From dancing on her bed with a microphone at 5-years-old to pop-rock heavy-hitter, Gina Zo is a ray of sunshine! We chat about her time on “The Voice,” how she writes a song, and co-writing in Los Angeles. And of course, we talked about her latest release, the deluxe version of her album “Burn Me Into Something Better” (released September 2025).     Gina Zo is a rock-pop singers songwriter and powerhouse vocalist celebrated for her fearless authenticity and raw, emotional storytelling. Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia and now based in Los Angeles, she is carving out a distinct place as one of the most compelling voices in modern rock-pop.    In late September 2025, Gina released her highly anticipated debut album, Burn Me Into Something Better— searing, vulnerable exploration of transformation, heartbreak, and rebirth. The record was featured on EARMILK, which awarded it a 9/10 review and praised its unfiltered honesty: “What makes Burn Me Into Something Better stand out, though, is its refusal to sanitize. These songs aren’t neatly packaged pop; they’re jagged, raw, and proudly messy, mirroring the real-life transformations that shaped them. It’s a record that validates every stumble as part of the climb, every scar as part of the story.”    Now based in Los Angeles, Gina finds balance in cooking from scratch, reading murder mysteries, and walking around the Silver Lake Reservoir. With Burn Me Into Something Better ushering in her defining era, Dirty Habits setting the tone, and her holiday songs showcasing her versatility, Gina Zo stands at the forefront of a new generation of rock-pop artists—bold, untamed, and unapologetically real.  Be sure to check Gina out here:  Website: ginazomusic.com  IG: _ginazo_  FB: Gina Zo  TikTok: Gina Zo  YouTube: Gina_Zo

We had the best time chatting with Avery Hellman—Ismay—about how ranching and how that was the segway into their music career. We talk about re-writing folk songs, the Woollystar music festival (curated by Avery), and of course Ismay’s latest album “Half Truth”  Avery Hellman has been a rancher, an alt-country musician, and, always, a dreamer. But they recently found themself once more while looking for Lucinda Williams. In 2023, Hellman was hard at work on an album, podcast, and documentary delving into the psyche of the country singer-songwriter when they discovered how much poetry played into Williams’ general talents. “That was a really big shift for me,” Hellman says. “I was like, ‘Well, why don’t I learn how to write poetry?’” Add another job to that resume.    In 2026 Avery helped to launch Fossil Records with Margo Cilker, an indie label whose aim is to capture the expression drawn from seasons of work on ranches and in rural outposts.  ​ Currently, Avery is based in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. ISMAY also curates a music festival called Woollystar.    Be sure to check Ismay out here:   Website: ismaymusic.com  Bandcamp: Ismay  YouTube: Ismay  Instagram: Ismaymusic  FB: Ismay  Fossil Records: fossilrecords.com   Woollystar: Woollystar.com

Brooke and Darin called in to chat from the road on the way to play Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. We talked about their brand new gospel album, “Soul Condition,” how they make a great writing team, still getting jitters and the Nashville numbering system.    Acclaimed bluegrass and gospel duo Darin & Brooke Aldridge return with theirhighly anticipated new 11-song album which arrived earlier this year, showcasing the soaring harmonies, heartfelt performances, and authentic storytelling that have made them one of the most beloved husband-and-wife teams in contemporary bluegrass, traditional country, and Christian music. The project includes special guest appearances from Grand Ole Opry Members, Sonia Isaacs and Becky Isaacs, along with the legendary John Cowan of New Grass Revival and The Doobie Brothers. Hailing from the mountains of North Carolina, Darin and Brooke continue to blend world-class musicianship, award-winning vocals, and a deep Christian faith into music that honors bluegrass and Southern gospel traditions while connecting with audiencesacross generation.     Be sure to check them out here:  Website:Darinandbrookealdridge.com  IG: darinandbrookealdridge  FB: Darin & Brooke Aldridge  TikTok: darinandbrookealdridge  YouTube: darinandbrooke

From farming in Hawaii to writing songs, Amber Westerman is the real deal! We chatted with her about her start about her experiences being an artist in Nashville and in Austin, the hardest part about being a career musician, and keeping her dream alive!    From the limestone hills of Marble Falls, Texas to the musical heartbeat of Nashville, TN, Amber Westerman embodies the essence of modern Americana music with a reimagined flare. Her musical journey ignited on the volcanic shores of Hawaii's Big Island, where she discovered her voice as a storyteller amidst a vibrant artistic community, shared her first time on stagewith roots music mainstay Mishka, and developed a sound that is uniquely her own.    Westerman is further delving into her Americana roots, crafting songs that bridge the gap between modern folk sensibilities and the timeless art of country storytelling. In an industry often focused on trends, she remains steadfast in her mission: making music that helps listeners feel more present in their lives and their hearts.    Be sure to check Amber out here:  Website: amberwestermanmusic.com  TikTok: Amber.westerman.music  IG: Amberwesterman  YouTube: Amber Westerman  Facebook: Amber Westerman

