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Dust and Grace Lift Spirits with Charting New Single ‘Hallelujah’

Michael Stover
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Dust and Grace Lift Spirits with Charting New Single ‘Hallelujah’

Every once in a while, a song comes along that reminds us of why country music has always had such a close relationship with faith. “Hallelujah,” the latest single from Pittsburgh’s Dust and Grace, is one of those moments. It’s a song that doesn’t just nod toward spirituality—it fully embraces it, delivering a heartfelt message of redemption, gratitude, and joy with the sincerity that country music does best.

Written and produced by industry veteran Michael Stover, “Hallelujah” is as polished as it is powerful. The track has already made its mark on the charts, debuting at #40 on the CDX Nashville Positive Country airplay chart, and for good reason. It’s a sing-along anthem with the kind of hook that lodges itself in your heart and refuses to leave. The accompanying video, which is already climbing CMC TV USA’s country video playlist, gives visual life to the song’s spirit, bringing the band’s performance and message directly into the living rooms of listeners across the country.

Musically, Dust and Grace don’t stray from tradition. The production is rooted in classic country instrumentation—steady rhythms, ringing guitars, and a melody that feels as natural as Sunday morning in church. But what sets this apart is its joyful urgency. The band sings as if the song is happening to them in real time, as if redemption has just been discovered and they can’t help but proclaim it. That immediacy makes the listener feel included, pulled into the praise as if they’re part of the congregation.

The lyrics, too, are straightforward yet moving. In a genre where storytelling reigns supreme, “Hallelujah” doesn’t overcomplicate. It begins with a simple invitation: “I wanna sing something to ya / I wanna sing hallelujah.” From there, it builds into a communal call to worship, celebrating the universal power of song and belief. The second verse makes it personal, recalling the singer’s journey from doubt to faith: “I wasn’t born a believer / I was a desperate deceiver / Until I found my redeemer / He makes me wanna praise the Lord.” That’s the kind of plainspoken testimony that country music has always excelled at sharing.

Dust and Grace succeed in making “Hallelujah” both intimate and universal. The verses speak to personal transformation, while the choruses widen the scope, urging everyone within earshot to join in. The repeated refrain of “Everybody praise the Lord” is less instruction and more celebration—an irresistible rallying cry for all who listen.

In the end, “Hallelujah” feels like more than just another single release. It’s the kind of song that could easily become a staple at live shows, where the audience’s voices rise up to meet the band’s, creating a moment of shared joy that lingers long after the final chord. It also positions Dust and Grace as a band with something meaningful to say, carrying forward the tradition of country music as both storyteller and spiritual companion.

In today’s crowded landscape, it takes something special to break through. With “Hallelujah,” Dust and Grace have found that something. This is a song that lifts, inspires, and reminds us of the simple power of raising our voices together.

Would you like me to also create a shorter, pull-quote style blurb in Oermann’s voice (like he does in Music Row’s DISClaimer reviews), so you have both a long-form review and a quick industry-ready piece?

 

Jack Adamant Navigates Tension Between Emotion and Power in New Album Helium in Low Voltage Wiring

Sistra News Team
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Jack Adamant Navigates Tension Between Emotion and Power in New Album Helium in Low Voltage Wiring

Stockholm-based singer-songwriter Jack Adamant—originally from Italy—returns with his most dynamic and emotionally layered record yet, Helium in Low Voltage Wiring. This deeply introspective album, available on all streaming platforms, explores the delicate balance between raw vulnerability and powerful resolve, reflecting the artist’s evolution from analog indie folk to electrified alternative rock.

Since beginning his solo journey in 2012, Jack Adamant‘s music has drawn inspiration from American indie legends like J Mascis, Lou Barlow, Daniel Johnston, and Guided by Voices. His early experimentation with tape recordings and DIY mixing set the foundation for a career marked by emotional honesty and genre-fluid creativity.

With projects spanning the punk-tinged Obscure Places & Cupboards (2022) and prior albums like Unkind (2019), Jack has continually pushed his sound forward while remaining rooted in heartfelt songwriting.

This latest album juxtaposes ethereal musical textures with gritty guitar-driven soundscapes, channeling the tension of weightlessness tangled in current. Tracks such as “Stuck & Paralysed,” “Been There,” “Over Signs,” and “Inconvenient Times” showcase his ability to create hooky, emotionally resonant narratives within minimalist arrangements.

