*This article is from our September 2025 issue – scroll down to flip through the issue for free or order a print copy here.*

By Allen Foster

Algorithms keep track of the music you listen to, the music you linger on, the music you like or dislike, the music you add to your playlists, and more. An algorithm is very good at showing you songs you probably already like. It spoon-feeds you safe content, hoping you’ll remain engaged. This can be problematic because it robs you of the thrill of discovery, making your sense of adventure atrophy. It’s vital to disrupt the flow of banality by occasionally dropping a wrench into the machine to force a recalibration.

Here are 3 remarkable artists who can help you do exactly that!

Tori Martin

There’s an odd thing that can happen when seasoned songwriters gather to write a hit. They start crafting lines to impress each other. The result is a clever, but sometimes soulless song. A Tori Martin tune, however, is a poem that lingers in the listener’s bones, gradually resonating louder and louder until it becomes an anthem of the soul. Martin’s voice is intoxicatingly warm and carries the urgency of a passionate whisper. Her embrace of classic techniques and well-crafted melodies creates a nostalgic longing that lets her connect with listeners in a profoundly meaningful way. Tori’s latest single, “Cowgirls Ride,” champions women of the west — the ones who ride at dawn with their lipstick on.

When asked what the track means to her, Tori replied: “Cowgirls Ride is a song I wrote for those who may feel like the underdog. It is inspired by cowgirls, rodeo queens, and barrel racers, but it also transcends to all women. Every time I sing this song live, it resonates and feels like a mantra we were born to know! I hope the song inspires all cowgirls who work hard every day and may not always get the credit. Watch more of the story unfold in the music video releasing on September 19.”

 

美麗 BI-RAY

Earlier this year, Time Magazine listed Yoshiki as one of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2025.” He has worked with everyone from Skrillex to Stan Lee. The four members of 美麗 BI-RAY (Emi, Hinata, Cocomi, and Michelle) were handpicked by Yoshiki to create something special. He expressed, “The moment I heard their voices, I knew they were something extraordinary. Each member has a unique sound and together they’re a force ready to change the future of J-Pop.”

美麗 is a word that describes something that offers pleasure, such as beauty. The quartet embodied that definition with its first single, “Butterfly” (June 2025). The video has over 10 million views on YouTube, and it was featured in the trailer for the summer action-comedy Bride Hard. The group’s follow-up is an acoustic version of the same song. The delicate opening embraces the listener, taking them on a journey that transcends splendor creating tides of emotional rushes that rise and fall, offering a wonderful, life-affirming experience.

Gladys Cavaleri

Gladys Cavaleri is a bold, stylish, and passionate performer who writes and sings Italian neo-melodic music, a ravishing mix of pop, rock, hip-hop, and traditional Neapolitan melodies. Her lyrics are filled with themes of family, romance, and life. The rhythms are exuberant, and Gladys has a naturally dazzling presence that captivates her audiences, whether she is performing at an intimate event or strutting across a festival stage.

Gladys was born and raised in Licata, a beautiful city full of culture and history that is located on the southern coast of Sicily, Italy. To date, she has released a number of electrifying singles, including “Mi vuoi clonare”, “Amore rubato”, “Mannaggia a sti telefonate”, and “Carpe diem”. However, when we asked the artist what her favorite song was, she told us, “La mia prima canzone ‘Cuore di mamma’. Perché parla della mia vita… è biografica.” [“My first song, ‘Mother’s Heart.’ Because it’s about my life… it’s biographical.”]

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