introverteden – javier batista
The verdict
“javier batista's 'eden' is a beautifully warm indie folk invitation, earthy vocals lifting into a genuinely yearning chorus”
eden opens with warm acoustic guitar and gentle piano, building a wonderful space before javier batista's vocals arrive. the song imagines god's invitation to humanity as a love song, and it works because the writing stays personal rather than preachy. there's early oh hellos in here, that distinctive blend of folk intimacy with something bigger and more expansive underneath. it's produced beautifully, and the chorus lifts without losing the earthiness that grounds it, and by the time it reaches its peak, there's real emotional weight behind the invitation. it's a tender, hopeful beauty.
javier batista is a singer-songwriter and worship leader based in mebane, north carolina. he spent his early years between new jersey and puerto rico before settling in the south. 'eden' marks his first solo release in seventeen years, following his debut album 'tu huella'. he never stopped writing for others during that gap, but this return is about giving voice to his own words again, and showing his daughter it's never too late to chase a dream. there's something honest about this, and we really love it.
thank u for making this javier batista 🌿
encounter – eric hz
The verdict
“eric hz delivers a compelling contemporary christian pop song that finds real warmth in faith and purpose”
'encounter' opens with a question most of us have asked at some point: what is the meaning of my existence? eric hz traces his own search for that answer, landing on faith as the thing that gave him direction. the production sits in polished contemporary christian pop territory, bright and melodic, but there's an intimacy here that keeps it from feeling too pristine. currently under consideration for best contemporary christian music performance/song at the 69th annual grammy awards, it's a song about grace and finding something greater than yourself. where his other recent single 'child' looks outward at the love between parent and child, this one turns inward. it's a warm, searching and assured listen.
eric hz is an austin, texas based chinese singer-songwriter, producer and cultural advocate whose work bridges chinese and western traditions. trained under soprano and chinese opera artist wan shanhong, he's built a career around the idea that artists don't have to erase where they come from to reach one another. he founded the chinese-american federation of arts and culture and serves as executive producer of the chinese american music festival. that commitment to connection runs right through this one. a great track.
thank u for making this eric hz 🙏
metagirl – mike dee
The verdict
“mike dee's 'metagirl' is an absolute stunner of a warm boom bap debut, all soulful loops and sharp, funny lyricism”
'metagirl' opens with a soulful loop and drums that hit like a machine but breathe like a live room, mike dee's jazz background showing in every melodic turn. the track tells a story about love in its messy early stages, all insecurity and devotion tangled together, and there's a lightness to the delivery that makes the vulnerability land without weight. lyrically it's sharp and funny, writing that stays honest by refusing to take itself too seriously. recorded at his home studio on chicago's south side and mixed by steve marek, it carries a timeless boom bap warmth that nods to dilla and premier without leaning on them. it's whimsical, soulful and a whole lot of fun.
mike dee is a producer, rapper and jazz saxophonist from chicago's south side with a résumé that runs deep. his production work includes 'cuando se van' for la dona, praised by the new york times and npr, and he's the longtime producer for empire-signed rapper ze. his music has been synced for starz series run the world, and recent performances at the chicago jazz festival and hyde park jazz festival keep him rooted in that scene. this is his debut as a rapper-producer in his own right, and that confidence shows. a real beauty.
thank u for making this mike dee 🎷
down with freedom – taylin rae
The verdict
“taylin rae's 'down with freedom' is a brilliantly warm alt-country anthem about claiming your own path”
'down with freedom' opens with a steady bluesy groove that builds into something wonderfully loose and open, a song that invites you to breathe before it asks anything else. taylin rae's voice carries the whole thing, warm and weathered in a way that sounds earned. the lyrics are about letting go of expectations, about the nerve it takes to follow your own direction when everyone else has opinions. co-written and produced with andy sells, engineered by grammy winner alan sanderson, the production gives it room without ever feeling polished to nothing. it lands somewhere between alt-country and soft rock, and it wears both well. a confident, wide-open listen.
taylin rae is a san diego-based singer-songwriter with roots in oklahoma and a lineage that traces back to johann sebastian bach. she's played more than 7,000 shows, toured internationally with the uso, and shared stages with dolly parton, willie nelson and toby keith. her time with nashville's acuff-rose publishing sharpened her songwriting, and it shows in how direct these lyrics land. now splitting her time between san diego and music city, she's claiming a new chapter with this release. seven thousand stages and she still sounds like she means every word, a real gem.
thank u for making this taylin rae 🌾