Despite hailing from Brooklyn, Rae Isla sounds completely stratified in the atmosphere above our country on “American Paradise.” Hovering between painful longing and bitter condemnation, this airy pop star stretches the gossamer of her sounds to a tense and passionate apex. Mournful guitars wane in and out of view while distinctly boom-bap drums ground the track to reality described as full of opposing ideas that make this world simultaneously inhospitable yet a necessary home to inhabit. Rae Isla sidesteps the clichés with earnest declarations of longing for a home she recognizes as flawed, and these honest moments are carried to a painful, celestial finish that finds peace when soaring above the land. -Tucker Pennington

Laser focused on booking the best emerging NYC artists from genres ranging from pop to soul to hip hop, The National Sawdust's monthly Revolution series returns this coming Saturday (August 25th) with its 30th installment involving three talented soulful artists.

Latinx American singer, songwriter, and producer RAE ISLA writes stylish and passionate songs about love and our connection to the divine; African-American female neo-soul singer and songwriter from Long Island, Hadassah delivers experiential stories while fusing jazz, soul, and electronica on a minimalist backdrop; NYC-based psych-soul quintet Madam West seek to find, through their songs, the sunlight that remains—even in a cold-shouldered city, during what often seems like the darkest of times.

Listen to a playlist of their songs below, and don't miss them live on Saturday at Revolution #30!

Although singer-songwriter Rae Isla has yet to release a debut album or EP, the video for her single “Just Because” has already made the rounds on MTV Latin America, making her an artist to watch. Her Ellie-Goulding-style vocals beautifully tell a story of a deep love: “Now I know why Lennon said / Love is all you need.” "Mexico,” backed by Latin-inspired guitar and drum beats, has a similar flavor and transports you to a summer night on the beach.  She is definitely one to keep an ear on, don’t miss her upcoming performance at Mercury Lounge on June 6th. - Lily Crandall