MUSIC IS LIFE

I follow music that sets me on fire

We feature the best new and emerging music from around the United States.

Latest Posts

From Venus to West Texas Care of Jesse Daniel Edwards
26Nov

From Venus to West Texas Care of Jesse Daniel Edwards

I owe so many words. I owe words to entire tours from last year that never went commemorated, to things that only happened weeks ago. But right now, I’m thinking about my weekend. A year ago—almost exactly—I started talking to Jesse Daniel Edwards about coming to my town. Time passed as it did. He toured […]

Rahim Quazi, Jon22, and Salim & the Philistines Rocked Sons of Hermann Hall 08/31/24
03Sep

Rahim Quazi, Jon22, and Salim & the Philistines Rocked Sons of Hermann Hall 08/31/24

The concert was a true celebration of beautiful, live music. Showcased were the talents of respected Dallas musical icons: Rahim Quazi and Salim Nourallah with his new band, the Philistines. It was a night to remember for years to come. Sons of Hermann Hall proved once again to be the perfect venue for a night […]

Jimmy Newquist and Salim Nourallah Live – A Night of Unforgettable Music
21Aug

Jimmy Newquist and Salim Nourallah Live – A Night of Unforgettable Music

This is serious Bucket List stuff. I have dreamed of introducing these two gentlemen for almost 6 years now: *Dallas, TX* – Fans of raw, authentic music are in for a treat as singer-songwriter Jimmy Newquist prepares to perform an intimate concert at Galactic HQ, a unique listening room with a limited capacity of just […]

Salim Nourallah Shines Bright with New Single “Hold the Sun”
19Jul

Salim Nourallah Shines Bright with New Single “Hold the Sun”

Then God said, “Let there be light.”  And there was light.  God saw that the light was good. genesis 1: 3-4 In the beginning the Universe was created.  This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “My precious sense […]

Buttery, Cupped and Comforted: An Also Ran in Retreat
09Jul

Buttery, Cupped and Comforted: An Also Ran in Retreat

Join the author on a journey of self-discovery as she attends the Buttercup Pajama Party & Creative Retreat in Comfort, TX. Through thought-provoking conversations, creative sharing, and stuffed animal companions, she confronts her feelings of being an "also ran" in the creative world. With humor and honesty, she navigates the challenges of balancing practicality and artistic expression, ultimately finding…

Deep Breath
03Jun

Deep Breath

“You never forget your first.” There’s a reason for that.  We waste our best love on our first… a relationship doomed by its very definition to failure.  Like the first time doing many things, we don’t know enough to be afraid. My philosophy regarding first love, or at least the first love that results in […]

Jesse Daniel Edwards:  Premiere Double Shot Live Video
30Aug

Jesse Daniel Edwards: Premiere Double Shot Live Video

I am absolutely delighted to bring you a taste of my introduction to JDE from last November at Salim’s listening room, Galactic Headquarters. In attendance that night was another person, Jon aka Orbit Carver, who also fell under Jesse’s musical spell… and much to my delight and luck, he was armed with a camera and […]

07/06/23 Pools Kids Dominate Ohio on the Opening Night of Their First Headliner Tour
09Jul

07/06/23 Pools Kids Dominate Ohio on the Opening Night of Their First Headliner Tour

The thing about plans is: they necessitate optimism. You have to assume the world will keep turning for long enough to get to the plans in… The Future. Three months ago, I went, “We should see the Pool Kids”… in Ohio! Somehow it made sense to fly 1200 miles to see them on a Thursday […]

Salim Nourallah: Record Release Mini Tour – Night Two – Austin
25Jun

Salim Nourallah: Record Release Mini Tour – Night Two – Austin

It’s cool, dark, quiet. Finally. We’re at our final hotel. My husband is sleeping. I’m behind again. I knew I would be. I didn’t manage to capture most of what happened on the road 6 months ago. Here we are again. There is something to be said for living these moments though and not necessarily […]

Salim Nourallah: Record Release Mini Tour – Night One – San Antonio
24Jun

Salim Nourallah: Record Release Mini Tour – Night One – San Antonio

Standing in front of the Lonesome Rose honky tonk in San Antonio, I am keenly reminded of what it was *not* when I last stood here. When last here it was January. It was not 95 degrees. I’m starting to sweat. I gravitate to available outdoor seating: a row of what appears to be old […]

Beautiful/Trivial Jesse Daniel Edwards
10May

Beautiful/Trivial Jesse Daniel Edwards

Sweet, aching sadness.  Bitter, snarling anger.  Gentle piano notes being smashed to a frantic crescendo.  Screeching guitar.  Whispering.  Insidious.   Jesse Daniel Edwards could curate the soundtrack to the chemically drenched sock hop I endeavor to conjure on my depression-mandated Ketamine trips.   My first impression of him was Little Steven (I only know about Little Steven […]