Category: Pop

  • Anna Called: The New DIY 24-Track Album by Pascale Cheron

    Anna Called: The New DIY 24-Track Album by Pascale Cheron

    After two years of writing, recording, and mixing entirely on her own, Pascale Cheron has released her debut 24-track album “Anna Called“, now available on streaming platforms. The earlier released soulful, meditative title single named “Anna Called” is also.

    To celebrate the release, Pascale is embarking on a spring and summer tour across the East and West Coasts alongside longtime friend and collaborator Sophia Eliana. Titled the Experimental Bangs Tour, the run kicks off May 10th in Bar Harbor, ME, and culminates at the Underground Music Festival in Denver in late July. Along the way, Pascale will be performing with local bands comprised of both friends and musicians she discovered through TikTok, creating a genre-fluid live experience rooted in connection, improvisation, and discovery.

    About The New Release — “My name was Anna, but my mom changed it to Pascale when I was born,” says Pascale. “She tells me my name has a letter for each one of my aunts. A perfectly consonant string of them all. In honor of the women who made me. The sound of my name. I wrote, recorded, and mixed each song on this album over two years,” says Pascale. “This album is for Anna.”

    Anna Called moves through serene ambient landscapes, soulful vocal improvisations, and dreamy experimental textures. Its sound is both intimate and expansive, layering meditative rhythms with powerful bursts of emotion. Each track unfolds like a memory—fluid, surprising, and deeply personal—creating a sonic journey that honors identity, reinvention, and the women who shaped her.

    About The Artist — Pascale Cheron is a singer-songwriter whose musical identity is deeply rooted in jazz, yet effortlessly transcends genre boundaries. Her work is marked by a rare fusion of technical mastery and emotional depth, making her a standout figure in contemporary music. As a composer, producer, and vocalist, she brings a multidimensional approach to her craft, weaving together intricate harmonies, evocative lyrics, and atmospheric soundscapes. Her artistry reflects a deep understanding of both musical tradition and innovation, allowing her to create pieces that are both timeless and forward-thinking.

    A recent graduate of UC Berkeley, Pascale earned dual degrees in Society & Environment and Music, a combination that speaks to her holistic vision as an artist and activist. Her academic background informs her creative process, enabling her to explore themes of ecological consciousness, social justice, and human connection through her music. She views songwriting not only as a form of personal expression but also as a tool for cultural dialogue and transformation. Her goal is to foster awareness and empathy through her work, often collaborating with visual artists, filmmakers, and community organizers to amplify her message.

    Critics and listeners alike have praised Pascale’s music for its “striking atmosphere … where emotional power and dreaminess meet,” as noted by Various Small Flames. Her sound is often described as hauntingly ethereal, with an improvisatory approach to melody that evokes both vulnerability and strength. Drawing inspiration from artists like Joni Mitchell, Esperanza Spalding, and Björk, Pascale blends jazz phrasing with ambient textures and poetic lyricism. Her performances are known for their intimacy and spontaneity, often incorporating live looping and vocal layering to create immersive sonic experiences.

    Since 2018, Pascale has written over 75 original songs, showcasing her prolific creativity and dedication to her craft. She has released three full-length albums and a series of singles that span themes from climate grief to personal healing. Her discography reflects a journey of artistic evolution, with each project revealing new facets of her musical and emotional landscape. Whether recording in a studio or performing live, Pascale maintains a commitment to authenticity and experimentation, constantly pushing the boundaries of her sound.

    Her touring experience has taken her across the globe, performing both as a solo artist and as a collaborator with other musicians. Highlights include appearances at the Alien Disko Festival at the Volkstheater in Munich, Germany, the Center for New Media and Audio Technologies in Berkeley, the Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Sonoma Bluegrass Festival. These performances have allowed her to connect with diverse audiences and share her message on international stages. Pascale’s live shows are celebrated for their emotional resonance and technical finesse, often leaving a lasting impression on those in attendance.

    Listen to “Anna Called and follow Pascale Cheron on Instagram as she continues to explore the intersection of music, activism, and community.

  • Sarah Bernstein Debuts New Era With “Loser Of The Year”

    Sarah Bernstein Debuts New Era With “Loser Of The Year”

    Sarah Bernstein has risen to new heights with the single “Loser of the Year.” This is a departure from her previous works. Bernstein meticulously crafted a composition that authentically captures the essence of early 2000s angsty Pop Rock, drawing inspiration from iconic influences such as Fall Out Boy and the Freaky Friday (2003) soundtrack.

    Through the intricate process of writing, performing, and recording the song, Bernstein found confidence, a sentiment that permeates the single’s very fabric. “Loser of the Year” is not merely a song; it is an invitation for listeners to experience and embrace the artist’s self-assured spirit vicariously.

    About the New Release — “Loser of the Year” underwent a transformative evolution. “As a songwriter, the song is meaningful to me in a whole different way. I haven’t shared this yet, but it’s actually adapted from a song I wrote at 17,” says Bernstein. “I came across it in the archives of an old laptop last summer and shared it with my boyfriend Allan. Shockingly, it didn’t make either of us cringe. Instead, there was actually something really special about it that I noticed my songs didn’t have anymore. I’m happy to have that back.”

