Lucy Lerner, Author at Neon Music

Boy In Space Questions Belonging on Who’s Crying When I’m Leaving?

Lucy Lerner — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:58:03 +0000

Robin Lundbäck aka Boy In Space opens ‘Who’s Crying When I’m Leaving?’ admitting he’s been a hard friend to keep and reflecting on loneliness .

This isn’t the usual touring musician lament. He’s talking about moving constantly since childhood, learning to detach because distance does its work slowly, quietly.

Half a billion streams from songs about leaving, and he still can’t answer the title question.

His voice glides over fingerpicked guitar before the track swells with driving drums, violin, even tambourine. It leans into country sounds without fully committing.

The production stays warm but restless, building momentum whilst keeping that acoustic intimacy at its centre.

What cuts through is the honesty about detachment. Lundbäck doesn’t romanticise the nomadic life.

He’s written enough songs about goodbyes to recognise the pattern: things don’t end ugly, they just fade.

When discussing the song, Lundbäck said, “I’ve always moved and traveled a lot…..And I understand why I’ve been a hard friend to keep at times”. He’s not asking for sympathy, here, he’s stating fact.

The pull between wanting to stay put and needing to keep moving gives the song its weight. It’s not about finding home.

It’s about admitting you don’t know what belonging feels like whilst hoping it arrives eventually.

Lundbäck stepped away from touring to record this with a live band. You can hear it in the way the song breathes, rougher around the edges than his usual work.

Whether he finds his place or not, he’s at least stopped pretending the question doesn’t matter.

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I Shiver “RIPTIDE” Review: Finding Home in Hushed Vulnerability

Lucy Lerner — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:08:55 +0000

I Shiver builds RIPTIDE on whispers and breath. From the opening moments, hushed vocals sit close to the ear, never rushing to impress. Gentle acoustics and melody create an airy soundscape that feels fragile yet reassuring.

The song moves slowly, but with purpose, allowing each line to land without clutter. There is a sense of watching over someone you love, checking they are still there, still breathing, while trying to calm your own spiralling thoughts.

Lyrically, “RIPTIDE” focuses on imbalance and the fear of losing control, but it never sinks into despair. Instead, it searches for a quieter form of hope.

Each line lands softly but carries weight, particularly when describing the desperate act of checking if someone’s still breathing beside you.

“Rushed up
Just to see if you’re
If you’re still breathing
For now
Could for now just let this rest”

Nothing feels forced. The restraint works in the song’s favour, making every swell of sound feel earned. I Shiver’s voice draws you in with quiet hypnotic power, the kind of intimacy that makes you lean closer rather than turn up the volume.

For listeners drawn to emotionally honest indie music, “RIPTIDE” stands as a reflective and comforting release. It suits late nights, long walks, and those moments when you need to feel less alone with your thoughts.

The post I Shiver “RIPTIDE” Review: Finding Home in Hushed Vulnerability appeared first on Neon Music.

Alexa Kate “Forever” Review: A Delicate Meditation on Time and Transformation

Lucy Lerner — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:55:30 +0000

Alexa Kate captures something relatable on “Forever”: the strange disorientation of looking back at yourself and barely recognising the person you see.

This is a song for thoughts that drift in the middle of the night, when you’re too tired to lie to yourself about how quickly everything changes.

The production strips away any unnecessary layers. Tender acoustic arrangements create space for Kate’s vocals to float through an airy soundscape that feels like breath itself.

She sings softly, intimately, as though sharing secrets. The delicate melody never pushes, or demands attention. It simply exists. Rather like the fleeting moments the lyrics mourn.

Kate wrestles with time’s cruel mathematics throughout the track. “Same hands but they’re different / Close my eyes and then three years go by” captures that vertigo of suddenly realising you’ve changed without noticing the exact moment it happened.

What makes “Forever” particularly affecting is how Kate refuses easy answers. She knows she’ll be fine somehow, but that knowledge doesn’t stop the anxiety.

She wants to see things as she did back then, whilst simultaneously accepting that the version of herself who saw that way no longer exists.

The chorus phrase “I’m changing forever” cleverly collapses two meanings: she’s changing for all time, and she’s changing what forever even means.

This stripped-back approach suits the material perfectly. Kate doesn’t need production tricks or vocal gymnastics to make her point.

Sometimes vulnerability sounds exactly like this: quiet, honest, and achingly aware of everything slipping away.

The post Alexa Kate “Forever” Review: A Delicate Meditation on Time and Transformation appeared first on Neon Music.

Riatto & The Dog Feat. LÉO’s ‘Carry On’ Blends Indie-Folk Nostalgia with Resilience

Lucy Lerner — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:49:11 +0000

Riatto & The Dog understands something fundamental about folk music. The best songs sound like they’ve always existed. “Carry On” achieves this rare quality through genuinely organic production that strips away studio polish in favour of raw, analog warmth.

The result feels like stumbling upon a forgotten recording session from the 1960s, yet the emotions land with immediate relevance.

The song tackles life’s bitter moments head-on. When relationships sour and homes become unfamiliar territory, the lyrics capture that specific loneliness of feeling like a stranger in your own life.

