This segment features artists who have submitted their tracks/videos to She Makes Music. If you would like to be featured here then please send an e-mail to helen@shemakesmusic.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!
Addison Alex
Addison Alex is a singer/actrexx located in LA. Hailing from Washington DC they first made a splash in NYC where they performed for legendary nightlife impressaria Susanne Bartsch, modeled for internet icon Stella Rose St. Clair for New York Fashion Week, and picked up odd gigs here and there like working the merch table for the late, great Genesis P-Orridge of Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV. They have just released a new single called ‘Take Me Where’. They produced and wrote the song completely DIY. It’s an electro-pop banger about doing things your own way and going your own direction. Listen below.
Freyja Elsy
Freyja Elsy is an independent songwriter and composer who produces layered, striking music from her home studio in Cardiff. She incorporates both pop technique and classical influence under her own momentum and direction. ‘Golden Hour’ encapsulates the nervous joy that comes with change and seeking the strength and bravery to take a different path. Experimenting with vocal chopping alongside deep harmonies, Elsy constructs a warm sonic bath of piano, strings and synthesisers around lilting melodies and uplifting crescendos. Listen below.
Ella Tobin
Hailing from South-East London, emerging singer-songwriter Ella Tobin has just released her debut single ‘The Ghost’. Penned by herself and co-produced over lockdown with Australian artist and producer Aria Wood, she pairs honest, introspective lyricism and haunting melodies to create a blend of dreamy, indie-folk infused pop. Ella Tobin is an artist whose music openly invites people into her world, urging her listeners to lean deeper into their own emotions and see the beauty in vulnerability. Steeped in melancholy, ‘The Ghost’ weaves listeners through metaphors of longing and self reflection. Of the single, Ella says: “’The Ghost’ is about being scared to get too close to anyone and therefore only ever admiring them from afar, no matter how much you want to let them in. I wanted to convey that feeling of frustration that comes from knowing full well that your fears are irrational, yet still feeling them so deeply and being unable to control your response to them. I hope that for listeners who can in some way relate to these feelings, this song is able to bring them comfort in knowing that they are not alone in their experience.” Listen below.
Lazygirl
Beth Harris, aka Lazygirl has proved that her artist name is certainly not representative of her actions. Instead, it’s a reclamation of her unfounded fear of complacency. Correcting the false narrative of laziness that she had burdened herself with when first experiencing depression aged 17. And proving to herself, above all else, that she was more than capable of succeeding. “I’d completely lost motivation to do anything”, she says of that time, a complete contrast of the artist she has become. This experience saw her grow in both determination and emotional intelligence, qualities that her musical output exudes. Perhaps explaining why she delves into the more difficult experiences that many back away from. ‘Soft Focus’ is an accumulation of the glossy sound that is synonymous with Lazygirl, whilst observing the toxicity that comes with infatuation. The paranoia, the ruminations, and the intrusive thoughts, all observed through a rose-tinted, dreamy, Vaseline-covered lens. That experience of willing a false version of yourself into being, of accommodating for someone who isn’t right for you. The sound mirrors the innocence of young love, whilst the content observes the dark undertones that accompany such experiences. Moving past the SoundCloud collaborations of her early career, Lazygirl has joined forces with fellow Liverpool-based artist, Tonia, as part of her conscious effort to associate herself with powerful, independent artists. The song marks a new chapter of Lazygirl, she’s finally creating the music she’s “always wanted to make” alongside people that amplify her talents. Listen to ‘Soft Focus’ below.
N I K A
N I K A is a 19 year old UK R&B/Soul artist and songwriter with Jazzy vocals from Norfolk. Her music influence comes from artists including: Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse and Bruno Mars. Her fourth self-written and recorded single ‘Dance With Me’ is now available on all music streaming platforms. The lyrical content of ‘Dance With Me’ explores the theme of that intial stage of entering a new relationship with a romantic partner. “A theme that I’m sure we’re all very familiar with; when your breathing speeds up at the thought of that person, and you feel excitement rushing up and down your body with twinkles of burning passion tiptoeing up the surface of your skin,” she says. “You know, that state where your thoughts are questioning why this specific person is able to gift you this wave of new emotions, but not being able to find answers. Because all your sanity is filled with that sole feeling of a magical spark lit up within you. ‘Dance With Me’ is about inviting your new partner to step further into the relationship (‘dance’) and find your answers while sharing the heat of the connection.” Listen below.
