The new album will be released March 3, 2026. Photo: Google
The Latin Rock Titan Returns: Juanes Announces New Album ‘JuanesTeban’
The wait is almost over for fans of the Colombian legend. Juanes has officially announced that his 12th studio album, titled JuanesTeban, is set to drop on March 6. (Hits Daily Double, 2026)
Alongside the announcement, the Latin rock icon released a teaser trailer giving fans a glimpse into what’s being hailed as one of his most personal projects yet. The LP was co-produced by Juanes himself and the reigning Latin Grammy Producer of the Year, Nico Cotton (known for his work with Aitana and Nathy Peluso).
A “Kaleidoscope” of Sound
According to Juanes, this album is a return to his roots, blending his signature rock style with the rhythmic soul of Latin America.
“It’s like a kaleidoscope of my many moods: joyful, enthusiastic, melancholy,” Juanes shared. “I wanted to make the kind of album that would take me back to the land of dancing and cumbia – the feeling of Latin America, the root of folklore.”
Tracklist Teasers & Collaborations
The album features high-energy collaborations and soulful solo tracks, including:
“Muérdeme” (featuring Bomba Estéreo)
“Una Noche Contigo”
“Hagamos Que”
“Cuando Estamos Tú Y Yo”
Upcoming Tour Dates & Honors
It’s going to be a massive spring for the “A Dios le Pido” singer. Before the album even hits shelves, Juanes will be honored by Univision at Premio Lo Nuestro with the Lifetime Achievement Award on February 19.
He is also set to headline some of the biggest stages in the world:
Viña del Mar (Chile)
Vive Latino (Mexico)
El Carnaval de Barranquilla (Colombia)
Movistar Arena (Madrid, Spain)
About Juanes
With a career spanning over two decades, Juanes remains one of the most influential figures in music history. Since his solo debut Fíjate Bien in 2000, he has secured 26 Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 15 million records worldwide.
Ready to listen?JuanesTeban is available for pre-order.
Ana Cristina Cash explores her roots in her new album. Photo: Gina Binkley, used with permission.
A Fusion of Heritage and Harmony: Ana Cristina Cash Releases New Bilingual Album, The Sunshine State
Acclaimed songstress Ana Cristina Cash has officially released her latest project, The Sunshine State. A masterful blend of her Cuban-American roots and her home in the heart of country music, this bilingual album is now available across all major streaming platforms. (Aristo PR, 2026)
Recorded at the legendary Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee and produced by John Carter Cash and Willie Breeding, the album is a testament to Ana Cristina’s versatility. Listeners can expect to hear her remarkable vocal range on full display, transitioning effortlessly from a resonant contralto to a soaring soprano.
The Duality of Sound
Having spent over a decade in Nashville, Ana Cristina’s artistry is firmly grounded in country music. However, her Spanish lineage provides a distinct depth that sets this project apart.
“That duality is present in everything I do,” says Ana Cristina. “I’m proud to be an American living in Nashville… and equally proud of my Hispanic culture. I grew up speaking both English and Spanish at home, so it felt natural to record Spanish versions of several of my songs.”
Track Highlights
The album serves as a cultural crossroads, featuring a mix of English, Spanish, and Spanglish tracks:
“Daybreak” / “Un Break”: The breezy opening single and its Spanish counterpart.
“Florida Girl”: A heartfelt nod to her roots.
“Cheap Margaritas”: Available in both the original and a playful Spanglish version.
“Last Call”: A fiery track featured in both languages.
Brand New Tunes: Including the nostalgic “Janice” and “Don’t Give Up.”
Inspired by the Everglades
Much of the album’s imagery is drawn from Ana Cristina’s childhood in rural West Miami. She recalls a time when the area was “wild and untouched,” bordered by the Florida Everglades.
“The first home I grew up in… I only had four neighbors, a dirt road, orange trees in the backyard, and our own chickens,” she notes. “That formative period of my life influenced so much of this record.”
About Ana Cristina Cash
Ana Cristina’s career began at the age of six. By 15, she had signed with Sony Music Latin. Her career is marked by historic milestones, including:
Historic Performances: The first Hispanic American to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at a presidential inauguration (2005).
Iconic Venues: Performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Madison Square Garden.
Nashville Legacy: Married to John Carter Cash since 2016, she continues to record at the historic Cash Cabin Studio and recently signed a global publishing deal with BMG Rights Management.
