New year, new music: We’ve got a new edition of the Cleveland Current playlist to check out, with 30 songs by Northeast Ohio musicians and bands ready for your ears. Whether you’re looking for pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop or Americana, you’ll find something in the mix.
Plus, hear from a few featured artists about their new releases below.
LoConti, Reflections
Cleveland’s favorite family band couldn’t end a successful 2024 without one more accolade. Releasing its sophomore album Reflections on Dec. 28, LoConti’s refreshing, nostalgic vibrations start 2025 on a high note.
Ideating water as an album motif, coastal vibes and gusty vocals from Henry LoConti and Erin Donovan carry storylines forward like a tidal wave, but transparency and vulnerability are where the record name rings truest.
“It’s a collection of moments — some uplifting, some introspective — that have defined the past couple years for us,” says Henry. “It’s about identity and how music helps us understand who we are.”
Of the dynamic 8-track release, standout single “Less Lonely” is Henry’s personal “journal entry” with each member’s unique instrument shining through, “which makes it extra special,” he says. “No Definition” and “Barrel Roll” warp an early 2000s groove, as fine-tuned production marries the funk, rock and jazz sounds that LoConti has harnessed since forming three years ago.
Entering 2025, the septet — Henry, his brother Michael, Donovan, Jonah Benchek, Trevor Carmichael, Eric Sconyers and Nate Yingling — still continues to write. “We’re dialing in our sound,” Henry notes, as members bring new harmonies, synths and stories to the table. Follow along on Instagram as they gear up for more shows. — Julia Lombardo
Shelby Olive, Brace for the Changes (Part One)
Shelby Olive documents life challenges in her cinematic EP Brace for the Changes (Part One), and it’s only a taste of an upcoming 20-song album (due in early summer) about the Akron singer-songwriter’s recent life.
“I had a personal health scare, and then my grandpa passed away, and then my mom had a health scare, and I just kind of spiraled,” Olive says, “and through all of that, I thankfully turned to music.”
Olive, who teaches music in Cuyahoga Falls public elementary schools, has pursued the art form since she was a kid — first through show choir, then ukulele. Before she graduated from Kent State University, a surgery to repair a vocal injury and remove vocal cord polyps interrupted her work and kept her silent for three months. Then she spent a long recovery relearning how to sing.
“Having it taken away, in the form of losing my voice and not being able to perform, reaffirmed for me how much I wanted it, and how important connection through music was for me,” Olive says.
Olive will put out her second EP installment in late February, with a release show in Akron or Cleveland. Expect a small Northeast Ohio tour after the album arrives in the summer. Find more details at shelbyolive.com. — Annie Nickoloff
Vincent Monk, Sun Showing Teeth
Akron-based rapper Jihad Dennis released his EP Sun Showing Teeth under the moniker Vincent Monk last September after a year of production. The five-track project, which took about a year to complete, reflects on Dennis’s goals “fostering the will to complete them, fire and ultimately the sorrow that stems from that process,” Dennis says. Originally from California, Dennis is inspired by Cleveland’s music history.
“I feel like Cleveland has such a rich music history. We have a lot of good people from here. Especially [from] the Northeastern area. You know, like, Kid Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper and even The Black Keys and just rock music in general,” Dennis says. “I’m really proud to be here. [Being in Cleveland] inspired me to kind of step up my game. What I find unique about Cleveland is [the] underdog kind of nature, and very lowkey because there’s a lot of cool people here.”
Dennis emphasizes the importance of authenticity, transparency and cohesion in his music. Inspired by artists such as Tyler, The Creator, Kanye West and MIKE, Dennis aims for an effortless, conversational style that feels relatable and authentic. Follow his music, painting and DJ work at his Instagram page, @jihad_paints. — Jala Forest
Listen to more music in our Cleveland Current playlist here:
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