For the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire highlights how singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt has come full circle, fully embedding herself in the present on her fourth album Here in the Pitch.
| Soundcheck: FearDorian’s Electric And Noisy Debut | April 3, 2024 |
For the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire highlights FearDorian's unwavering clarity across his debut album –– backed by experimental vocal manipulations and lush production.
| Soundcheck: Mk.gee Captures the Sound of Longing | February 26, 2024 |
For the latest Soundcheck column, Donna-Claire dives into Mk.gee setting out to reclaim guitar music on his debut album, exploring heartbreak and longing through his intimate songwriting.
| Soundcheck: Boldy James & Nicholas Craven’s Story of Survival | February 14, 2024 |
In the latest Soundcheck column, Donna-Claire reflects on Boldy James rapping with the most conviction of his his career across Penalty of Leadership, an intimate ode to survival and overcoming physical trauma.
| Soundcheck: Isaiah Rashad’s “Cilvia Demo” Turns 10 | January 31, 2024 |
In the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire reflects on Isaiah Rashad's debut album Cilvia Demo turning 10 years old – highlighted by angst and narrative tension, it transported listeners to the Southern influences of Rashad.
| Soundcheck: Bruiser Wolf Drops 2024’s First Great Rap Album | January 23, 2024 |
For the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire dives into the charismatic reflections of Detroit's Bruiser Wolf that shine across his second album My Story Got Stories.
| Soundcheck: Cash Bently’s Corridos Unlock a Well of Memories | November 16, 2023 |
In the newest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire highlights the universal language of bleeding hearts expressed across Cash Bently's latest album through corridos: regional Mexican music that tells poetic ballads about street life in Latin America.
| Soundcheck: YL Keeps the Visual Record Alive | October 18, 2023 |
For the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire writes about why her favorite project by NY emcee YL is always the most recent one – on Don't Feed the Pigeons, he captures day-to-day musings like a cameraman with sharp flair.
| Soundcheck: ScHoolboy Q Breaks the Listening Slump | October 13, 2023 |
For the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire dives into how a revisit of ScHoolboy Q's catalog dug her out of a recent listening slump, highlighted by pensive reflections on the street life to pair with his raw delivery.
| Soundcheck: When ‘Faith Is A Rock,’ We Stay Alive | September 29, 2023 |
In the latest edition of Soundcheck, Donna-Claire explores the pensive, honest, and reflective nature of Wiki and MIKE's raps that compliment Alchemist's attention to detail.
