Evelí Ray – Tiempo
Evelí Ray's 'Tiempo' is a stirring fusion of Argentinean folk and art pop, turning a meditation on mortality into a beautifully realised world music single
'Tiempo' is transporting. The deep pulse of a bombo legüero opens the track, and the traditional cueca rhythm anchors everything while piano and electronics weave around it, creating a sound that feels both rooted and weightless. And that saxophone solo from Juan Martín Medina? It's the heart of the track. Lyrically, Evelí Ray is asking the big questions: what remains when everything else fades, and how we spend the time we're given. And the vocal gets the message across beautifully. The mix, handled by Grammy-winner Érico Moreira, gives every element room to land. A stunning piece, utterly transportive.
Evelí Ray is based in Barcelona, leading a band drawn from across the globe. Their sound blends Nordic atmosphere with Mediterranean warmth, built on mandolin, oud, and percussion alongside more familiar textures. Her debut album 'Butterflies' featured a collaboration with Joan Miró, and 'Tiempo' was recorded at Medusa Estudio, the same Barcelona facility where C. Tangana and Bebe have worked. This one deserves to travel far, and we'll be watching closely for whatever comes next.
Lana Karlay – Cross Your Mind
Lana Karlay's 'Cross Your Mind' is a commanding pop-rock statement from Melbourne, a chorus that earns its volume and a real highlight this September.
'Cross Your Mind' opens soft, then lifts. Lana Karlay lets the dreamy vocals sit for a moment before the guitars arrive and the whole thing expands into something much bigger. The track traces the slow burn of carrying a relationship alone, the mental labour of making excuses for someone who only thinks about you when it's convenient. That title lyric, 'I have to cross you to cross your mind', is the hinge, and once you hear it you won't shake it. The drums drive, the guitars bite, and the production lets every element breathe. Brilliant pop-rock songwriting, emotionally sharp and sonically huge.
Lana Karlay is an eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter from Geelong, juggling Year 12 with a debut album in the works. 'Cross Your Mind' is out via GYRO, co-written with brother duo Mason & Julez and mastered by Mark Parfitt. She's clocked over 41,000 monthly Spotify listeners, picked up a double-page spread in Total Girl, and was recently named runner-up in the Unsigned Only Teen Category. Impressive stuff; but it's the song at the heart of this which really shines. A real one to watch.