Crafted in Stockholm, Helium in Low Voltage Wiring emerges from a creative process rooted in solitude, late-night experimentation, and urban inspiration. Jack describes the record as “fragile yet forceful, reflective yet charged,” a testament to his unflinching exploration of personal and creative dualities.


 

Stereopsis by Kama Tala ft. Kevin Kahne

Abdelrahman Khaled
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Stereopsis by Kama Tala ft. Kevin Kahne

If you’ve ever given simulation theory some thought, then you will find “Stereopsis” by Kama Tala featuring Kevin Kahne supremely interesting. As it tackles the unsettling moment where a character trapped in a simulation realizes they are in one, you will be surprised by how fascinating and different their take on this thought experiment really is.

Let’s start from the top. The inception of the idea was just 4 lines that Kama Tala wrote. According to the press kit, the story went like this: “I told Kevin what I was thinking of when I was writing the song…I told him…imagine a character in a video game realizing they are in a game in that moment when their programmer/creator asks them, ‘Are you stalling in the game. It’s the reason why I came. Do you know my name? It will always be the same.”

From there, they started exploring their sonic options. The first piece of the puzzle was to incorporate a unique take on robotic vocals using a vocoder à la Daft Punk to simulate the trapped character in the game. The rest of the pieces fell into place quite naturally. With a strong motif played by strings and ethereal, twinkling pads and various synth layers in the distance, they managed to create the perfect atmosphere for a groovy sci-fi hi-fi track.

In our modern era, subjects like AI and Simulation Theory dominate cultural discussions and impact every moment of our lives. What Kama Tala and Kevin Kahne created here is more than a song; it’s a sonic exploration of the questions we ponder and grapple with every day. What is real? Where is the line dividing the creator and creation now that AI is getting more and more advanced? “Stereopsis” is a colorful song with a hypnotic groove that will help you on your journey of exploring such questions.

You Will Want My Love by Shelita

Cherine Abulwafa
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You Will Want My Love by Shelita

A BOLD STATEMENT OF DESIRE! 

Seattle-born, genre-fluid pop artist Shelita makes a powerful return with her latest single “You Will Want My Love,” a track that isn’t just a song, but a statement. This release marks the first glimpse into her forthcoming album Into the Depths, an intimate body of work born out of survival, transformation, and the rediscovery of voice after a near-fatal skydiving accident in Seychelles.

From the very first note, Shelita’s sultry, velvet-toned vocals captivate. There’s a depth in her delivery: soulful, direct, and magnetic. The chorus, simple yet unforgettable, lands like a declaration: she doesn’t just sing about love, she claims it with confidence and devotion. It’s a boldness that lingers long after the last beat fades.

Produced with Bellringer (Britney Spears) and co-written alongside William Henshall of Londonbeat, the single blends hypnotic rhythms, tropical house textures, and sleek contemporary pop polish. The result is a lush, cinematic soundscape that pulses with desire, moody yet inviting, sensual yet grounded. It’s the kind of track that slips seamlessly into commercial playlists while still carrying the undeniable mark of artistry.

What makes “You Will Want My Love” stand out is its duality: it’s both a mainstream-ready anthem and a deeply personal offering. The story behind it makes that clear: after multiple surgeries and a long recovery, Shelita found healing through freediving, reconnecting with her body and voice in the silence of the ocean. That sense of submersion and ascent is embedded in the song’s DNA; you feel the depth, the stillness, and the rising power.

Shelita has already been praised by NPR, Forbes, and Music Connection for her fearless approach to pop, but this new single feels like her most vulnerable and transportive work yet. More than just a love song, “You Will Want My Love” is a declaration of resilience, desire, and artistry, one that sets the stage for an album that promises to be as transformative as the journey that birthed it.

In Candlelight by Clare Easdown

Cherine Abulwafa
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In Candlelight by Clare Easdown

CANDLELIGHT: BURNING WITH FRAGILITY, URGENCY, AND A HAUNTING CALL FOR HUMANITY

Australian artist Clare Easdown emerges with a release that feels less like a song and more like a reckoning. With In Candlelight, Easdown delivers an intimate yet expansive anthem that flickers between grief, rage, and hope. Produced entirely in her Sydney lounge room with just an iPhone, headphones, and the glow of a single candle, the track captures an unfiltered emotional rawness that lingers long after its final note.