    “Loser of the Year” was written by Sarah Bernstein and produced by Bernstein and her mentor, Shane Adams. It was engineered and mixed by Kenny Varga, and recorded in Nashville at Coop DeVille Studio featuring drums by Wes Little, bass by Luis Espaillat, guitar by Justin Ostrander, and piano by Shane Adams.

    With mastering by Alex Dobbert at True East Mastering, this release marks a defining moment in Sarah Bernstein’s career, showcasing not only musical prowess but a deep-seated connection with their own narrative and a commitment to inspiring confidence in others.

    About The Artist — A German-American Singer/Songwriter, after recording her EP Man in the Moon in Germany at 17 and publishing her music across streaming platforms, Sarah Bernstein’s original song ‘Boomerang’ went on to be a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. After initially attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, she transferred to Fordham University, where she found home in New York City. Her self-produced EP Spellbound is an ode to her time here, now approaching a decade.

    During the pandemic, Sarah’s focus shifted from the stage back to songwriting and the studio. After returning to Berklee through their online certificate program, she was introduced to her mentor and producer, Shane. In November 2020, she traveled to Nashville for the first time. Her song ‘Till 3am’ was the first of five singles recorded there as she evolved her sound over the next three years. In July 2022, her single ‘Maxine’ debuted on German radio as part of Bayern 3’s Newcomer contest.

    In 2023, Bernstein was thrilled to return to the stage to perform six solo shows beginning at The Mint in Los Angeles. She also crossed several iconic New York City venues off her bucket list, making her debut at Rockwood Music Hall and the legendary Bitter End (…twice) later that year. Her next release, “A Woman Like Me,” is currently in production and scheduled to be released this spring.

    Listen to “Loser Of The Year”.

  • Brea Fournier & the Dream Ballet’s Debut Album “Manic Pixie Dream Girl!” to Debut at City Winery NYC

    Brea Fournier & the Dream Ballet’s Debut Album “Manic Pixie Dream Girl!” to Debut at City Winery NYC

    Brea Fournier & The Dream Ballet have unveiled their latest musical masterpiece, Manic Pixie Dream Girl!, a 17-track Pop-Punk feminist album that follows the journey of a twenty-something free-spirited woman who rebels against her assigned role as a shallow indie film trope.

    The album will debut its one-of-a-kind cabaret show at City Winery NYC on March 11 at 7:30 pm. The live performance promises an immersive experience, blending the energetic spirit of pop-punk with the intimate storytelling of a cabaret and showcasing the band’s versatility and passion as they guide the audience through the rebellious journey of Manic Pixie Dream Girl! Tickets are on sale now.

    About the New Release — Manic Pixie Dream Girl! was conceptualized and written by Brea Fournier, produced by Barb Morrison, engineered by Jeremy Kinney, Matt Graff, Dan Malsch, and Sam Warfield, mixed by Jonathan Jetter, mastered by Randy Merrill, and features lead guitar by Ben Shanblatt, bass by Noah Rosner, drums/percussion by Sophia Bondi, backing vocals by Sophia Bondi, Noah Rosner, and Ben Shanblatt, and lead vocals and rhythm guitars by Brea Fournier.

    The album boldly challenges and redefines the stereotypical portrayal of its titular character, delving into the struggles of self-perception and societal expectations and infusing a feminist perspective into its pop-punk sound. Through a dynamic exploration of the character’s inner monologue, the music captures her journey of breaking free from societal limitations, pushing back against the confines of the male gaze, and ultimately seeking to become the protagonist in her own narrative. Listen today on all streaming platforms.

    About The Artist — Brea Fournier, the visionary force behind the band, has a rich history of captivating audiences in iconic NYC venues such as The Bitter End, Heaven Can Wait, and Mercury Lounge, as well as in California, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.

    Brea Fournier & the Dream Ballet is an NYC-based pop-rock/pop-punk collective. Composed of singer and songwriter Brea Fournier, guitarist Ben Shanblatt, drummer Sophia Bondi, and bassist Noah Rosner, their sound has been described as “Paramore, but in the ’80s” and “Joan Jett attitude meets Joni Mitchell lyricism.” In February of 2024, the band released their debut rock opera Manic Pixie Dream Girl!, recorded with producer Barb Morrison (Franz Ferdinand/Blondie). In the summer of 2023, the Dream Ballet hit the road for a West Coast Tour, making stops at legendary venues such as The Triple Door in Seattle and Kilby Court in Salt Lake City.

    Fournier is a graduate of the Clive Davis Institute, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Recorded Music. With a background in musical theatre and classical voice and a passion for feminist rock music, Fournier blends all the colors of her musical palette in her live performances, giving fans an eclectic display of unapologetic hyper-femininity they won’t soon forget.

    Listen to Manic Pixie Dream Girl!”.