Laci Mercede: A Superpower Love

SINGER/SONGWRITER, ACTRESS, PODCASTER, PHILANTHROPIST. Laci Mercede is doing it all. Hailing from the sunny state of California, her signature soprano rasp vocals caught our attention in the R&B groove track "Penny." Her voice pierces over Luke Mitchell's smooth velvet accompaniment, with an addictive beat and undeniably catchy hook that showcases Laci's versatility as both songwriter and rising star. With a likeness to vocal queens like Bebe Rexha and Rihanna, Laci Mercede's voice has a quality that's crazily irresistible, and coupled with the ability to spin body-rocking tracks and heartfelt tributes alike (ala the heartbreaking ballad "Jake"), Laci Mercede is up and coming pop gold. 

Hy Brasil: South for the Summer

AMONG THE MANY SUBMISSIONS from ReverbNation artists, Cali-based band Hy Brasil has always taken a place in our top tier of favorite artist picks. Hy Brasil has infused their unique brand of indie rock pop with 80s synth riffs and a solid beat backbone, topped with vocalist Wyatt Hull’s rangy and enigmatic voice. The 2018 release of their South for the Summer EP is a blend of lysergic 80s electronic and hook-laden power pop. Beginning track "Let Go" caught our attention with its driving rock beat and an incredibly catchy hook that recalls bands like The Killers and Panic! at the Disco. Hy Brasil's 2019 album For the Birds is a smart followup with seasoned and confident tracks like the ambient coastal cruising song "I Will," and "Do-si-do" — a powerhouse of neon-lit, sweeping ambient pop rock. Read more about Hy Brasil in our exclusive interview with frontman Wyatt Hull.

Deitra Fashion: Everyday Witch

IT'S TIME FOR HALLOWEEN — our favorite time of year — and we wanted to do another spooky photo shoot for Deitra! For the overall look, photographer Matt Loveland was inspired to do something witchy, but more subtle and less like a costume. "I guess another way I’d describe the look would be as Everyday Witch!" says Loveland.

Samantha Paige Lucas: Sultry Poet

POP SOUL SINGER/SONGWRITER Samantha Paige Lucas immediately lured us in with her flute-like vocals and sultry vibe. Her single track "Wish You Were Mine" is a slow groove beat that showcases her unique tone and lyrics straight out of a lovesick diary. With a passion for music and performing on stage, S.P.L introduces a sexier, darker sound to hip hop beats and R&B soul songwriting.

Myths & Monsters: The Fauness

For this photo shoot, Editor Tamara Styer and Beauty Director Kristen Lentz were inspired by “The Fauness,” an illustration and sculpture in Rose O’Neill’s Sweet Monsters collection.

Modeled by Cori Edwards and photographed by Matt Loveland, Styer and Lentz set out to capture the charm and whimsy of the female version of the faun - a mythological half-human, half-goat creature notorious for their lustful nature and their love of the forest and music. Though few female fauns can be found in stories, our Fauness is as beautiful as she is sly and cunning, luring us into her wooded abode with dancing and the eerie enchantment of her pan flute song.

Best Friends Part Deux: Acroyoga

Following suit with our Best Friends photo shoot series, I had a lot of fun with this one as well! Jessica Manuel, Leah Haines and Chelsea Campbell were my models for this shoot because they truly have such a special bond of friendship. Their sisterly-like love for each other flows into everyone they meet and they always want to make sure everyone’s included. I love that about them! 

Deitra Fashion: Best Friends at Tommyhawks

Have you ever just met someone, and after spending about five to ten minutes with them, you just know you're going to be instant friends?! That's how we all felt when chatting with Kacey Jennings, the co-owner and manager of TommyHawks Axe House in Springfield, MO. This was such a perfect vibe to get as this whole photo shoot revolved around the theme of Best Friends. I wanted a summer fashion photo shoot with guys. The big difference is that nine times out of ten when you see a guys’ photoshoot, they're posed all too cool for school in some suburban area. Don't get me wrong, I genuinely have an appreciation and love for those! But for this, I just wanted something with a totally different feel to it. (Usually, I'm working with ladies doing hair and/or makeup, so I love that this was pushing me out of my element a bit.) I wanted that nice, summer casual feel along with some activity where a couple of friends would go to hang out and have a good time. Axe throwing was the first thing that popped into my head, and I'm so glad we were given the opportunity with TommyHawks. 

