Sweet Crystal - This Way Forever (Pearl Sound Remix) Rock, Gospel Michigan, U.S. Overall Impression: With “This Way Forever,” 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 rock’s stadium-filling glory days. There’s a distinct vintage magic at play here—the kind that recalls the likes of Journey, Foreigner, and TOTO at their most emotionally open-hearted—yet it’s all grounded in Sweet Crystal’s signature message of spiritual renewal and grace. Sweet Crystal knows their lane, and they drive it with conviction. “This Way Forever” is a throwback in the best sense—not 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. It’s in these moments that the emotional depth of the vocals truly shines—soft, 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
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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.
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, Róisín 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
Murray Grant - water and stone World Canada Overall Impression: Thoroughly immersive and filled with delicate nuance, "Water and Stone" by Murray Grant is not so much a track as it is a living terrain — fluid, elemental, and brimming with atmosphere. Every element — performance, tone, texture, and form — feels symbiotic. Nothing dominates, allowing each element to develop and shine in its own right. The performances boast tremendous skill, but their virtuosity is quietly worn, serving the piece rather than showcasing themselves. It’s a rare thing: music that isn’t trying to be noticed, yet is impossible to ignore. "Water and Stone" isn’t just a title. It’s a metaphor for the music itself — fluid yet grounded, transient yet timeless. Murray Grant has composed not just a song, but an experience — one that invites repeated listening, not for the sake of discovery, but for the comfort of returning.
Strongest Point(s): From the opening moments, Grant invites us into an immersive sound world, one that is built delicately layer by layer. The asian woodwind — its spiritual breath serving as both invocation and compass, takes the main lead with regard to melody. There's an ancient quality to its timbre, something almost ceremonial, grounding the listener in a time and space that feels both sacred and timeless. This isn't world music in the commodified sense — it's worldbuilding, and the world it creates is one of patient unfolding. The piano, delicately woven into the musics main harmonic backbone, is soft-spoken but intentional. It doesn't rush, and neither does the track; instead, each arpeggiated sequence gently pushes the track along. The percussive elements, understated yet vital, aid the piano in establishing a sense of momentum — wooden, earthy, and organic, they conjure a ritualistic cadence that connects pulse to presence. Grant’s arrangement choices are particularly arresting — not for their boldness, but for their restraint. Every instrument feels handpicked not only for its sonic qualities but for its emotional weight. The synth pads offer ambient textures that swell and recede, never intruding, only enhancing, whilst the electric guitar elements — clean, contemporary, and tastefully restrained are used in a way that doesn't clash with the naturalistic palette, but instead help add a modern gleam.
Target Audience Appeal: "Water and Stone" is an immersive piece of world/new age music and I can see it strongly appealing to lovers of the genre.
Artist target suggestions: Andreas Vollenweider, David Arkenstone, Kitaro, Cusco, Mythos, Vangelis, Enigma, Deep Forest, Yanni, Sacred Spirit, The Marica Frequency, Secret Garden, Omar Akram, Chris Spheeris
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.
Marlena Jeter - Feel It World California, U.S. For Fans Of: Laura Mvula, Kate Simko, Living Room, Aquatic Focus, Tilman Sillescu, Morning Haze, B-Tribe, Elveklang, Ernesto Vallini, Software, LTJ Bukem, Empyre, Emiliano Bruguera, Iftekharul Anam, Blank & Jones, Alexei Zakharov, Alinear Chakras, Marcel Barsotti, Sacred Spirit, Haximum, Dany Pool, Emelie Bali 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 #Soul #World #California #CA