The Sunshine Stateis out now. Experience the soulful blend of country and Latin influences today.
The Sunshine State tracklist:
“Daybreak”
“Cheap Margaritas”
“Florida Girl”
“Janice”
“Last Call”
“Don’t Give Up”
“Un Break (Daybreak Versión En Español)”
“Cheap Margaritas (Spanglish Version)”
“Tu Última Llamada (Last Call Versión En Español)”
trauma ray announces new album – Carnival. Photo: Erasmo Viera, used with permission.
trauma ray Explores the Dark Funhouse on Carnival EP
trauma ray’sCarnival EP captures the Fort Worth five’s strongest, most intense, and exploratory work within the boundaries of a whirlwind year. Carnival delves into moodier, more cerebral material, like holding their past excursions against a funhouse mirror. There’s a distinct sense of unease in these songs, built in a fleeting window of time, proving the band works best under pressure and when pulling from the darkest corners of their subconscious. (another side, 2026)
Carnival will be available on February 20 via Dais Records. Pre-save / pre-order here.
Following the Breakout of Chameleon
Carnival follows the breakout success of Chameleon, trauma ray’s 2024 debut on Dais Records. The album helped firmly establish the band amidst the current wave of shoegaze revivalists. Increasingly agile, trauma ray has proven able to weave between scenes, touring extensively with the likes of Deafheaven, Loathe, Touché Amoré, and more.
A confluence of blitzing riffs and stark beauty, trauma ray’s sound continues to evolve, nodding to loud-quiet-loud greats across metal, grunge, and shoegaze, from Slowdive to Smashing Pumpkins.
New Single: “Hannibal”
trauma ray’s new single and video, “Hannibal,” contorts with a tinge of unprecedented evil, slithery and, as vocalist Uriel Avila puts it, “Stone Temple-y, Alice in Chains-y.” Lyrically, the track taps into teenage angst and the feeling of being dissected and rejected.
“It’s a song about the feeling of doing your best as an individual yet still falling short in the eyes of those you hope to make proud,” Avila explains.
“A lot of it stems from internal battles I faced growing up with my father, role models, and religion. Some of it comes from more recent experiences of being put under the microscope by my peers. It’s a gut-wrenching sensation that I was able to tie lyrically to the visceral mood of the instrumentation that kicks off the track and begins the journey through Carnival’s overall theme.”
Recording Under Pressure
During a brief break in their relentless touring schedule last summer, trauma ray regrouped in Texas for a few days to record a flurry of tracks, later sent to Corey Coffman for mixing and mastering. Core songwriting duo Avila and guitarist Jonathan Perez welcomed increased contributions from the rest of the band, most notably guitarist Coleman Pruitt and bassist Darren Baun, who brought an eerier strain of rhythmic and textural ideas.
This shift coincided with a growing sense of collective dread and anxiety, visually captured in a striking photo set of a deserted amusement park near Brighton, England. Shot on tour by drummer Nicholas Bobotas, the images now serve as the EP’s artwork.
Track-by-Track Through the Funhouse
The wordless opener “Carousel” ushers in Carnival’s unsettling atmosphere, with blasts of static and downcast strums giving way to “Hannibal,” the anthemic lead single packed with power riffs and raw emotion.
“Méliès,” named after French illusionist and filmmaker Georges Méliès, cuts between heavy, sludgy chords and a skyward chorus—“from something scary to like a dream state,” Avila says, channeling the surreal abstraction of its namesake.
“Funhouse” dips into doom metal, featuring sparse guitar work and possibly the band’s slowest BPM yet. Lyrics play with shifting perspectives, culminating in a call-and-response outro—“take my hand / this is not your wonderland”—that conjures opposing forces or frames of mind.
A Jarring Exit: “Clown”
In contrast, the final track “Clown” jolts, flashes, and pummels, like emerging from the other end of a house of horrors, now immersed in the disorienting lights of the carnival. Personified by a knotty, synth-soaked lead guitar squall, the song evokes Robin Williams as an archetype of tragic happiness: those who work hardest to make others laugh may privately be the saddest.
Sonically, the band cites influences like Failure’s “Undone” and “Stuck on You,” alongside the omnipresent Loveless. The result speaks to trauma ray’s growing strength: five musicians absorbing, synthesizing, and expanding on what they love.
