existence.  

“I felt like I was going absolutely insane because we were in lockdown and so many things were happening,” she said. “On top of that, my grandmother was very sick and I have a mental illness that was playing a part and it all just came to a head. I felt like I was losing my mind, but in a sense I wasn’t. So with this song, I kind of just went with the route of saying that it was all in my head, that in reality it was just life hitting me in the face.” 

Ferrara admits that the overall tone of the song is a bit dark, and the music video reflects that darkness as it is set in the psych ward of an old-school hospital. She and her backup dancers, Briana Santigate and Chelsea McCloskey, wear old-school nurse’s uniforms against a backdrop that definitely puts viewers into an uncomfortable environment and brings to life the anxiety that Ferrara felt when writing the song. The video was produced by Liam and Oadhan Lynch of Bluelit Productions, with choreography from Nicole Serapiglia and additional acting from Briana Guaragano. The song itself was produced by David Rush.  

Ferrara said “Losing My Mind” is just one of many singles she has planned for this year, and that she hopes to put out a four-song EP this summer.  

To listen to her music, or to follow her on social media, please visit: 

https://www.instagram.com/officialjillianferrara/ 

Losing My Mind” 

https://youtu.be/3qlQlmh8bNg 

Kara Griffis – Don’t Let Go

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Singer/Songwriter Kara Griffis uses pure, angelic voice to connect with fans on new single ‘Don’t Let Go’

DALLAS, TX – Kara Griffis has always been a musician … it runs in her blood. Her father and uncle were founding members of The Ghost Riders, a 70s-era Country band that had a well-known jamboree and which cut multiple records over their lifetime. But even with that musical pedigree running through her veins, it wasn’t until a flash of inspiration in 2012 that she first put pen to paper and wrote her first couple of songs. She loved the experience but never fully pursued music as a career until 2020 gave her an opportunity to reflect and fully dive into a career as a singer/songwriter. Out of that process comes a new EP, the first single of which is currently available across all streaming platforms.

“Don’t Let Go” is the debut track from Griffis’ forthcoming project. It’s one of the first two songs she wrote back in 2012, and yet it serves as a great reflection of her life’s experiences in recent years. Showcasing an angelic voice that pairs perfectly against an elegantly simple Country-infused Indie artist vibe, “Don’t Let Go” is a song that many people in the world will be able to relate with in that it explores the missteps one often takes in life and the lessons learned along the way.

“Essentially, it’s a song about spiritual struggle and missteps and hoping you don’t step too far out of bounds in life,” Griffis said. “It’s the title song for the EP, and the overall idea is a petition of God not to let go of me or give up on me. The song itself is very mellow with acoustic guitar and a laid-back, introspective vibe. It’s the second song I ever wrote and still maybe my favorite song.”

Griffis said that songwriting for her is a very personal and raw experience, and when she puts her voice to the words, the effect is a very pure and sweet sound that an ever-widening audience of fans have found pleasing. Griffis showcases a raw, natural talent that isn’t overly produced and evokes thoughts of influences like Alison Kraus, The Weepies, Kacey Musgraves, Kari Jobe and even Taylor Swift. She adeptly weaves words around complicated emotions and delivers songs that resonate with people in truly tangible ways.

“The stronger the emotion is, the more a song flows really quickly out of me,” she said. “A lot of my songs are in the spiritual realm, or about relationships, or dealing with things you struggle with in life – like rejection or messing up on something or disappointment or grief. What’s been surprising to me is how personal they are for other people, as well. There’s some kind of universal meaning to them. I hear a lot of feedback from people saying they’ve found a lot of meaning through my music which is very encouraging because more than anything, I hope my music is known for helping people process through their own struggles and knowing that they aren’t the only people going through that.”

To listen to Kara Griffis’ music or to follow her on social media, please visit:

http://karagriffismusic.com/
https://twitter.com/GriffisKara

“Don’t Let Go”
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/karagriffis/dont-let-go
https://open.spotify.com/artist/61mHnQSNvXx5F4VLZsODlH?si=yR02AgAZTMSSuE4hTBRZXw