What makes In Candlelight so powerful is its ability to balance intimacy with universality. The production is deliberately restrained, brooding piano chords, subtle textures, and atmospheric layers that bloom slowly, leaving space for Easdown’s voice to stand at the center. Her vocals are fragile yet unflinching, carrying a duality of vulnerability and conviction that transforms the listening experience into something visceral. At moments, she whispers as though revealing a personal confession; in others, her delivery rises like a protest chant, embodying the weight of human suffering and the persistence of hope.

Lyrically, the song refuses apathy. Inspired by relentless images of war across Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen, Easdown uses the candle’s flame as her central metaphor: a fragile symbol of resilience and the enduring human spirit. Rather than treating war as a distant abstraction, she confronts listeners with its immediate reality, creating a piece that functions as both vigil and protest. It’s music designed to pierce silence and stir empathy, to remind us that conflict is never far from the lives of people just like us.

Easdown’s influences are woven into the fabric of the track: the urgent conviction of Dolores O’Riordan, the fearless storytelling of PJ Harvey, the moody atmospheres of Massive Attack, and the cinematic vulnerability of Sevdaliza. Yet her sound is distinctly her own—an ethereal blend of trip-hop textures, minimalist instrumentation, and raw, unpolished vocal takes that refuse the gloss of commercial pop. The imperfections are intentional, ensuring the song feels alive with conviction rather than airbrushed for consumption.

Ultimately, In Candlelight is not background music; it’s a haunting sonic vigil that demands presence. It’s a reminder that music, at its core, is not just entertainment but a vessel for awareness, empathy, and change. By lighting her candle and singing into the darkness, Clare Easdown has crafted one of the year’s most poignant and necessary releases, a fragile yet unyielding anthem that burns with both mourning and defiance.

I Found A Monster by Seth Schaeffer

Nada Medhat
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I Found A Monster by Seth Schaeffer

“I Found a Monster” is a song that couldn’t have been made except by a filmmaker. Composed by Seth Schaeffer, a Nashville-based composer and  filmmaker, “I Found a Monster” is a highly experimental song that is genre-fluid in the precise way that not only cinematic music, but indie cinema itself can be. Released on the 18th of July 2025, the single is Schaeffer’s first move into the world of music beyond the compositions he made for his own films. 

In his own words, Schaeffer approaches music-making the same way he approaches filmmaking, which is perhaps what leads to the unique landscape of the song. It’s music from elsewhere. This particular approach has to do with movement. From the broken acoustic bass to the low piano strings, the harmonies drift in and out of the expected notes, with the melody coming and going into focus, all wrapped around the main male haunted, low vocals, the song is both fluid and gritty in its movements.

It shows even a hint of struggle that perfectly fits the “dialogue” between the speaker and the monster inside his head, who represents his true-self. The collaborations only add more life to the music, with Emily Hatch adding the backing vocals, Judah Schaeffer for vocal effects, Vigilance Brandon with the trumpet lines, and Marco Pescosolido and Nikos Mavridis for the most striking aspect of the song: the string solo and sections. Overall, it is a song that is easy to resonate with, with its exploration of what it takes to accept the most undesirable parts of ourselves.


Learn more about his project through his official website here.

Album: Who’s Got My Lighter by Jeff Summa and the Roasters

Abdelrahman Khaled
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Album: Who’s Got My Lighter by Jeff Summa and the Roasters

When an album starts off with a 9-minute song, it’s a statement. It’s declaring that it’s not for those who seek the instant gratification of the modern age of songs. Jeff Summa and The Roasters’ “Who’s Got My Lighter” is for those who crave an experience they can immerse themselves in fully. An album that should be consumed religiously and actively listened to in one sitting. I believe that is the only way to experience such a varied and nuanced creation.

If it’s not obvious from the title, the album is like Funkadelic, Frank Zappa, and Stoner music from the ’70s combined into one beautiful concoction. There is so much musicality on display here, and the musicians are having an absolute blast. Everybody gets a solo, everybody gets to improvise and add their touch to this amazing, soulful album. Let us embark on this transformative spiritual journey together.