Carnival offers a brief, highly loopable detour into darkness from a band growing more formidable by the mile.
New Day Symptoms is the new album by Final Gasp, due out February 27. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Final Gasp Announce New Day Symptoms
Steeped in nocturnal death rock adventurism, driven by post-punk anxiety that feels increasingly like the twitching heart of our modern age, and fueled by hardcore punk intensity, the second studio album from Boston’s Final Gasp, New Day Symptoms, does what all great rock records do. (another side, 2026)
Not only does it place itself within a lineage, summoning and amplifying a spectrum of powers from rock ’n’ roll lore, it makes them resonate in the here and now. The album gives voice to the fears and frustrations lurking just under the surface of waking consciousness and transforms them into a rallying cry.
Produced by Arthur Rizk, New Day Symptoms will be released on February 27 via Relapse Records. Pre-order/Pre-save here.
Channeling Fury and Reflection
Throughout New Day Symptoms, Final Gasp creates a potent emotional reaction, balancing fury and forlorn introspection. Frontman Jake Murphy vocalizes both a supercharged howl into the void and a remorseful echo back, capturing the album’s emotional duality.
Lead Single: “The Apparition”
The lead single, “The Apparition,” tells what Jake describes as “a story of reality being much more horrifying than fiction.”
“It’s about a captain and his crew on a small boat. A storm came and capsized it, and he and his two crew members were forced to swim to some sort of safety. Ultimately, only he survived—having to watch his two friends be taken away by something that could have been avoided. He knew a storm was coming but thought they could make it. It’s all about bad timing and facing the consequences.”
“The Apparition” is available now, along with its haunting video directed by Caleb Gowett and Bill Politis.
Expanding the Sound
Where Final Gasp’s acclaimed 2023 debut, Mourning Moon, was a concentrated shot of acrid underground death rock, its propulsion tanks largely filled with references to Samhain and Killing Joke, New Day Symptoms retains that core urgency while vastly broadening its scope.
With new space to explore, the album feels communal: a mapping of personal trials and dark recesses onto a landscape dotted with rafter-rousing marker points.
A More Democratic Process
Final Gasp’s ability to meld opposing forces into something vibrant and new is encoded into their DNA. Forging a sound that both honored and moved beyond their musical backgrounds required deep soul-searching, placing the band on a path whose destination remains open-ended.
One of the main reasons for the broadened sound on New Day Symptoms is that the album was written far more democratically than Mourning Moon, allowing multiple creative voices to shape its direction.
Themes of Acceptance and Moving Forward
That open-mindedness, paired with a firm grip on underground roots, gives New Day Symptoms its galvanizing force. While its predecessor dealt directly with personal loss and anxiety, this album approaches similar themes from a different angle.
“With this one, I didn’t want it to be as personal,” says Jake. “But then reading the lyrics back, I ended up feeling differently about them—they were personal on a different level. A lot of these songs are written from an outside perspective, what could’ve happened if things were different, but ultimately it didn’t end that way. You can’t change what’s already been done, so you just have to move on. It just means it’s a part of who you are now.”
A Record Built to Last
Above all, New Day Symptoms is one of those rare killer rock ’n’ roll albums whose conviction and honesty set it apart, an album primed to stand the test of time.
As acclaimed tours with Abbath, Gatecreeper, Fiddlehead, Poison Ruin, Devil Master, and Imperial Triumphant make clear, Final Gasp’s appeal is both expansive and unbounded.
Last month, Final Gasp announced a headlining North American tour which crosses both coasts, the Midwest and more.
See below for a full list of dates. Tickets are on sale here.
Feb 26: Cambridge, MA – Sonia Mar 01: Cincinnati, OH – Dsgn Clltcv Mar 02: Kansas City, MO – Howdy Mar 04: Denver, CO – Bar 404 Mar 05: Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon Mar 07: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark Mar 08: Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt Mar 09: Seattle, WA – The Funhouse Mar 11: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial Mar 12: Oakland, CA – Stork Club Mar 13: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge Mar 14: Joshua Tree, CA – Joshua Tree Mar 15: San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick Mar 16: Mesa, AZ – The Nile Underground Mar 19: Tulsa, OK – Whittier Bar Mar 20: Austin, TX – The Lost Well Mar 21: Dallas, TX – Dusty’s Mar 22: Little Rock, AR – Vinos
Final Gasp is: Jake Murphy – Vocals Alex Consentino – Guitar/Synth Sean Rose – Bass Peter Micanovic – Guitar Kevin Ordway – Drums
Photo: Caleb Gowett, used with permission
New Day Symptoms tracklist: 01 – Eternal Silence 02 – Look Away 03 – The Apparition 04 – Gifted Shame 05 – No Hand To Lead 06 – Prediction 07 – Burials Of Birth 08 – Fractures 09 – New Day Symptoms 10 – Pale Sun
Worm announces new album Necropalace. Photo: Andreas Marschall, used with permission.
