As a part of the University of Georgia’s Music Business Certificate Program, I am lucky enough to be classmates with a host of musicians and performers. So here, I want to highlight a few recent releases from my talented classmates.
Bea Porges is a singer-songwriter with a penchant for layered, relatable lyrics. Backed by fellow classmate Cannon Rogers on a warm but striking steel guitar, she released her new single “all day long” on March 24. A nice subtle bassline and simple drum pattern give the song a soft, jazzy feel. The true highlight of the track is Bea’s voice. Her vocal performance brings so much character and passion into a song that is otherwise muted. At 0:46 and 2:18 and specifically, her vocal slides pleasantly catch my ears and provide a necessary structural deviation. It’s a flowery track that delves into the all-too-common feeling of longing. The mellow ache of missing someone you love and wanting to share time with them. “Space and time and feeling fine and our shared sentiments,” are the words Bea herself uses to describe this situation. In her refrain she sings, “All day long, all day long I think about loving / And all day long all day long he thinks about nothing.” Love holds so much power over us all. But unfortunately she is a cruel mistress, and so often we have love for those who may not recognize and reciprocate its presence.
Ethan Faulkner, under artist name Balistix, and fellow beatboxer DEN, released collaboration “Love Love Love” on March 31. On this EDM track, both artists display a high level of vocal control and beatbox mastery. Kicks, claps, and a range of high and low synth-like sounds are reproduced to form the beat, as the pair take turns singing. In Balistix’s own words, “everything in the song was made only with the human mouth.” It feels so effortless, but it’s clear that both of these men have acquired their skills by spending their days and nights toiling over and honing their craft. Opening with “You were so hard to find / It wasn’t easy / But now that I found you / My life’s completed” is how this “somebody to love” is presented to us listeners. At 2:19, a bouncy breakdown provides an added element of variation, and this track would feel hollow without it. This fun, danceable track would do very well at energizing the crowd at an EDM show or club. Self-proclaimed “haters” of the genre could find significant value in this as well.
Tattoo Logic, a newly-formed five-member funk-punk band, released “Ghost of a Chance” on March 31. The track opens with some cymbal taps and a simple guitar riff and then it booms! Think “Misery Business” by Paramore, “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure, or “Helena” by My Chemical Romance. “As soon as I kicked the bucket / It was easier to forget than a Classic City obituary” starts the song off on a strong note. Silence and rests are as much a part of this song as the instruments and vocals are. The instrumental oscillates between choppy, staccato notes played in unison by the guitarists and a much wackier beat that feels almost like a cartoon chase scene. The chorus goes:
It’s not a ghost of a chance, or a whisper of faith
Tattoo Logic, Ghost of a Chance
You thought you were close but you were locked in a race
It’s a haunted dance, how it drifted away
And how we say… It’s not a ghost of a chance
Unexpectedly, the first chorus is followed by the entrance of metallic synths. It fits perfectly, giving an eerie, off-putting edge to the song. The bridge, while still teeming with nervous excitement, is more orchestral in nature. An especially strong part of the song is the head voice and slides employed by the lead female vocalist. This song reminds me of a scene in a movie; The somewhat outcast but loveably goofy and confident main character asserting themself as the looming conflict is just ready to boil over.
Whether it is passive or active, casual or impassioned, live music forms a basis of culture and community across the globe. If you can, go support these local young artists who help form this basis in Athens, Georgia. Who knows, maybe you’ll even be inspired to check out a show!
Adeboye Adeoye is a student at the University of Georgia studying Economics, Sociology, and Music Business. As an avid playlist maker, he always looks for connections and themes across albums and genres. He listens primarily to Hip Hop but enjoys R&B, Neo-Soul, Pop, Afrobeats, Indie, and more beyond that as well.