Melody & Muse

May 31st 2025

Even In Arcadia Sleep Token PREVIEW   ​

The album is out, and wow—did it come in swinging with a bang! I was walking along the river as I listened, and what a wild experience it was. Honestly, I could have filled this entire list with my favorite tracks from the album alone, but instead, I want to encourage you to listen from start to finish and see where it takes you.

Which song stands out most for you? I couldn’t decide, so I went with the title track—its meaning, lyricism, vocal delivery, and powerful orchestral instrumentation are absolutely captivating. It perfectly captures the power and wonder that EIA holds.

That said, some other notable favorites for me are ‘Look To Windward’, ‘Dangerous’, and ‘Gethsemane’. Every track is wildly unique, and they all grow on you more with each listen.

The idea of a progressive rock and metal-focused, ambient, anonymous band topping the Billboard charts worldwide might have seemed impossible before now. But after diving into Sleep Token’s music and the rich story and lore behind them, it’s clear why it’s happening.

What I love most about Sleep Token is how they put emotion first, and genre second. They don’t confine themselves to a style—they let story, emotion, and meaning be the container, and the genre flows naturally from that. When a crushingly heavy section hits, you know they mean it. When the vocals are soft and delicate, it’s because that’s exactly what the moment calls for.

That freedom to move from ambient and gentle to intense and heavy—always with purpose—makes their music deeply compelling.

Resilience Tokyo Project, Mickey Valen,... PREVIEW   ​

My Boi! Tokyo Project just dropped his incredible album ‘SuperVillain’, and Resilience is hands down one of my favorite tracks. Giulio showed resilience in spades—and so much more—to bring this masterful album to life. He faced countless ups and downs along the way, and seeing him here now, with the album out in the world and already adored by many, is nothing short of inspiring.

I feel truly blessed to have been part of this journey, collaborating with Giulio to craft both the introductory storyline and the album’s final song, ‘Bittersweet’. You can hear them, along with all the other epic tracks, right now.

Resilience itself is a standout—dark production, heavy bass, mesmerizing piano, and that unmistakable Tokyo Project sound. It’s perfectly matched by the captivating vocals of the incredibly talented, up-and-coming artist Bentez.

Give the full album a listen and let me know which track grabs you the most. The whole concept dives deep into the shadows and light within us all—how our darker sides shape us just as much as our brighter ones, and how embracing that complexity can truly bring you and your dreams to life.

you were good to me Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutle... PREVIEW   ​

For the first time on the newsletter here is a major throwback. This song came on whilst I was out for a late evening walk. I hadn't listened to it in a long while and everything came flooding back. Who I was when I first heard it and all that I have grown to do and be since then. That feeling I had speaks to the power of music. I have no idea how the songs I'm listening to right now will feel in the undefined future but all I know is I'm fascinated to see and feel it all unfold. Jeremy and Chelsea is a timeless combo that is very worth diving into if you haven't already.

AC/DC's road manager,— Barry Taylor

"God is the name of the blanket we throw over mystery to give it shape."

I heard this recently and it stopped me in the best way. It’s a beautiful reminder that the mystery of life isn’t something we need to solve or dissect—it’s something to be with. Trying to over-define it can strip it of its magic. It’s like planning a spontaneous trip or trying to tame a wildflower garden—defeats the point.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to shift from living mostly in the left side of my brain to tapping more into the right.

Very simply put: the left brain is about logic, language, structure, planning. The right brain is more about flow, creativity, intuition, and presence. Both are essential, of course—but when one dominates, especially the left, things can start to feel rigid, disconnected, or overly analytical.

And as a society, we clearly lean left. Our education systems, workplaces, and cultural norms tend to celebrate order, control, and output over creativity, expression, and deep awareness.

I’ve been exploring what happens when I soften that imbalance—and it’s already proving to be powerful. There’s so much more I want to share as I continue down this path, but if you’re curious in the meantime, I can’t recommend the work of Iain McGilchrist enough. His insights into the brain’s two hemispheres—and what they mean for how we experience the world—are truly fascinating.

More to come.

Unknown

“What a blessing it is to be tired in a pursuit of a challenge of your own choosing ”

I read that recently and it stopped me in my tracks. Gratitude can sometimes feel like an overstated virtue, but it's a perennial powerhouse for a reason.

I believe you can be both driven and grateful. In fact, gratitude can amplify drive—not diminish it. Grateful for the chance to be working toward something, for the simple privilege of having a dream, a desire, and even the smallest means to pursue it. That alone is a gift.

But if we lose sight of the joy that’s available in each step, we risk missing the very thing we’re chasing. Progress without presence leads to burnout—or a moment of arrival that feels hollow, leaving us wondering: Where did the time go? What was it all for?

