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Doctor Noize – Some People See, But I Don’t
Doctor Noize Reframes Perspective With A Funky, Joy-Driven Anthem
In recognition of Disability Awareness Month, Doctor Noize folds family, funk, and purpose into “Some People See, But I Don’t,” a bright, brass-kissed pop cut that finds its pulse in his wife Janette’s life. Rather than framing blindness as limitation, the song leans into her wit, determination, and steady self-belief, turning lived experience into something expansive and deeply human. It’s the kind of track that sways with warmth but still lands with intent.
The single is the final preview of Positive Energy! (The Music of Doctor Noize), and it fits his catalog’s blend of narrative playfulness and real-world heart. With contributions from Jeremy Cohen, Art Bouton, and a horn section that gives the arrangement a celebratory lift, the record feels both polished and personal. The video, directed by daughter Sidney Cullinan, extends that spirit with closed captioning and audio description, making inclusivity part of the art, not an afterthought.
Gianfranco GFN – Traces of the World
Gianfranco GEN Traces The World Through Groove On “Traces Of The World”
Gianfranco GFN lets “Traces of the World” breathe like a passport full of memories: warm guitar lines, supple bass, crisp drums and luminous keys folding Acid Jazz, Soul, Funk and World Music into one easy, cinematic glide. The track doesn’t chase a destination so much as the feeling of movement itself — the way travel, cultural encounters and human connection leave their own fingerprints in the music. There’s an organic pulse here, but also a reflective glow, as if the song is listening back to the places that shaped it. GFN’s playing leads with taste rather than flash, and that restraint gives the single its charm. It’s a groove with open air around it, a reminder that the world can still sound communal, curious and alive.
Osmojam – à bas bruit
Osmojam Finds Something Striking In Silence
Paris artist Osmojam makes a quietly bold move on “à bas bruit,” a self-produced single that folds mature French R&B into something stranger and more intimate. Built in her home studio, the track leans on tabla as its rhythmic spine, giving the beat a pulse that feels both supple and off-center, like silk catching on rough grain. That tension suits the writing: intricate, elliptical, and preoccupied with how easily we drift from ourselves and what matters most.
Osmojam doesn’t spell everything out, and that’s the point. She lets the song breathe in fragments and atmosphere, shaping a smooth, beautiful surface that hides real emotional weight underneath. After a long pause from making music, “à bas bruit” feels less like a reset than a declaration of control—an artist composing, writing, producing, and arranging every detail with patience and intent.
Hemaksh Rao – Running me down
Boy from the Hills Harmonizes Blues and Indie Rock
Hemaksh Rao’s “Running Me Down” blends blues, indie rock, and R&B into a guitar-led track about pressure, endurance, and pushing forward. Raised in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Rao draws on influences ranging from John Mayer to A.R. Rahman, bringing melodic detail and blues-inflected phrasing into a tightly controlled arrangement.
Recorded in London, the song pairs sharp guitar lines with a steady rhythm section that keeps its tension close to the surface. That sense of strain mirrors the song’s central idea: being worn down without giving in. More outward-facing than some of Rao’s introspective work, “Running Me Down” frames resilience not as easy triumph, but as the decision to keep moving while the pressure remains.
Maria – Open Your Eyes
A Soulful Ode to Feminine Strength: Maria Solena’s “Open Your Eyes”
Maria Solena‘s “Open Your Eyes” blends jazz-pop polish with the warmth of swing, Brazilian rhythm, and classic vocal phrasing. Drawing comparisons to artists such as Sade and Nancy Wilson, Solena brings a poised, expressive presence to a song centred on the resilience, wisdom, and lived experience of women.
The track takes inspiration from everyday heroines, framing strength through empathy, self-worth, and emotional depth rather than spectacle. Emmy Award-winner Michael K. Leader has described Solena as “meticulous in phrasing, delicate in dynamics,” with an “almost transparent quality” to her voice. Having shared stages with jazz figures including Richie Cole and Seamus Blake, Solena brings that same sense of control and nuance to “Open Your Eyes,” where elegance and affirmation move in step.
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