The moment the jaunty guitar kicks in on John Smyths’ new single, "Now I'm Wiser", you feel a familiar, comfortable warmth. It’s the sound of a good chair in a bar where the floor is sticky with spilled truths. And then the story starts, a classic yarn of a hard-living past yielding to a peaceful present. Smyths, a Dutch ex-metalhead singing country out of...

Jessy DeGreat's latest track, "Padi," featuring Volta-based artist Parko West, beautifully embodies this sentiment by embracing both friendship and cultural heritage. The title itself, "Padi," a colloquial term translating to "Friend," sets the tone for the lyrical narrative. Jessy DeGreat weaves a tale of his unshakable bond with the divine, asserting himself as God's cherished confidant despite scepticism from others. It's a thematic exploration that...