December Fades: Crash and Burn

Photo by Erin Laméy

DECEMBER FADES HAS CAUGHT our attention with his moody, melodic alternative tracks and dark, melancholic lyrics. This is the type of music that melts us into a deeper frame of mind, and brings on a cathartic creative spirit. Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Rogers is masterful and imaginative in his soundscape portrayal of the emotionally raw and gripping moments of tragedy and romantic upheaval. In this evocative interview with the artist, Rogers describes an intimate connection with his own demons, his artful approach to songwriting and his windfall underground successes after the release of the ingenious Is It Love EP.  

Greathouse: Bringing Back the Love Song

BRINGING BACK ROMANCE TO a genre he loves, R&B artist GREATHOUSE offers a deep, velvet vocal backed by a classic bluesy gospel sound. His track "Forever" is a soulful ballad that has been popping up on our radar over and over again, officially landing a spot on our favorites playlist. We were excited to get multiple submissions from GREATHOUSE, and even more thrilled to finally interview this genuine, heartfelt singer/songwriter.

July: London Soul

Photo by Dean Aladay

R&B AND SOUL ARTIST July hails from London, UK and offers a sweet, sultry vocal delivered over smooth pop beats. Full of emotion and intensity, July’s songs have a worldwide appeal with songs about life, love, the cosmos and everything in between. Finding a solid space on our playlists, July is at the beginning of a musical career worthy of following.

Droopy G: G Street Muzik

WHEN WE FIRST REVIEWED Droopy G’s song “G Mayne,” he had just come onto the music scene in downtown Springfield, Missouri. Since then, he has found his stride in the local hip hop scene, booking shows with local and national acts, and dropping a new album entitled G Street Muzik.

Music Review: Eden by Plake

HUNTER PLAKE CAPTURED OUR attention when he was a contestant on Season 12 of The Voice. His unique arrangements of songs like “Elastic Heart,” “All I Want” and “I Want To Know What Love Is” gave us a taste of his ability to evoke chills with his pristine voice and the genius of his musicianship.

Gabe Lopez: God Bless the Queens

POP ROCKER GABE LOPEZ has released his much anticipated 13-song album, God Bless the Queens, and we can’t stop listening! Featured in Issue 14 of Deitra Magazine, Lopez knocked us out with the music video for his single release of “Lasso.” But the standout on the full-length album is the third track on the record, “Karma Kamikaze.”

Music Review: Patience by Mogli

I FIRST HEARD MOGLI'S operatic, ethereal voice and lush song arrangements in the 2017 globally successful Netflix documentary, Expedition Happiness. As codirector of the film, she and fellow traveler Felix Starck chronicled their adventures remodeling an old school bus into a modern tiny home and traveling across Canada, through the American desert and into Mexico. The journey lasted eight months, in which time Mogli wrote a soundtrack for the film entitled Wanderer. The film was inspiring, but what truly captured me was Mogli’s pitch-perfect voice and meandering ambient musical arrangements played behind scenes of a breathtaking North American countryside.

Gabe Lopez: Musical Lasso

AN AMERICAN POP-ROCK singer/songwriter and producer, Gabe Lopez caught our ear with his popular single, “Lasso.” It showcases a strong hook, as well as a blend of danceable pop and rock elements. The accompanying music video tells the story of two friends with an underlying romantic entanglement. Lopez recently crossed the US and UK, opening for Belinda Carlisle on her 2014-2017 tours at venues such as the Indigo at the O2, Manchester Academy, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, The Fonda in LA and B.B. King’s NYC. With a number of accolades under his belt, including radio play and landing on various top 100 charts, Lopez is making a name for himself in the new pop generation.