These influences I mentioned are immediately apparent in the title track. It is just straight up fun, has a great sense of humor, and the drumming is simply top tier. It’s setting you up to lie back because this is going to be a whole ride. The groove and what the brass section plays remind me of Japanese jazz fusion. There is more music in this one track than in some albums. Jeff Summa and The Roasters waste absolutely no time and go ham on the very first track of this incredible record.

Bringing it down a notch, the band effectively draws you into a more mellow track, “Iguanas”. Vibes are good until that synth lead hits, then it becomes amazing. The sense of melody and how the ensemble moves through the harmony together in perfect chemistry will leave a smile on your face and melt the coldest of hearts.

Transporting us to reggae land, “Non-reality” features lyrics that challenge your perception of reality and explore themes of voodoo magic, and the music really slows down to give the lyrical storytelling more space. A clavinet also joins the fray of varied textures on this track and helps polish its trance-like groove.

Now, about groove, the swing on “Funk All Night” is nasty; it’s just so deep in the pocket you can’t help but move along with it. Jeff Summa and The Roasters are effectively now in “The Zone” from the Pixar movie “Soul” where every musician is locked in and completely one with the music. The tastiest riffs and fills I’ve heard all year. This record continues to surprise me, and we’re only halfway through.

“Simple Song” takes us in a completely different direction into country ballad territory. But it tackles a topic that is foreign to the genre. It’s about the creative process and how one becomes inspired to write a song. And as always, the textures continue to vary. This one has a texture inspired by Dire Straits. Showcasing their versatility and their musical prowess once again.

“Loss Cat” picks up the pace back into absurdity. All the instruments go wild on this track, just like the titular character; everybody is lost in the groove in their own pocket universe. Probably the most Zappa-inspired track on the album.

“That Ship Has Sailed” is more blues-oriented, following a traditional progression but keeping similar instrumentation and arrangement to the other tracks. Honestly, the album feels like it was all done in one take. That’s how cohesive it feels. The song’s lyrics are an effective form of social commentary about how the importance of truth has dwindled in society, and the lines between truth and lies begin to blur.

A much dreamier song now, “So Far Away” has bright layers of harmony while the organ constantly drones in the background. You will feel like you’re floating through the clouds with beautifully executed minute-long, clean guitar solos as the band’s dynamics take off to take you far away and finally land in the next track.

“Everybody Knows” starts with a fanfare of brass sounds ushering in the infectious groove of the song. The song tackles the sobering theme of life’s responsibilities catching up to a free soul with grace, not wrath, not complaining about not being able to party all the time. That’s just the way it goes, as they say. And so we savor the moments where we get to have fun.

Taking a more serious turn now, in “High Mage” the atmosphere is magical (pun intended). Seriously, I had to put my drink down just to take it in. The psychedelic and progressive rock aspect of the album reaches its peak as the lyrics recite concepts of esoteric magic and the music takes unexpected turns through multiple tonalities, like going through a labyrinth, unveiling esoteric secrets lost long ago.

“Waters Run Still” serves as the finale of this Technicolor movie of an album with lush acoustic guitar and grand piano sounds. A heartfelt ballad full of nostalgia that explores the days of youth and how it seemed like we had endless time and dreams as kids, and that those dreams were not achieved. But it’s not bitter, no, it does the opposite. The song serves as a reminder that the waters run still and that your dreams are still achievable, and I think it’s a perfect positive ending to this musical odyssey.

Jeff Summa and The Roasters’ “Who’s Got My Lighter” is a life-changing genre-bending album that you should get your friends together and listen to with a good sound system or in a car together, and just sit in silence to enjoy it and really cherish it because this is audible gold. A genuinely well-crafted, passionately made piece of art, and one that will definitely have a lasting impact on you.


 

Chris Ianuzzi Unleashes Surreal Sonic Adventure with New Single “The Bells Rang On”

Sistra News Team
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Chris Ianuzzi Unleashes Surreal Sonic Adventure with New Single “The Bells Rang On”

Experimental electronic music composer Chris Ianuzzi continues his journey as a menacing creative Cheshire Cat with his confounding and strangely delightful new single “The Bells Rang On”. This hook-filled gem comes straight from far left field and is perhaps not to be understood but to be felt like hand to flame. This fascinating new composition follows Chris’s recent single “Reality Games”, which gave a stark commentary on America’s current zeitgeist.