Worm Walks Backwards Into the Future with Necropalace
Worm has incessantly built upon their sonic palette of “Necromantic Black Doom” with roots in nearly every worthy corner of extreme metal’s history, from the grandiose heights of ’90s symphonic black metal to the emotional technicality of ’80s shred metal. (another side, 2025)
Four years after their acclaimed full-length Foreverglade, Worm emerges with their next studio album and first release with Century Media Records, Necropalace. The Floridian band has only grown more powerful, showcasing a level of grandiose songcraft that is beyond modern compare. On Necropalace, Worm has managed to do what many others in this day and age can only attempt: they walk backwards into the future.
A World Untouched by Time
Necropalace lives in a world of its own.
A world of lush velvet and ostentatious gold, covered in the dust of time. A world where shadows seem to move in your peripheral vision, yet the loneliness never ceases. A world where wounds of the flesh may heal, but those of the heart never do.
The Gates Open: “Necropalace”
The nightmarish omnipotence of album opener and title track “Necropalace” ushers the listener into a journey through obsessive bloodlust. Spellbinding, powerful vocals from Phantom Slaughter guide the descent, while guitarist Wroth Septentrion flaunts his stunningly masterful songwriting throughout.
“Necropalace” feels like an endless maze of subterranean, candle-lit corridors, each riff constantly shifting and evolving. With multiple listens, however, one discovers that the maze contains many paths that ultimately converge into one another.
Into the Crypt: “Blackheart”
Worm’s latest single, “Blackheart,” is a descent into the nether vaults of the Necropalace. As you make your way through the crypts and catacombs beneath the castle, you find Nightfang’s resting place. Beside his black coffin sits the Blackheart, encased in ice and glowing blood red.
This occult artifact pumps life into the ancient palace walls and keeps the vampire lord immortal.
“Blackheart” serves as part two of Worm’s official Necropalace short-film series, heavily inspired by their obsession with horror from the ’80s and ’90s. Director Norman Cabrera, Producer Maya Kay, and Colorist Alex Nicolaou, under the direction of Ted Nicolaou, continue to bring Worm’s dark fantasy into reality following “Necropalace,” now deepening the vision with “Blackheart.”
The Infernal Masquerade
Enter if you dare, but know the consequences of your choice.
Through the opulent finality of album closer “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade,” featuring guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman, Necropalace reveals itself as the true sonic representation of unbridled, night-bound maleficence.
The album manifests as the soundscape to a star-laden winter sky reflecting off the Everglades’ darkest slough, where death meets the deathless. This is a vociferous call to action for anyone who still possesses ancient vampiric blood in their veins.
Prepare yourself for a full-force attack of zealous guitar agility and heretic spellcraft.
The gates are now open.
Release Information
Necropalace will be released February 13, 2026 via Century Media Records. Pre-order/Pre-Save here.
Necropalace tracklist: 1 – Gates to the Shadowzone (Intro) 2 – Necropalace 3 – Halls of Weeping 4 – The Night Has Fangs 5 – Dragon Dreams 6 – Blackheart 7 – Witchmoon – The Infernal Masquerade (Feat. Marty Friedman)
Begging Dog shares new single Common Place from forthcoming album. Photo: Photo By Kat Nijmeddin, used with permission.
Begging Dog: Jeff Kleinman’s Raw, Everyday Poetry Finds Its Voice
Begging Dog is the indie-punk project of Los Angeles–based artist and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Kleinman. Known for his work with Choir Boy, Kleinman created Begging Dog as an outlet for songs that embrace the mundane with a raw, homespun sound. The project leans into garage-punk grit and plain-language lyricism, capturing the poetry of everyday life. (another side, 2025)
A Demo That Sparked a Buzz
Kleinman’s debut, DEMO 1, spread quickly through underground circles. Word reached Dais Records, who soon signed Kleinman and announced a wider vinyl release of the original album.
