Aidan Bissett

Aidan Bissett's thirst for human connection — and the emotional havoc it's wrought upon his life — informs every track on his debut album, shut up and love me. The 23-year-old transforms his kamikaze search for meaning into an electrifying blend of alternative pop and indie-rock that doubles as an act of therapy. By examining his patterns and the heavy toll of seeking validation, he crafts a hook-filled collection of big songs that cut deep.

The overarching theme of shut up and love me comes into sharp focus on the lead single, "are we in love yet?," an avalanche of synths and crunchy guitar licks that distills the major highs and crushing lows of giving yourself to someone — only to be left wondering if the feeling is mutual. “That was the first song written for the album,” Bissett recalls. "At the time, I didn’t know what to make of it. I had written something before I was ready to fully understand it." 

Over time, the song's meaning evolved. “I kept giving myself to people and not feeling like I was getting that back," Bissett says. "It was draining, like I was losing a piece of myself every time.” Yet, for all its introspection and vulnerability, "are we in love yet" also has a playful side that matches its euphoric production. "It’s taken on so many different forms," he says. "Now, I hear it as something mischievous, sexy, and open to interpretation."

That emotional complexity runs through shut up and love me — and that includes the title. "I wanted something that could be said with different emotions: angry, tired, desperate, loving," Bissett says. "It’s essentially a plea." Over the course of 13 songs, he documents that quest for connection with unrelenting honesty.” "For years, I put myself in harm’s way, searching for something — and I wasn’t even aware of it until halfway through making this record." 

It was a genuinely life-changing realization. "Writing these songs helped me figure out what the hell was going on," Bissett says. "Without it, I’d still be making the same mistakes.” His knack for turning personal turmoil into cathartic tunes has been a defining trait since the beginning. Raised in Tampa, Florida, Bissett first picked up the electric guitar as a child and started writing songs as a teenager, crafting guitar-driven pop that felt both intimate and arena-sized. 

The rising singer-songwriter found an audience fast — his songs caught fire on TikTok, leading to a deal with Capitol Records and the release of his debut EP, I’m Alright If You’re OK, in 2022. That project garnered more than 86 million global streams and the follow-up, Supernova, built on that momentum, showcasing his ability to blend alternative, indie, and pop in dynamic ways, inspiring a deluxe extended version in 2024. Bissett has now amassed more than 1.6 billion TikTok views on his music, and over 400 million global streams - setting the stage for his biggest leap yet in the era to come.

Shut up and love me amplifies everything Bissett has been working toward: bigger hooks, grittier guitars, and rawer emotions. "I’ve always been inspired by bands," he says. “I wanted this album to sound like a band in a room playing live." That meant embracing imperfections and leaving little mistakes in the final mix. Bissett credits producer Andrew Wells (Chappell Roan, Fall Out Boy, OneRepublic) for helping to bring his vision to life. "We just get each other," he says. "He knows exactly how to take an idea and push it to its fullest potential."

That sense of urgency and spontaneity carries into "Ricochet," the album's upcoming second single. The raucous toe-tapper went through multiple evolutions, beginning as a glossy pop song before Bissett and Wells pulled it into murkier, alternative territory. "Andrew had the idea to add these jagged, almost Raconteurs-style guitar stabs, and suddenly, it clicked." Lyrically, it’s a natural continuation of "are we in love yet?" — but with a twist, Bissett explains. "The first song questions why I keep getting hurt, while 'Ricochet' is me realizing I’m the one letting it happen."

With shut up and love me, Bissett comes into his own, displaying a rare ability to fuse vulnerability with stadium-sized musicality and raw emotion with catchy hooks. “I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I think that really comes across in this record,” he says. "I want people to feel something when they listen." It's an auspicious calling card for an artist who isn’t afraid to dream big. "I want to be playing arenas," he says. "I want to be one of the biggest." With shut up and love me, the path to that goal has never been clearer.

Zach Hood

Zach Hood specializes in emotions so tender they appear to quiver, marrying these feelings to a fluid pop that touches on melodic hooks, skittish R&B, and earnest folk -- a blend that can sound youthful while also bearing elements of maturity reminiscent of Ed Sheeran. Hood's signatures were evident on "Flashbacks," an autobiographical excursion into his childhood that earned him an audience upon its release in early 2021. Within a few months, Hood signed with Arista, and over the next few years, he built his audience with popular singles like "Never Thought a Heart Could Break Itself" and "When She Was Mine" from his 2022 Blossom EP. The 2024 highlight "Weatherman" preceded Hood's full-length debut, Whispering Pines, which arrived in late 2024.

A native of Daphne, Alabama, Zach Hood grew up fascinated by music. He taught himself how to play piano, assisted by videos on YouTube. During middle school, he started playing cover songs, eventually posting a cappella renditions on Instagram. By high school he had moved to TikTok.

Hood recorded his first professional songs in 2020. That June, he released a cover of Alexander 23's "IDK You Yet" but by September, he'd recorded the original "Flashbacks." Released in January 2021, "Flashbacks" recounted the trauma of his father's departure when Hood was eight years old. A lighter number, its successor "Isabelle," expanded his online audience enough that Hood signed deals with Arista and William Morris Endeavor by the middle of 2021; he relocated to Los Angeles soon afterward. "Pink Ferrari" was the first single Hood released under his deal with Arista, followed by "Main Character" and "Just Kids" by the end of 2021.

Hood released "I Miss My Friends," a song where he pined for the pals he left behind in Alabama, in January 2022. Additional singles like "Never Knew a Heart Could Break Itself" and "Lonely Isn't the Word for This" followed throughout the year, leading up to the release of his debut EP, Blossom, in November. He continued to mine his emotional past on 2023 cuts like "30" and "Neon Skies," in the build-up to a longer project. The dramatic 2024 standout, "Weatherman," became the anchor point for Hood's debut album, released later that year. Named for the apartment complex where he came of age after his parents' divorce, Whispering Pines was a heartfelt ten-song collection that featured guest appearances from ROSIE and Sasha Alex Sloan.

Lulu Simon

On her 6th birthday, Lulu Simon blew out her candles and wished that she wrote “Lucky” by Britney Spears. While the universe couldn’t make that happen, it was clear to Lulu as she grew up that she was destined to write songs and make
music.
Influenced by modern artists such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift, Lulu is able to fill a space in the current pop scene by bringing a singer-songwriter mentality to big pop productions. With Rolling Stone acclaiming her music as “the type of synth-heavy anthems that are needed for a perfect summer soundtrack,” Lulu is poised for success with the release of new music in 2025