Reno Cruz is preparing to release his debut album, Falling In Love Is Not That Hard, on January 21st. Cruz blends beautiful and detailed folk guitar with gentle hushed vocals and dreamy Psych filters to create a sounds that unique and very compelling.

For this album he enlisted the help of Wyatt Waddell, Sam Subar, Hannah Maverick Cruz, and many more.

The album’s latest single is called "Heart Is A Window" and Cruz recently released a video of him performing the track, along with "Around U" from the album, at Get Local Beverly.

You can help Reno Cruz celebrate the release of his new album on January 21st at Golden Dagger with Macie Stewart.

Photo by Jacob King

Dream Pop trio The Mini Projects have released a new single called "Sweet Memories".

This is the group of sibling second single since the release of their debut album, Pattern Dreams, back in 2020.

Wøunds is the ambient drone project of Igor Imbu and just released his latest project, No Beauty In The World, via the Indianapolis label Past Inside the Present.

The focuses around the theme of finding the brief moments of beauty in a world that is consistently so dark and cruel.

The albums features collaborations with guitarist Carlos Ferreira and drummer and synthesist Phillip Stosberg.

R&B artist Sydny August followed-up her 2020 debut album, Miss August, with the fantastic single "How Does It Feel?". Back in November she dropped a video for the single that finds the talented young singer driving around our fair city.

Unfortunately the show that was scheduled for January 7th at Innjoy (2051 W. Division St.) with Chase Alex, Matty Wood$, and Gabriel The Angel has been postponed for Covid related reasons.

Singer/Songwriter Peter Joly released his sophomore album, Easy Has Never Been The Way, back in October. The album is a blend of Folk and Americana and found him working with the likes of Jon Williams, Josh Piet, Rachel Drew, Isaac David Lyons, Alex Hall, and more.

You can catch Peter Joly at Fitzgerald’s on January 22nd.

Pop Punk group Cut Your Losses has released a new EP called "Growing Pains". These three songs touch on an array of different types of relationship and were written as a reflection of the the band’s experience in 2020.

This is the work of Isabella Martinez (vocals, guitar, percussion), Alexander Criminger (vocals, guitar), Joseph Martinez (vocals, drums, percussion), and Joshua Lines (vocals, bass).

The group recently released a video for the EP’s second track and lead single "N.P.D." which can be viewed below.

Akosuen is the experimental music outlet of the pianist, violinist, violist, and educator Billie Howard. She is preparing to release the long anticipated album, In Flux, on January 22nd.

The album had been set for in March of 2020, but both the release event and album were delayed for obvious reasons. Over the last two year’s Howard has worked to re-record and re-image the EP that remains mostly improvised, and is built on piano, synth, and drum.

For the project she enlisted the help of Nate Kappes and Jesse Giallombardo, and worked to highlight the effects of a family member’s borderline personality disorder and the pain of a chronic injury as they coexist through periods of agony and relief.

Indie Pop trio SparkleTears recently released the first single, "Muse", from their forthcoming album which is due to be released at some point this year.

The single is accompanied by an outstanding remix from Totally F**king Gorgeous.

Welcome Familiar rang in the new year by releasing a sad, emo, shoegaze version of classic, twenty year old, Blink-182 song "Stay Together For the Kids".

This is the first new music from the Welcome Familiar since the release of their 2021 full-length album, No Stars, back in March.

R&B artist Adia Dew released her latest single, "Do It", on New Year’s Eve. This is her second single of 2021 and follow-up to fantastic duo with Ifeanyi Elswith, "Off Grid".

Visual artist and Darkwave musician The Nancy Downs recently released her fourth and final single on 2021, "Jodi". All of her singles have been dark both sonically and thematically, but "Jodi" is the first in a series True Crime themed songs.

Prog Rock trio Aziola Cry has released a playthrough video for the first section of their epic 21 minute song suite "The Ironic Divide". The song is taken from their 2021 album by the same name which was released by The Laser’s Edge/Sensory Records.

This is the work of Jason Blake (Warr Guitar), Mike Milaniak (Guitar), and Tommy Murray (Drums).