RECENT ARTICLES

The British Columbia-based rapper, Merkules (born Cole Stevenson), hasn’t been getting much sleep lately. Two nights ago, he got maybe two-and-a-half hours. Last night, somewhere around the same. That’s how the prolific artist can get, though, when something important is about to happen. Merkules, who released his latest LP, Apply Pressure, today, has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into his big and burgeoning career. From surviving a violent attack to finding at least some moments of inner peace, Merkules has harnessed his story, his truths, and funneled them into his latest LP, which is a collection of self-aware, at times-dark, at times-jubilant tracks that assuredly won’t disappoint his fans. Above all else, Merkules satisfies a need for honesty.

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For Los Angeles-based rapper, Problem, growing up in Compton wasn’t easy. But to help assuage the often-dark realities, the future emcee kept something special in his metaphorical back pocket. Problem (born Jason L. Martin) spent the first few years of his life in Würzburg, West Germany before moving to Southern California. As a result, he always knew the world was bigger than his house or neighborhood. His mind was always in some ways on something else, reaching, trying to grow proverbial branches elsewhere while keeping roots at home. Today, Problem has achieved these aims. The rapper, who has worked extensively with famed artists like Snoop Dogg and Terrace Martin, will release his latest record, Coffee & Kush Vol 3 (The Finale), and episode two of his documentary series, A Compton Story, before the end of the year.

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For the New York-born, Los Angeles-based songwriter, Emily James, the past few months have been rather productive. Forced, like most people, to stay essentially isolated and indoors because of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, James has worked to make the most of the long string of days. The recently-turned-twenty-one-years-old artist has been writing, producing and recording new songs for a forthcoming February 2021 EP. On top of that, with the help of her mom and a sunny day at the beach, James has made a charming new music video for her most recent single, “Back in the Summer,” which we’re happy to premiere here at American Songwriter Magazine today.

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In the same way generations were once raised by television, today, more and more people have been engaging with the internet for as long as they can remember. One such person is the Oakland-based artist and musician, mxmtoon, known also as Maia. The songwriter, who has played musical instruments since she was six-years-old, has found and taken in countless hours of content online. The 20-year-old artist, who released her latest EP, Dusk, on October 1st, has also put forth her fair share of work into the digital ether. As a result, she has, in a sense, grown up online. Her songs and many of her most vulnerable truths have been laid bare for audiences. But while this could be daunting for an artist with weaker metal, Maia carries with her a strong, reasoned perspective on the dynamic.

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Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Ana Cristina Cash, has a theory. Creative people, she says, make what they need at any given time. This is why Cash, who began performing at six-years-old and writing songs not long after, recorded her own version of the classic Hawaiian holiday song, “Mele Kalikimaka,” during the constrictive quarantine. She wanted to transport herself (and her listeners) to a place of sunshine and joy during a cold, stuffy winter season. Cash, who also recorded the song to make her young child smile, recorded the track with her husband, John Carter Cash, in the historic Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee. And we’re happy to premiere the bright music video for the acoustic version of the track here today.

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The art of drag is a centuries’ old form of expression borne from vaudeville, burlesque and a need to experiment with personal appearance, gender orientation and sex. But, more recently, the spotlight on drag seems to grow markedly thanks largely to the hit television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. Before the show, popular drag queens often had a cap on their potential career achievements (and earnings). One could be a star locally in open-minded cities but thanks to Drag Race, queens can now be internationally famous and celebrated. One such star is Katya (born Brian Joseph McCook), the Russian-themed, (often) hot mess with a sharp tongue and quick wit. Today, Katya, who is one of the world’s most popular drag performers, is set to release her latest work, a five-track EP, Vampire Fitness, out Friday.

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Payge Turner, the Seattle-based singer-songwriter and recent performer on the NBC television show, The Voice, remembers falling in love with music at four-years-old while backstage at her mother’s choir performances. Turner, who grew up in the Caribbean, says music often felt magical, mystical and mysterious. Along with singing and songwriting, Turner has always had a fondness for musicals, which combine both acting and singing. For her, they’re like fairytales. And Turner, thanks to her successful audition on The Voice, is living something of her own fairytale with a new career coach in Gwen Stefani and thousands of new fans ready to watch her evolve and achieve more.

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Los Angeles-based multi-disciplinary artist, Gabbie Hanna, says that, for her, communication is the most important part of being human. For Hanna, who has Billboard­ chart-topping songs and New York Times best selling books to her name to go along with millions of song and music video streams, listening to and comprehending one another is the key to peaceful, productive living. But, if you ask her, Hanna says that while clear communication is essential in all facets of the world, it’s especially important when it comes to interacting with those close with her. Those familial relationships are the roots upon which creativity grows. And they’re the essential aspects to Hanna’s big, ever-burgeoning career.

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Before Shawn James and his Liberty Bell-like singing voice were well known, he remembers sitting behind the studio glass feeling jealous. In his twenties, the Chicago-born singer had studied in college in Florida to be an audio engineer. He’d taken internships in Nashville afterwards, moved there with his wife. But when he was finally offered a job and a permanent position, James remembers feeling his gut sink. He’d sat there twisting nobs and pushing faders but the whole time he’d wanted to be on the other side, performing and singing into the microphone. So, he declined the position and, with the help of his wife, changed his life forever. James, who rose to fame almost overnight (more on this later), released his latest record, The Guardian Collection, last week and the stripped-down LP continues to display his unparalleled vocal power.

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