Exzenya and her latest single "The Fans Applauded" capture a moment most people try to ignore. There is a terrifying quiet that settles over a performer right before they step into the spotlight. The heart beats erratically, the hands shake, and the mind races with every possible way things could go wrong. It is a deeply isolating feeling, yet it is entirely universal for anyone...

There is something deliciously conspiratorial about Hidden Shores and the release of the "Neon Silence" EP. I find myself picturing the artist wiping chalk dust off their hands after a day of teaching elementary schoolers, only to go home, dim the lights, and converse with algorithms. It’s not your typical moonlighting gig; while most are decompressing with reality TV, Hidden Shores is out there...