SAFIRE
British/Irish independent visual/musical Dom Pop artist SAFIRE hails from Hackney, East London. She’s a multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer blending metal, beats and pop, framing themes of fem empowerment, dominance and war. Her latest single is ‘OUT FOR BLOOD’. ‘SEX! POWER! RAGE! That’s the message,” explains SAFIRE of the song. “I wrote ‘OUT FOR BLOOD’ as a big FUCK YOU to all my ex’s and people that have wronged me over the years. It’s all about revenge and reclaiming your power after being dragged through the mud by some absolute bell piece. It’s a fem chant for all those out there that need something to lift them up and to shout along to! I can’t wait to play this one live next year. It’s gonna be savage!” Listen below.
Meztli Zambrano
Meztli Zambrano is a Latina singer-songwriter from Hollister, California. Growing up passionate about music and songwriting, Meztli launched her career as an independent artist in the music industry in May this year with her debut single ‘AYAYAY!’. Her diverse exposure to numerous musical genres has shaped her music style to be ever changing and not one to fit in a box. She writes and composes music based on life experiences and reflects each song based on the sound and feelings that each experience brings. Meztli’s desire is to connect with her audience through her lyrics and songs and provide her listeners a connection to their inner feelings. Meztli has just released her latest EP, Naked. The 4-track EP penned by Zambrano is inspired by feelings of love, fear, turmoil, vulnerability, tears and heartbreak. Drawing from the word’s definition, Naked reveals vulnerability, bares Zambrano’s soul and exposes her deepest feelings. “I couldn’t be more excited and terrified to share my debut EP Naked with you all,” said Zambrano, singer-songwriter. “This 4-track EP bares my soul and exposes my deepest feelingswith hopes that anyone can relate to this story – the story of heartbreak.” Listen to the title track below.
TeZaTalks!
TeZATalks! (she/they), the self-described “hardcore popstar,” continues her rollout of new music with the single ‘NOT YOUR BODY,’ an anthem that declares the importance of women’s bodily autonomy and shares a message so important in a year marked by increasing attacks on women’s rights. The track is their second single being released off of their highly-anticipated debut album Black Girl American Horror Story. ‘NOT YOUR BODY’ comes after Teza’s single ‘Lex Luthor,’ which featured the Grammy nominated engineer Blakksoul (Anderson.Paak, Dr. Dre, Nas) on production.’NOT YOUR BODY’ points out the hypocrisy of those who feel entitled to the female form and who wish to control a stranger’s actions simply because they are a different gender. The song originally took form after vicious attacks on Planned Parenthood seen in 2020. Teza had been working on a rewrite of the song with co producers Kevin Gardner and Mackenzie Sinclair (Poison Jams) in spring of 2022, having performed an earlier version of the song while on tour with MØ and then Roe v. Wade was overturned. “When the overturn of Roe v. Wade happened it was devastating. It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me and for a moment I felt hopeless, but then I was full of rage,” Teza said. “The music allows me to channel my feelings into an action that I believe will inspire others to do the same.” Whether she’s whispering, belting or rapping, all of which are heard in ‘NOT YOUR BODY,’ Teza’s vocal range is dynamic and full of energy, aiding in her powerful two-and-a-half minute delivery of lyrics like “change will come once we change who we are looking towards / her story is history in disguise.” The song is just a preview of Teza’s capabilities and shows what Teza is all about: gender inclusivity, women’s rights, bodily autonomy and coexistence. Listen below.
Kaylee Lauren
Kaylee Lauren is a singer-songwriter who pairs her vulnerable and introspective lyrics with her emotional and distinctive vocals. The singer takes passion in her songwriting making sure her fans are able to connect with her music as much as possible as she writes relatable verses expressing the vulnerable emotions she experiences as a teenager. ‘Not Enough’ pairs instrumentals and raw vocals, along with emotional and relatable verses expressing the real, damaging thoughts that one experiences when dealing with insecurities. It eloquently conveys the intense and real emotions, the insecurities spark, and how easy it is to get lost within your own thoughts internally believing you are “not enough”. It’s the kind of song that allows you to feel connected to the music while relating the lyrics to the destructive insecurities in your own head. Listen below.
Check out more of our recent submissions via the playlist below!