If you're tired, really tired, take a rest. A real one. Be with yourself exactly where you are. (I'm saying this to myself as much as anyone.) Rest isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

Ambition and contentment are often pitted against each other, as if we must choose between striving and peace. But that feels like a false choice. What if our desire to grow could come from a place of fullness rather than lack? What if the drive was fueled by gratitude—by curiosity, wonder, and a love for the process?

Yes, the path will still be marked by struggle, by doubt, by pain. But if our foundation is gratitude and curiosity, those hurdles don’t have to shake our core. We can love where we are and where we're going.

To me, that’s an infinite game worth playing.

Unknown

“Don't analyse life more than you live it”

No need for an explanation. life is for the living.

​
​The case for making art when the world is on fire | Amie McNee

​

​

I often find myself questioning the value or importance of my own creativity—even while knowing, deep down, that it means the world to me.

As Amie says so powerfully in this video, we’re taught—often without realizing it—that art is something extra. A reward for finishing the “real” work. A weekend treat. A luxury.

But what if that’s completely backwards?

Art, creativity, and play aren’t distractions from life’s purpose—they are the purpose. They’re what give life color, meaning, and soul. Sure, survival matters. But what are we surviving for, if not to create and connect and feel alive?

If there’s something you’ve been wanting to make—something that feels joyful, meaningful, or just deeply you—let this be your invitation to lean all the way in.

Not with pressure. Not with perfection. But with freedom, curiosity, and joy.

Make the thing. Play. Explore. Not because it’s extra—but because it’s essential.

Jon Bellion, Luke Combs - WHY feat. Luke Combs (Official Music Video)

​

​

I heard Jon mention in an interview (linked below) that in all his years of songwriting, there’s only ever been one song he wrote and sent out to be cut by other artists—and every single one of them came back and said the same thing: This one’s yours, Jon.

That song is "WHY", and after watching the video, I completely get why.

The heart and soul pouring through this song—from both Jon and Luke—is palpable. The emotion is raw and real, and it hits even harder knowing how personal it is. With Jon’s upcoming album ‘FATHER FIGURE’ just over a week away, this track truly captures the album’s main sentiment: connection to family and loved ones.

Luke’s voice has that rasp and gut-wrenching texture, while Jon’s is light and free—together they create something both heavy and uplifting.

Then there’s the video. Beautiful clips of Jon with his family—those moments are enough to melt your heart into a puddle. It’s honest, intimate, and utterly human.

This one’s special.

​

Falling In Reverse - "God Is A Weapon"

​

​

This is how you do a crazy cool music video.

Ronnie Radke and Marilyn Manson have been making bold, powerful art for a long time now. They’ve both been at the center of plenty of controversy over the years, which might put some people off—but credit where credit’s due, this is seriously captivating.

"God Is a Weapon" hits hard. The song itself is slowed down and stripped back compared to some of Falling in Reverse’s other tracks, but it still manages to be incredibly memorable. The melodies stay with you, and there’s something about the simplicity that makes it even more intense.

Visually, it’s next level. The lighting and set design are just wild—in the best way. It’s moody, theatrical, and builds perfectly to this explosive, high-impact ending full of harmonies, screams, and chaos. It feels like a full-on cinematic experience.

Say what you want about them, but they’ve created something powerful here. Visually and sonically, it just works.

A question For You...

If we were making a movie about your life, what would the key scenes so far be?

And if people were watching up to this point, what would the audience be screaming at the screen telling you to do with your life?

​

I got this question from Chris Williamson who runs Modern Wisdom, his weekly newsletter is a real gem and definitely worth checking out if you want high octane value and insight.

It can be really effective to step aside from your own narrative and look at where you are from an outside perspective. To separate from the default story you have been running with and give yourself a fresh perspective to inform your next move.

Flynn Gurry - Don't Stop Dreaming Now

I had the real pleasure of writing this song with Flynn in the Blue Moon Studio here in Scotland. The message of the song is so powerful and I was delighted to see how beautifully it was captured in Flynn's first official music video. The story is a compelling one, unique to Flynn but that speaks to an experience we all share in growing up through life. How the journey into adulthood can sometimes lead us to forget the child, like energy that we started our endeavours with. How joy and wonder can get replaced by obligation and seriousness. This song is a profound invitation to keep the youthful spirit, that drives the wonder in this world, fully alive and unfolding.

​

Here is a little fun, and interesting, insight into the writing process. It was a great time diving into it all to see what came forward into the final version of the song. I love seeing Flynn's reaction at the end when it all comes together. He's doing some amazing things with his current work including his first headline tour in Australia and I'm excited to see his following and impact growing. Whatever you are working on and striving towards in life no matter how big or small, Don't Stop Dreaming Now!!

​