“The Bells Rang On”, as it turns out, captures a surreal zeitgeist all it’s own.

“Buy the ticket , take the ride. Thank you, Hunter S. Thompson“ – Chris Ianuzzi


Chris has been in a constant state of rapid evolution with his completely original synth-heavy electronica, adventurous and post-punk hybrid sound. Unafraid to take bold creative risks, Ianuzzi has leaned into sonic experimentation while embracing new technologies such as artificial intelligence and Dolby Atmos production. His efforts are clearly paying off. His AI music video for “Lonesome Highway Superstar” took home several awards (Winner in Japan indies Music Festival – Best Electronica, Winner of Best Music Video in Movie Play International, Winner of Best Music Video in Filmnest International), while “Edge of the Earth” was a finalist at the Cannes World Film Festival and selected for the Japan Indie Film Festival (JIFF).

Chris Ianuzzi‘s music is at once apocalyptic and devilishly fun, recklessly leaning into the untethered and unknown. His artistic expressions are challenging and tend to divide public opinion, which is what makes them so potent for those that ‘get the message’.

Scansion by Exzenya

Cherine Abulwafa
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Scansion by Exzenya

A MAGNETIC RHYTHM OF DESIRE

 With Scansion, Exzenya delivers more than just a song; she crafts an immersive world where rhythm, emotion, and connection collide in a hypnotic swirl. This Spanish-infused pop-R&B single pulses with primal attraction, its sultry grooves and magnetic hook pulling the listener into a space that’s as intimate as it is expansive.

Drawing from a life lived across continents and cultures, Exzenya infuses Scansion with the richness of global soundscapes. Spanish-tinged rhythms dance beneath her commanding vocals, while lush R&B textures wrap the track in warmth and depth. The song’s very title, borrowed from the literary art of decoding poetic meter, becomes a metaphor for reading another person’s emotional rhythm, syncing with their energy in a way that feels both instinctive and electric.

Her vocal performance is nothing short of captivating. Gliding through Arabian modal scales with exquisite control, Exzenya blends steady and light vibrato, nimble riffs, and effortless flips into a performance that feels ancient in its roots yet modern in its execution. Every phrase is deliberate, carrying both the confidence of experience and the vulnerability of true intimacy.

Production-wise, Scansion is sleek yet textured, a masterclass in atmosphere. The beat is steady but alive, the arrangement global yet cohesive, making it a track equally suited for late-night dancing or quiet, private moments of reflection. Like its creator, the song refuses to be confined by genre, moving fluidly between sensuality, sophistication, and storytelling.

With Scansion, Exzenya proves that music is more than sound: it’s an act of connection and a decoding of human desire! 

Give Me Your Love by Prience (Prince) Moore

Cherine Abulwafa
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Give Me Your Love by Prience (Prince) Moore

A SOULFUL GROOVE AND WARMTH

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Prience (Prince) Moore returns with a tender yet groove-infused offering in his latest single, Give Me Your Love. Produced by Michael Miller, the track blends silky R&B textures with heartfelt storytelling, resulting in a sound that’s as emotionally resonant as it is irresistibly smooth.

Give Me Your Love draws listeners into its cozy, late-night atmosphere. Prience’s expressive, velvety vocals glide over a rhythm that’s both catchy and understated, letting the lyrics take center stage. His words: clear, relatable, and unpretentious, paint a picture of longing and connection, rooted in a real-life moment that sparked the song’s creation. The chorus, praised by his brother for its infectious pull, balances vulnerability with a radio-ready lift that lingers long after the track ends.

The production is as thoughtful as the songwriting. Miller’s arrangement leaves space for the music to breathe, allowing the bass, keys, and background harmonies to weave an intimate sonic tapestry. The outro, in particular, is a masterclass in restraint, stripping the instrumentation down to its essentials while letting Prience’s soft adlibs fade like a memory you want to hold onto.

Influenced by the likes of Babyface and George Michael, Prience doesn’t simply borrow from his idols, he channels their emotive depth while shaping a sound distinctly his own. His commitment to lyrical precision is evident in every line, and it’s this attention to detail, paired with his warm delivery, that makes Give Me Your Love a track worth returning to again and again.

Whether you’re here for the groove, the sentiment, or both, this is contemporary R&B at its most inviting, proof that Prience Moore is steadily carving his place in today’s soul landscape.

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