We loved talking with Ryan Dart about his new album “Love Don’t Break you” AVAILABLEEVERYWHERE! We even got to see the vinyl before it was released, and yes, we totally geeked out over it!   We chatted about his start as a music engineer and how he became a fulltime musician, how he uses music to process all of the things in his life, and his greatest addiction—songwriting!  Ryan Dart is a Colorado-based Americana songwriter, farmer, and father whose new album, If Love Don’t Break You,released May 1, 2026. Rooted in love, loss, and hard-earned wisdom, Dart’s music reflects a life shaped by the land and the road, drawing influence from Dylan, Cash, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits, and classic rhythm and blues. Raised below the poverty line in western Arkansas, he brings lived experience and emotional honesty to every song. Featuring an all-star cast including Richard Bowden, Nate Barnes, and members of Elephant Revival, If Love Don’t Break You is Dart’s most personal and fully realized work to date.    Be sure to check Ryan out here:  FB: Ryan Dart  IG: Ryandartmusic  YouTube: dartryandart  Website: Ryandartmusic.com

We had a wonderful chat with Jaime Lynch lead singer of the band OG8 about their latest two singles “WOMAN” and “Change” and their upcoming album that they are in the studio working on right now!  We also talk a little bit about the upas and downs of the music business and how OG8 keeps it all together working out of several different cities.    OG8 is made up of:  JAIME LYNCH, SONGWRITER & VOCALISTTROY WILLIVER, SONGWRITER & GUITARISTPHIL BAKER, BASS GUITARGEORGE MITCHELL, KEYSMICHAEL UNDERWOOD, DRUMS/PERCUSSIONRENATO CARANTO, SAXDREW CANULETTE, PRODUCER & ENGINEERMARK LEVINSON, GODFATHER   Original 8 (OG8) is a collective of powerhouse musicians redefining the landscape of rock and roll. Comprised of seasoned veterans this emerging supergroup is primed to take the industry by storm. Known affectionately as OG8, their origin story is rooted in decades of musical collaboration, friendship and a shared ideological belief system of love of music over pursuit of ego.    In early 2023, Troy Williver’s search for an iconic vocalist led him to Jaime Lynch, a remarkable talent on the brink of stardom. Recommended by a friend, Williver flew to Las Vegas to vet an upcoming performance in person. Within seconds of taking the stage, it was undeniable…she was the one. Lynch’s powerhouse vocals and electric presence captivated the audience and solidified her as the missing piece needed to cement OG8’s status as a collective force. In addition to her vocal abilities, her impressive resume includes a stint with the Pussycat Dolls and a Las Vegas residency.    OG8’s additional bandmates share undeniable talent, in addition to a foundation of friendship, in various collaborations spanning decades. Drummer Michael Underwood brings intuitive timing and a knack for infusing subtle emotive elements into rhythm, while Renato Caranto, legendarysaxophone player, expertly adds a festive layer of jazz to the mix. George Mitchell, keyboard virtuoso, infuses soulful twists into the melodies as bassist extraordinaire Phil Baker expertly stretches the sonic canvas upon which the music dances. Sound engineer Drew Canulette meticulously crafts the sonic landscape of OG8.    Friendship and kindred spirit-based artistry between Williver and Lynch brought the band’s vision to life through powerful co-writing sessions combining Williver’s guitar style with Lynch’s soulful vocals. In the studio, the band infused their talent and specific skill sets toelevate each song to its greatest potential.    Effortlessly blending elements of funk, jazz and blues representative of each member’s individual style, their debut album OG8 brings forth a reimagined form of rock and roll that resonates with the soul and serves the greater good. With every song, the members of OG8 aim to uplift,inspire and unite listeners, creating a legacy of transcendence, healing and hope.    Check them out here:    Website: OG8music.com  FB: OG8official  IG: OG8_original8 andjaimelynch  YouTube: OG8-ORIGINAL8

