Stars In The Snow, the new single by singer-songwriter Janne Lehtinen’s long-running project Mummypowder, is a fragile and luminous winter ballad where everyday realism meets gentle escapism. Musically, the song resides in the quiet lineage of Elliott Smith, Travis, Beck, Richard Swift and Ben Folds — intimate songwriting, subtle baroque-pop colours and an organic band sound.
The song was born out of Lehtinen’s frustration with his own perfectionism. Over the years, he had built up a large catalogue of unreleased material while the gap between official releases continued to stretch. This time, returning to spontaneity became a conscious counter-movement: the song was written in just two days and fully produced within a week. What began as an acoustic ballad soon transformed into a full band arrangement. When programmed drums started to feel wrong, long-time Mummypowder drummer Robert Palomäki was called in — and the final drum takes were recorded in just four hours.
Lyrically, the song tells the story of a couple who, by coincidence, become stranded in a remote winter landscape, completely cut off from the outside world. Instead of panic, the isolation slowly turns into a refuge — a place for stillness, closeness and quiet detachment from everything else.
Stars In The Snow continues Mummypowder’s slow and carefully paced return. Five years have passed since the previous single, and the long pause reflects the thoughtful patience and quiet pursuit of perfection that lie at the heart of Lehtinen’s songwriting. The comeback began in 2020 with Sara’s Song, which received strong national attention in Finland, including a premiere on Rumba, airtime on Radio Suomi’s Ihmemaa with Pekka Laine, and regular play on Radio Helsinki.
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Multi-talented artist Sharon Eitan comments: "I've recently been remixing all the songs on my album Referrals and Talismans, recorded years ago but only released last year. I originally recorded these songs in Ralf Levitan's studio, with Avi Singolda playing guitar, and me singing lead vocals. It was a very low-budget production and, after finally releasing the album last year, I felt the songs deserved a makeover.
My lyrics often present wounded, isolated characters struggling to break free from real or imagined bonds - closeted gay man, silenced housewives, inhibited teenagers, aspiring artists fighting to be heard. Each song encapsulates its own micro-world, so I’m now approaching them individually and releasing each remix as a single.
In some past projects, I've hired studio vocalists to record my music - especially when making demos for my musical theatre work. For these new remixes, I decided to experiment with AI tools to generate new vocal colours and reimagine the production. I feel that working with AI vocals is not altogether different from working with hired singers: in both cases, there’s a balance to be found between imposing my own interpretation of a song and nurturing the vocalist’s creative choice."
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Dana Maragos, singer-songwriter, released a new studio album locally (Chicago) in late 2024, Unimaginable Things. She is now releasing it nationally (USA) for the first time. It is the 4th studio release that features eight new songs. It is dedicated to the memory of her late brother, Danny (1960-2023).
Inspired by conversations, stories and reflections of troubles and triumphs. A reminder to hold onto one’s identity, authenticity and perspective in the midst of every day challenges. The lyrics are sharp and will draw you into a conversation; will tell you a story. The songs have acoustic guitar-based roots and blend old/new folk feel and Americana with textures of pedal steel guitar, mandolin, Dobro and traces of rock with electric guitar, spare Hammond B3. Each song inhabits its own emotional space in sound and energy.
Co-produced and recorded primarily at John Abbey’s Kingsize Sound Labs in Chicago along with the extraordinarily talented, multi-instrumentalist, Brian Wilkie. Dana uses metaphor, sometimes with a dash of you-are-there detail. She considers it a blessing to be part of a creative community consisting of great friends, musicians, songwriters and creative muses.
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After the success of their debut release, D-Formation & Alex Medina return under their alias YES TO ALL with release YTA002, a powerful EP that reinforces their unique sonic vision within the electronic landscape. The release features two original tracks, “Aria” and “Motif”, alongside a stunning remix by Germán Brigante for Aria.
“Aria” opens the EP with an atmosphere full of emotion, depth, and underground energy. Its melodic structure and striking vocal performance create a captivating journey designed for the dance floor. Meanwhile, “Motif” is pure club energy. Driven by a hypnotic groove, an immersive vocal, and brilliant synth touches, it showcases the duo’s dance floor-focused side while keeping their signature sound intact.
Closing the release, Germán Brigante’s remix of “Aria” delivers a sophisticated electro reinterpretation, full of elegance and refined textures, taking the original track into new territory. With this second release, YES TO ALL continue to define their identity as a project that blends emotion, innovation, and club sophistication.
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