Lines about free falling through restless dreams and gambling without realising the stakes speak to the universal experience of watching things crumble whilst trying to maintain forward momentum. Yet “Carry On” never wallows.

What makes this collaboration particularly effective is how the male and female vocals interweave. The harmonies of Riatto and LÉO recall Simon & Garfunkel’s intuitive blend, where two voices create something greater than their individual parts without competing for space.

The instrumentation keeps your foot tapping throughout, grounding the wistful lyrics in an upbeat energy that refuses to let melancholy take full control.

“Carry On” rewards repeated listening. First play, you catch the infectious melody. Second time, the production details emerge: the way the vocals sit in the mix, the subtle instrumental choices that build texture without clutter. A third listen reveals how carefully the song balances its contradictions: uplifting whilst acknowledging pain, nostalgic yet present, intimate despite its energetic delivery.

This is indie-folk that trusts its craft enough to keep things simple. No overproduction, no unnecessary flourishes, just artists who understand how to turn personal struggles into communal anthems. Sometimes carrying on just means singing along.

The post Riatto & The Dog Feat. LÉO’s ‘Carry On’ Blends Indie-Folk Nostalgia with Resilience appeared first on Neon Music.

HIEN ft. Oreine “i know you” Review: Y2K Pop Nostalgia

Lucy Lerner — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 19:50:23 +0000

Brooklyn-based artist HIEN delivers something genuinely refreshing with “i know you,” a collaboration with Oreine that bottles the feeling of a perfect summer afternoon spent with your closest friends.

The track sits comfortably in the Y2K pop revival space, channelling NewJeans’ glossy production whilst maintaining its own identity through club-influenced textures and HIEN’s distinctly ethereal vocal approach.

The song’s strength lies in its immersive soundscape. Sweet vocals float over a catchy melody that burrows into your brain, and whilst the lyrics repeat themselves, this repetition actually works in the track’s favour. Rather than feeling lazy, it creates a dreamlike quality that mirrors those hazy moments when you’re so present with people you love that time seems to blur.

The music video matches the sonic warmth perfectly. Shot in vibrant colours, it captures a sun-drenched day filled with the simple pleasures: bubble machines, games, picnics, dancing and laughter.

There’s something beautifully unforced about watching this close-knit group of friends existing in their joy, celebrating each other’s individuality without performance or pretence.

“i know you” positions itself as a love letter to girlhood and friendships. It’s not trying to reinvent pop music or make grand statements.

Instead, it captures the feeling of belonging and pure sunshine that comes from being surrounded by people who truly see you. And you know what? Sometimes that’s enough.

The post HIEN ft. Oreine “i know you” Review: Y2K Pop Nostalgia appeared first on Neon Music.

Natalie Del Carmen’s “June, You’re on My Mind”: Bittersweet Americana at Its Finest

Lucy Lerner — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:07:01 +0000

There’s a particular ache that comes with trying to forget someone who refuses to stay forgotten. Natalie Del Carmen captures that feeling perfectly on “June, You’re on My Mind,” the latest single from her upcoming album Pastures, set for release on January 30th via Torrez Music Group.

The track opens with uplifting acoustics and warm vocals that immediately evoke memories of campfire nights under a starry sky.

Del Carmen’s beautiful vocals float over light acoustic strings, piano, and soft percussion. The production, courtesy of Tennessee collective Brunjo, features mandolin and fiddle flourishes. This gives the song its unmistakable Americana texture without overwhelming the storytelling.

Lyrically, Del Carmen explores what she calls the “emotional attic” where we store remnants of past relationships.

She describes finding someone tucked away in the depths of her memory, neatly packed but never truly gone. The melody is catchy and tender, drawing you into that bittersweet space between moving on and holding on.

What makes this song work is its honesty about emotional baggage. Del Carmen admits: “To be good upon my lonesome / All the while / I never get to the bottom of my burdens”.

The production credentials speak for themselves. Mastered by Eric Conn (who’s worked with Neil Young and John Prine) and mixed by Grammy-winning producer Brandon Bell (Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell), the single balances youthful perspective with classic bluegrass textures beautifully.

Del Carmen has already earned praise from outlets like The Bluegrass Situation and rotation on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country.

Following her Americanafest debut at The Bluebird Cafe, she’s proving herself as one of Americana’s most promising voices. And “June, You’re on My Mind” shows exactly why.

The post Natalie Del Carmen’s “June, You’re on My Mind”: Bittersweet Americana at Its Finest appeared first on Neon Music.

Paige “why do we wanna be in love?”: A Tender Question About Love’s Worth

Lucy Lerner — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:49:19 +0000

Paige has spent years documenting the messy, beautiful chaos of growing up through her music.

With “why do we wanna be in love?”, the closing track on her paigesspace EP, she asks a question most of us have wondered after a particularly savage heartbreak. Is love actually worth it?

The song arrives tender and delicate, built on graceful vocals and gentle harmonies that float over a soft, almost whisper-quiet melody.

There’s a warm intimacy, almost as if Paige is singing directly to you. The song is short and sweet, but that brevity works. She doesn’t overstate her case or drown you in production. Instead, she lets the vulnerability breathe.

