The Dark Energy Arcade - Love Torn Rock, New Wave California, U.S. Overall Impression: Figurative, evocative, and pulsing with neon nostalgia, āLove Tornā is no mere retro homageāitās a fully-realized, pulse-raising resurrection of new-wave and post-punk spirit, refracted through a modern lens that sharpens its edges without dulling its heart. The Dark Energy Arcadeācomposed of the magnetic duo Rob Shinno and Mitch Michelleāthrows us headfirst into a sonic dreamscape that feels like wandering through a rain-drenched alleyway in 1983, yet with sneakers laced up from 2025. Rob Shinno and Mitch Michelle have managed the rarest feat: capturing the aching elegance of new-waveās golden age without being trapped by it, whisking up a sonically vibrant, melody-drenched, and style-swept track that can only come from musicians who have a deep passion for the craft.
Strongest Point(s): Thereās an infectious urgency to the track that is quite simply undeniable. Between the shimmering and swaying synths, driving bass, and relentless drum groove, listeners are instantly thrust into the world of "Love Torn" in a way that feels electrifying. There's always a risk of repetition when dealing with a tempo of this pace, but it works perfectly here, ensuring energy levels are kept firmly raised throughout, yet never at the expense of melody or feel. The arrangement itself and the way in which the various instrumental elements have been layered is also excellent. Shinno and Michelle capture the sound and character of new-wave and post-punk styles perfectly, combining ambiance-heavy electric guitar textures, sonically exciting synths, and understated vocals with that quintessential hint of melancholy, in a way that ensures each element is given adequate space to breathe in the track. Each one of these elements is treated with equal importance, and thanks to their natural complimentary tonal qualities between one another, the mix itself is able to come across as both richly detailed and thoroughly well balanced.
Target Audience Appeal: "Love Torn" is an engaging blast back to the heyday of new wave, post-punk, and pop-rock styles and I can see it strongly resonating with lovers of these genres.
Artist target suggestions: A Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club, Tanks and Tears, NightCrawl, Kindest Cuts, The Human League, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, Erasure, Tears For Fears
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About the Reviewer: Andre Avanessian is a freelance session guitarist, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.
Mohammad Basareh - Space Tsunami World, Score Iran For Fans Of: Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, John Williams, Alfred Newman, Micael Abels, A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Joe Hisaishi, Jeremy Soule, Ramin Djawadi, Clint Mansell, Nils Frahm, Bobby Krlic, Hildur GuĆ°nadĆ³ttir Interested in being a New Music post? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Free Song Contest under your Special Offers menu on the RadioAirplay.com dashboard! #NewMusic #Original #OriginalMusic #Instrumental #FilmScore #Iran #IR
Sweet Crystal - This Way Forever (Pearl Sound Remix) Rock, Gospel Michigan, U.S. Overall Impression: With āThis Way Forever,ā long-running Christian rock outfit Sweet Crystal delivers a soul-stirring ballad that feels like stepping into the golden glow of a long-lost era. The track is steeped in a richly nostalgic sound, evoking the grandeur of classic rockās stadium-filling glory days. Thereās a distinct vintage magic at play hereāthe kind that recalls the likes of Journey, Foreigner, and TOTO at their most emotionally open-heartedāyet itās all grounded in Sweet Crystalās signature message of spiritual renewal and grace. Sweet Crystal knows their lane, and they drive it with conviction. āThis Way Foreverā is a throwback in the best senseānot stuck in the past, but drawing from it to craft something timeless and heartfelt. It's a soaring, spirit-led rock ballad that boasts killer hooks, conviction-filled performances, and a level of spirituality that many a Christian rock enthusiast will find deeply endearing.
Strongest Point(s): The arrangement is particularly strong. From the opening bars, the track establishes a warm enveloping sense of texture. Earthy acoustic guitar arpeggios provide the foundation, while sweeping string arrangements and ethereal synth textures help create both an immersive and expansive sound. The open sound of the verses allow the vocals to breathe within the sonic space, allowing the lyrical narrative of redemption, reunion, and spiritual restoration to take center stage. Itās in these moments that the emotional depth of the vocals truly shinesāsoft, reflective, yet still powerful. Then comes the chorus, and with it, a percussive shot of extra energy, with the drums establishing a classic rock groove that gets the blood pumping. The shift from quiet introspection to triumphant affirmation is seamless, yet powerful. The band handles these transitions with grace, never letting the grandeur overwhelm the intimacy, but instead using it to mirror the emotional arc of the lyrics. Of course, the effectiveness of the arrangement is bolstered significantly by the solid performances and the undeniably strong sense of synergy amongst the band. There's clearly a deep level of understanding here, so much so that each performer is positively feeding off one another, helping to ensure the flow of the music always feels organic, and perhaps even more importantly, dynamic.