Clocking in at just 26 minutes, DEMO 1 is packed with rolling bass and synth lines, charismatic riffs, and motorik drum beats. Sonically lean but emotionally weighty, the project showcases Kleinman’s distinctive storytelling and ear for melody.
Characters, Scenes, and Lived-In Observations
Lyrically, DEMO 1 drifts through a series of lived-in characters and scenes:
a pushy union rep
a mailman with a steady federal job
a compulsive gambler
a beloved neighborhood homeless man
Ex-lovers flicker in and out of several tracks, collaged into sharp, witty free verse. Kleinman cites Bruce Springsteen as an influence, not in genre, but in philosophy. He writes in “plain ink,” opting for direct simplicity over flowery prose.
Loneliness in Plain Sight
Much of DEMO 1 taps into a shared loneliness, universal and uniquely tied to life in Los Angeles. The title track anchors that feeling as Kleinman sings, “no one loves a begging dog.” Borrowed from a friend, the line encapsulates the project’s core: the world can make you feel like a begging dog searching for affection and security, yet there’s beauty in solitude, routine, and the quiet hum of everyday life.
From Solo Recordings to a Seven-Piece Band
Kleinman recorded DEMO 1 almost entirely on his own. But live, Begging Dog expands into a dynamic seven-piece band, giving the songs a new sense of scale and energy.
“No matter how good or not good you have it, you’re kind of like looking for something more,” Kleinman says. He stops short of assigning grand meaning to the work, maintaining a sense of humility that permeates the project. DEMO 1 thrives on this balance of candor, grit, and hook-driven songwriting.
Release Details
DEMO 1 was mixed and mastered by Matt Whitehurst. It’s currently streaming on all major platforms and will be released on vinyl via Dais Records on December 12. It is available for pre-order.
Kleinman’s latest single, “Common Place,” reflects on his five years living in Salt Lake City, another snapshot of everyday life reframed through Begging Dog’s honest, unvarnished lens.
DEMO 1 Tracklist: 01 – Begging Dog 02 – Cave In On Me 03 – Money Tree 04 – The Eel 05 – Laughing Boy 06 – Clamshell Tune 07 – Continuing Education 08 – Tell Me That You Love Me 09 – Common Place 10 – Here For A Good Time
Gran Moreno is Ricardo (guitarist and vocals) and Christian (drums). Photo: Tico Mendoza, used with permission.
Gran Moreno Unleashes New Single “Temple of Fire” Ahead of Debut Album El Sol
This week, Austin duo Gran Moreno released their newest single, “Temple of Fire,” now available on all major streaming platforms. The track originally premiered via The Obelisk, offering an early glimpse into the band’s evolving sonic universe. (US/THEM Group, 2025)
A New Force in Psychedelic Rock
Gran Moreno is quickly emerging as one of the most compelling voices in the new wave of psychedelic rock. Their sound, rooted in analog warmth, expansive textures, and hypnotic grooves, creates an immersive experience that blurs the line between distortion and introspection. With heavy rhythms, emotionally charged melodies, and atmospheric layers, their music feels like a sonic mirage: shifting, evocative, and deeply felt.
A Conceptual Debut: El Sol and La Luna
At the heart of Gran Moreno’s artistry is a dedication to storytelling through sound. Their upcoming debut album is a conceptual, two-part experience:
Side A: El Sol — urgency, energy, and clarity
Side B: La Luna — shadow, mystery, and reflection
The first release, El Sol, captures the band at full intensity, offering a vivid and unfiltered introduction to their creative identity.
A Live Experience That Transcends the Stage
Gran Moreno’s live performances elevate their music into a full-body encounter. Blending sonic power with rich visual elements, their shows draw audiences into a shared trance, one that feels both deeply personal and profoundly communal. Their fierce independence and bold creativity continue to shape a musical world entirely their own.
Release Info
El Sol will be available on LP and digital download on January 17, 2026. Pre-orders are available HERE.
L-R Clint Frazier, Graeme MacKinnon. Photo By Lyle Bell, used with permission.