Mel Denise talked with us about her untitled-as-of yet album and some of her singles, reading to get out of that creative block and her nostalgia for the 90’s.    Nashville-based artist and producer Mel Denisse has always leaned into duality. Whether she’s blending left-field pop with jagged alt-rock or threading delicate vocals through dissonant, distorted production, Denisse is drawn to the clash with her newest genre-defiant single, "aiming alone". She shares, " 'aiming alone’ details wanting to be understood with urgency, while still feeling sealed off behind glass. On the other side, the world watches and speculates, close enough to see you, never close enough to meet you. That distance becomes the point: the two realities can’t be reconciled. The outro carries that into finality – an acceptance of the loneroad, and the resolve of aiming alone."    Previous releases earned spins on BBC Radio 1’s Alternative Show, placement on Spotify’s All New Rock, and praise from tastemakers at LADYGUNN, who applauded her “singular approach to alt-rock and pop, setting her apart in a saturated landscape,” calling it “refreshing, essential listening for those craving authenticity in an age of imitation.” Meanwhile, EARMILK described Denisse’s vocal performance as “striking and inviting, as if dispatched from another dimension,in the best way possible, creating a cinematic, noir-drenched world that blurs alt-rock grit with atmospheric storytelling.”    Be sure to check Mel out here:   IG: Meldenisse  You Tube: Mel Denisse  TikTok: Meldenisse  Twitch: Mel Denisse  Bluesky: meldenisse.bsky.social

We talk with Clark about his latest releases “Helluva a Heartbeat,” and “Pray For Rain” (hear that ON THIS EPISODE), the way heartbreak took him into music, and his rules for a song to pass the test!    In some ways, Clark will acknowledge, things had come to him too easily. Growing up in northern Florida, on the land his grandparents once called home, he worked on the family farm, planting and harvesting corn, black-eyed peas, maybe some okra and tomato plants. In school he earned high grades almost without trying. Following the footsteps his dad had made as acollege football star, Clark played linebacker and then tight end on his high school team, always as a starter, never experiencing a losing season. Shortly before graduating he passed his exam as an EMT fireman; after earning his diploma, he went to work.  One fateful day, at a moment of difficulty in his marriage, he went to have a wisdom tooth removed. First, the anesthesia wore off in the middle of surgery. Right after that, the dentist accidentally broke Clark’s jaw. He went home, hoping to just weather the pain alone. By the way, it was his birthday too.    Following growing media momentum across TV, radio, and digital platforms, including ABC's Local On 2, NBC's Today in Nashville, and The Grand Ole Opry’s WSM Radio, Hill returns with “Pray For Rain,” arriving May 1st. It's a track that trades fireworks for something deeper. This is not the high-energy rush of “Helluva Heartbeat” or the rowdy swagger of his viral 2025 hit “OneBeer.” This is the moment after the noise fades, the rain clears, and the sun comes out. Its the vulnerability that most artists do not show.    Be sure to check Clark out here:  Website: Clarkhillmusic.com  IG: clarkhillmusic  FB: Clark Hill  YouTube: Clarkhillmusic

We first chatted with Oakdale Drive--OG’s of the podcast—onepisode 16 season 1. We had a great time catching up with them! We talkedabout their latest album, “The Skylight Inn,” how they work together despitebeing scattered around North Carolina, making the music video for “Long Rides,”and being a 90/10 band. Find out what that means by listening to the episode!  Check them out here:  IG: Oakdaledriveband  YouTube: Oakdale Drive (oakdaledrive9354)  Sisters in Song Podcast: Season 1 Episode 16

We caught up with Lee Newton, who called in from “North Caro-lacky,” as she called it! Lee is awoman who was born to sing and love doing it! We talked about her many ventures including a new album coming out soon!!  Nashville Recording Artist and Singer/Songwriter Lee Newton comes from humble beginnings in a small town in Western North Carolina. Growing up, she experienced her share of hard times, but music was always a source of hope. At just five years old, Lee began singing in church alongside her mother. Her love for music blossomed when her father, a local cab driver, filled their home with the sounds of Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Patsy Cline. At seven, he placed a guitar in her hands, teaching her to play as they sang together while he drove his taxi on calls.  Lee is in the studio recording her fifth studio album, alongside producer Bill Mcdermott. The first single, “The Long Goodbye,” was released September 13, 2025. The full album has an anticipated release in 2026, continuing Lee’s trademark blend of raw emotion, soulful delivery, and timelessstorytelling.    With a voice as authentic as her story—and a heart devoted to faith, family, and community—Lee Newton continues to carve her place in country music, bringing her daddy’s dream of the Grand Ole Opry closer with every song.   Be sure to check Lee out here:   Website: leenewtonofficial.com  FB: Lee Newton  IG: lee_newton_  Tiktok: Lee Newton  YouTube: Lee.newton