From the Editor's Desk | August 2026
Some friends of ours at Universal Music's publicity team keep Rising Artists in the loop on their latest releases straight from the source. I’ve handpicked a few recent songs and stories that stand out, to share with you.
A few of these could become your new favorites. Others might teach you something about the sounds and styles connecting with audiences right now.
Vincent Mason Questions “What You Want” in his Latest Release
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 25, 2026) – Interscope/Lost Highway/Music Soup recording artist Vincent Mason releases “What You Want,” available now on all streaming platforms. The song, written by Mason with frequent collaborator Jack Rauton, traces the familiar pattern of a relationship that never truly ends.
Through clever, conversational lyrics and a chorus that’s packed with longing and, at the same time, resignation, it shows off Mason’s ability to grasp a complex emotion and express it through his lyrics. Anchored by a plucky acoustic guitar, the understated production focuses on the vulnerable push and pull of this never-ending cycle.
Rising Star Alessi Rose Digs Deep for Yearning New Single “Dependent”
July 8, 2026 — (Hollywood, CA) Today, rising pop artist Alessi Rose shares the next taste of her new era with “Dependent.” Out now via Capitol Records, the deceptively breezy cut finds her inward-looking and utterly vulnerable, telling a story of desperate, all-consuming yearning. The song arrives in the midst of a busy festival season for Alessi, and shows the power of elevating intimate emotions to a mainstage-worthy scale.
Emma Ogier Drops New Single “Rocksteady/Heavymetal” Featuring Eden Joel
Emma Ogier teams up with fellow rising Nashville-based singer/songwriter Eden Joel on “Rocksteady/HeavyMetal,” a PBF (post-breakup-friendship) anthem about choosing friendship and realizing that love can be different things at different times. The song, produced by David Baron (The Lumineers, The Felice Brothers), began as a bedroom demo in summer 2024, born of Ogier’s reckoning with the loneliness and excitement of pursuing artistry. Listen HERE, out now via Lost Highway.
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Sincerely,
Andrea Smith | Founder, Rising Artists