Home Front Shares Final Single “Between The Waves” Ahead of Watch It Die Release
This week, Home Front shared their final single, “Between The Waves,” from their upcoming album Watch It Die, out this Friday November 14 via La Vida Es Un Mus. Pre-Order/Pre-Save. (another side, 2025)
A Lifetime of DIY Spirit
For decades, Graeme MacKinnon and Clint Frazier have been deeply embedded in grassroots music-making, community building, and the unpredictable ebbs and flows of DIY punk.
Formed in 2020, Home Front channels their lifetime of experience into a project that feels nostalgic and forward-looking; a sound that moves between the textured sounds of Tangerine Dream and the pounding urgency of an anthem for survival.
Music That Grows Through Change
Home Front’s music holds onto a rare kind of passion, the kind that guides you, like a climbing vine wrapping around both triumphs and losses. Their lyrics and influences are specific yet universal, personal yet accessible.
The new record’s production, guided by a close-knit team of longtime collaborators, reflects their DIY ethos. Recorded in home studios in their hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Watch It Die is a testament to making something powerful out of humble circumstances.
Honest, Danceable, and Deeply Human
Watch It Die is built simply: 12 songs of danceable, hummable, and rousing honesty. The emotion of this LP solidifies these musical notions into meaningful art.
“For us, ultimately, this is music that comes out of loss and heartbreak and failure,” says the band. “You can get rowdy, you can get emotional, you can do whatever you want—but maybe, with all of that freedom, we take a second to reflect on all our fallen brothers and sisters and friends who may have slipped away.”
Finding Light in the Bleak
Rather than asking why or how we got here, Watch It Die offers a step forward, a dose of optimism and self-ownership in dark times. It reminds us that solitude doesn’t have to equal despair, and that wisdom can replace nostalgia as a form of grace.
This album doesn’t shy away from the world’s ills, it owns them, transforming pain into purpose.
Tour Dates
Home Front kick off their West Coast tour next week, including stops in:
San Francisco
Sacramento
Los Angeles’ Palladium (supporting Cock Sparrer on November 22 & 23)
Plus a release show just announced at Knuckleheads on November 22.
Home Front Live Dates:
Nov 20: Sacramento, CA – The Starlet Room Nov 21: San Francisco, CA – Thee Parkside Nov 22: Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium # (SOLD OUT) Nov 22: Los Angeles, CA – Knucklehead (Release Show) Nov 23: Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium ! Dec 13: Winnipeg, MB – The Handsome Daughter + (SOLD OUT) Dec 19: Calgary, AB – Palomino * Dec 20: Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room ^ Feb 6-8: Hague, NL – Grauzone # w/ Cock Sparrer, Dillinger Four, Castillo ! w/ Cock Sparrer, Dillinger Four, Generacion Suicida + Record Release Show w/ Imploders, Pure Impact * Record Release Show w/ CloseTalkers, Puppet Wipes, Poltergeist ^ Record Release Show w/ Languid, Real Sickies
Watch It Die tracklist: 01 – Watch It Die 02 – New Madness 03 – Light Sleeper 04 – Between The Waves 05 – Eulogy 06 – The Vanishing 07 – For The Children (F*ck All) 08 – Kiss The Sky 09 – Always This Way 10 – Dancing With Anxiety 11 – Young Offender 12 – Empire
Toby Gad ushers in the season with his first holiday album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
🎹 Toby Gad Unveils Piano Diaries – Christmas: A New Chapter in Holiday Music
GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Toby Gad releases Piano Diaries – Christmas on November 7, a deeply personal, all-original holiday album featuring Jordin Sparks, Victoria Justice, Loren Allred, and more.
Los Angeles, CA — After decades shaping some of pop music’s most defining hits, GRAMMY®-winning and Diamond-certified songwriter Toby Gad turns inward this season with the release of his first all-original holiday album, Piano Diaries – Christmas, available on all digital platforms November 7. Pre-save here. (Miller PR, 2025)
Known for writing emotional powerhouses like John Legend’s “All Of Me,” Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” and Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” Gad now turns his songwriting lens toward the most nostalgic and heartfelt season of the year.
✨ A Modern Holiday Songbook
Each song on Piano Diaries – Christmas was born from authentic, intimate collaboration. Gad invited twelve world-class vocalists to sit at the piano and transform their most personal holiday memories into original songs. The result is a modern seasonal songbook that blends intimacy and sophistication through piano, orchestral, and vocal performances.