Target Audience Appeal: "This Way Forever" is an engaging Christian rock ballad and I can see it strongly resonating with lovers of the genre.
Artist target suggestions: All Above Me, Brother Firetribe, Mastedon, Petra, Asia, The Outfield, Journey, Starship, REO Speedwagon, TOTO, Foreigner, Christopher Cross
Interested in having your Song Reviewed by our Professional Staff? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Song Reviews under the Special Offers menu!
About the Reviewer: Andre Avanessian is a freelance session guitarist, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.
Archive 69 - Walk Through the Mirror Backwards Pop United States For Fans Of: Dua Lipa, Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Grace Ives, Addison Rae, WILLOW, Kenya Grace, Glass Animals, Balu Brigada, HAIM, Shaboozey, Japanese Breakfast, Tate McRae, Remi Wolf, Magdalena Bay, Poppy, Santigold, Lola Young, Gigi Perez, Doechii Interested in being a New Music post? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Free Song Contest under your Special Offers menu on the RadioAirplay.com dashboard! #NewMusic #Original #OriginalMusic #Pop #Ballad #UnitedStates #US
HIP CULTURE - Wings of Love Pop, Dance Canada Overall Impression: Hip Culture serve up high energy electronic dance-pop on the release of their single, "Wings of Love". This uptempo number features pulsating drums and percolating synths behind brightly layered female vocals, along with exciting production elements and fx that propel this track into the stratosphere. An exciting nylon string guitar solo section provides an amorous interlude amidst the sweeping filters and electronic flourishes, while romantic lyrics express a sensual and devoted love affair paired with emotional warmth and compassion. Electropop and dance-pop fans will embrace the soaring vocals and mesmerizing rhythms of Hip Culture's "Wings of Love", available now for streaming on all major music platforms.
Strongest Point(s): Incredible production, great sounding mix. Tremendous energy, straight from the top. Great blend of classic synth tones and types. Terrific drum choices and beat design, vintage electropop samples and house/disco rhythms. Creative and artistic use of production elements and fx, nice automated filters and big dramatic swooshes. Absolutely love the bridge; provides both a dynamic variation, as well as a natural staging area for that brilliant nylon guitar solo, which really was the icing on the cake here for me. Vocals sound great; sitting front and center in the mix, and very much in the vein of modern electro-pop with the amount of layering and processing. Simple and catchy melodic content, should engage audiences. Lyrics are both sensual and somehow at the same time wholesome, should be suitable for a wide range of listeners. Some great individual lines and consistent use of metaphor throughout as well. All in all, this is a great energetic tune and a tremendous track that serves as a fine example of both modern day electro-pop and dance-pop. Outstanding work, all around!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Pop/Rock, Electronica, Club/Dance, Electro-Pop, Dance-Pop, Nu Disco, Hi-NRG
Artist target suggestions: Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Donna Summer, Ellie Goulding, Jess Glynn, RĆ³isĆn Murphy, Robyn, Goldfrapp, Little Boots, La Roux, Santigold, Annie
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About the Reviewer: Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.
STREAMER - The Island Rock, Pop United Kingdom For Fans Of: Coldplay, The Temper Trap, Florence + The Machine, Capital Cities, Muse, Keane, Gorillaz, The National, Mazzy Star, Djo, Tears for Fears, The Verve, AURORA Interested in being a New Music post? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Free Song Contest under your Special Offers menu on the RadioAirplay.com dashboard! #NewMusic #Original #OriginalMusic #Rock #HipHop #Nigeria #GB
BABYBOI - Alhamdulillah Rap, Hip Hop Nigeria For Fans Of: Travdidthat, JOJODKR, Yourboywonder, Azoe, VARAHIDIS, Facetoo Music, R&R Saint, Blyze.za, Juice Smoke, 502 G.A.N.G., Ecohailer, Danisadiq, SOMALIA, SprayEagle SP, Kooley Kill, Melon_Beatz, Ghost Tropics, LOBY, Bleqkid Interested in being a New Music post? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Free Song Contest under your Special Offers menu on the RadioAirplay.com dashboard! #NewMusic #Original #OriginalMusic #Rap #HipHop #Nigeria #NG