Lyrically, Paige flips between the highs of falling in love hard and the brutal lows of getting burned. “Love kinda sucks / it hits you then it runs” is the kind of line that stings because it’s so true.

She’s not being cynical for the sake of it. She’s genuinely questioning why we keep throwing ourselves into something that hurts so much.

It’s a playful but pointed meditation on hope, disappointment, and the stubborn human need to keep trying anyway.

The New Zealand-born artist has built her career on this kind of honesty. It has earned her a dedicated following and stages alongside George Ezra, Holly Humberstone, and the Jonas Brothers.

She’s also achieved Platinum status in Korea, proving her reach extends far beyond her bedroom beginnings.

“why do we wanna be in love?” doesn’t try to answer its own question. It just sits with the uncertainty. And you know what? Sometimes that’s enough.

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Faceless Strangers “Concrete Jungle” Review: A Cinematic Folk-Rock Anthem

Lucy Lerner — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:15:55 +0000

There’s something quietly ferocious about “Concrete Jungle” by Faceless Strangers. This isn’t your standard folk-rock track. It’s a visceral meditation on ambition, survival, and the strange courage it takes to chase dreams in a city that chews people up.

The song opens with stripped-back acoustics, raw and unpolished. It builds nicely, moving from something quiet and reflective to something much bigger and more cinematic

The vocals sound lived-in, which gives the track an authentic edge. It’s simple but effective, with a toe-tapping rhythm and a melody that sticks. Those soaring harmonies hit hard, carrying a kind of euphoria that makes you want to move.

What makes this interesting is the band itself. Faceless Strangers operate in a strange creative space where human songwriting meets algorithmic experimentation.

Each track exists in its own universe, featuring different voices and emotions, all original creations. There are no faces, just voices. It’s an ambitious concept that could easily feel gimmicky, but “Concrete Jungle” proves there’s substance behind the experiment.

Lyrically, the song captures that tension between isolation and determination. It’s both a love letter and a battle cry for anyone who’s felt lost and unstoppable at the same time. The city becomes a character: unforgiving, chaotic, but somehow magnetic.

By the time the track ends on a high, you’ve been taken somewhere special. Faceless Strangers are clearly pushing into new territory. And “Concrete Jungle” suggests they’re onto something worth following.

The post Faceless Strangers “Concrete Jungle” Review: A Cinematic Folk-Rock Anthem appeared first on Neon Music.

Monster Review: Ruti Transforms Bitterness Into Cinematic Beauty

Lucy Lerner — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:49:15 +0000

Ruti conjures something quietly devastating with “Monster”, a standout track from their sophomore EP “Maybe I Got It Wrong”.

The Voice UK 2018 winner, who triumphed under Sir Tom Jones’ mentorship, has spent recent years crafting a fresh sound that blends electronic, lo-fi, folk, and subtle pop influences.

“Monster” showcases exactly why Ruti describes this EP as “the most me I’ve felt”.

The song opens with delicate, almost ethereal vocals that float high above a Spanish guitar.

Powerful lyrics cut deep: “Everything you touch just burns away / Rots and decays / And I have to live in the hell that you made.”

The contrast between the sweet delivery and the brutal honesty creates a gripping tension.

The production builds cinematically, layering instrumentation that swells into a breathtaking crescendo whilst never overwhelming Ruti’s graceful vocal performance.

The ending arrives suddenly, dramatically cutting to airy silence that forces you to pause and breathe.

You don’t want the song to end, yet the abruptness feels perfect, leaving you suspended in thought, processing what you’ve just experienced.

“Monster” transforms personal pain into something truly affecting. Ruti turns bitterness into art that feels both intimate and expansive.

The post Monster Review: Ruti Transforms Bitterness Into Cinematic Beauty appeared first on Neon Music.

Sienna Melgoza’s “Hate It When I See Ya” Turns Heartbreak Into Addictive Alt-Pop Gold

Lucy Lerner — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 20:43:45 +0000

Los Angeles singer-songwriter and actress Sienna Melgoza drops “Hate It When I See Ya”, a song that captures the dilemma of still loving someone you can no longer be with.

“Hate It When I See Ya” opens with a slow, enticing introduction before building into something genuinely moreish.

Melgoza’s vocals carry a sweet sultriness that perfectly suits the warm soundscape created by producers Aaron Brohman and Caleb Hulin, who’ve worked with Demi Lovato and Avril Lavigne.

Mixed by Mat Mainhard and mastered by Dale Becker (SZA, Billie Eilish, Benson Boone), the production has a glossy yet intimate feel.

The harmonies shimmer throughout, and the chorus hooks immediately. At just two minutes and forty-five seconds, the single moves quickly, driven by Melgoza’s captivating vocal delivery and an infectious melody.

This is the kind of song that slots perfectly into both breakup playlists and late-night drives.

Melgoza transforms a personal experience into something relatable whilst maintaining the contemporary freshness that defines her sound.

The post Sienna Melgoza’s “Hate It When I See Ya” Turns Heartbreak Into Addictive Alt-Pop Gold appeared first on Neon Music.