The twelve-track collection features performances by:
Jordin Sparks (American Idol)
Victoria Justice (TV star and pop singer)
Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman)
Megan McKenna (Celeb-X winner)
Michael Huntley (The Voice Season 24 winner)
Louisa Johnson (X-Factor winner)
Anthony Gargiula (TikTok sensation)
Sam Ryder (Eurovision star) …and more.
🎶 Stories Told in Song
A deeply personal project, Piano Diaries – Christmas radiates warmth and reflection. Each track unfolds like an entry in Gad’s musical journal: intimate, cinematic, and timeless.
“With Piano Diaries – Christmas, I wanted to create a timeless soundtrack that feels like a letter to the season itself. Every song carries a personal story of the artist singing it, and each performance reflects a sentimental truth about their own experience of the holidays.” – Toby Gad
The album strikes a rare balance between reverence and reinvention:
Jordin Sparks’ “Christmas Takes Me Back Home” and Michael Huntley’s “Mama Made Christmas” channel nostalgia and family tradition.
Megan McKenna’s “Feels Like Hallelujah” and Anthony Gargiula’s “Fall in Love with Christmas” radiate pure joy.
Victoria Justice’s “Blessed” and Dionne Bromfield’s “Christmas For One” bring emotional depth and quiet introspection.
Together, they capture the many shades of the holiday season.
🎄 Release Details
Piano Diaries – Christmas will be available November 7 on all streaming platforms via Kite Records. A limited-edition vinyl will also be sold at The London Shard, accompanied by two exclusive Christmas Live performances on December 15 and 16.
🎵 About Toby Gad
Toby Gad is a GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter and producer based in Los Angeles, celebrated for crafting timeless pop anthems across genres from pop and R&B to rock. His catalog of hits spans decades and includes collaborations with some of the biggest artists in the world.
Beyond his chart-topping success, Gad has expanded into filmmaking, directing and producing documentaries centered on environmental causes close to his heart.
With Piano Diaries – Christmas, Gad steps into the spotlight under his own name, creating an original and heartfelt collection that feels destined to join the canon of modern holiday classics.
Piano Diaries – Christmas Tracklist:
Joelle James – “Kiss Me for Christmas”
Loren Allred – “What a Wonderful Night”
Huntley – “Mama Made Christmas”
Sam Ryder – “Holy Night”
Megan McKenna – “Feels Like Hallelujah”
Gavin James – “We’ve Really Loved Someone”
Louisa Johnson – “Follow the Stars”
Victoria Justice – “Blessed”
Jordin Sparks – “Christmas Takes Me Back Home”
Dionne Bromfield – “Christmas For One”
Anthony Gargiula – “Fall in Love with Christmas” Bonus Track:
The Spells to release debut LP nearly 30 years later. Photo: Nick Zinner, used with permission.
The Spells Unearth Long-Lost 1997 Debut The Night Has Eyes
Long-lost NYC trio The Spells has announced the long-overdue release of their 1997 debut album The Night Has Eyes, arriving Halloween 2025 on vinyl and digital via Garganta Press. The deluxe LP package includes a 16-page booklet filled with never-before-seen photos and stories from the band’s brief but unforgettable run. (US/THEM Group, 2025)
Originally shelved after the band dissolved in 1998, The Night Has Eyes became the stuff of underground legend, whispered about among fans of ‘90s garage punk and NYC’s darker sonic corners. Now, nearly three decades later, it finally sees the light of day.
From Austin to NYC: A Short, Brilliant Flame
The Spells, made up of Nicole Barrick (guitar, vocals), Marisa Pool (bass, vocals), and Leni Zumas (drums) formed in Austin, TX in 1995, rising from the ashes of an earlier project called The Red Scare. They relocated to New York City, where they recorded their debut with producer Greg Talenfeld (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pavement, The Walkmen) at Waterworks Studio in November 1997.
A Hidden Treasure Resurfaces
The newly mastered LP, produced by Greg Talenfeld and The Spells and mastered for vinyl by Honza Kapak at Hellsound Studio in the Czech Republic, captures the raw energy and shadowy allure of the late-‘90s NYC underground.
The 16-page booklet features unseen photos from Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Iggy Pop) and Lilian Lee, taken during the band’s final years in 1997–98.
SA Examiner 