Here’s hoping each and every one of you had an amazing Holiday season! I hope you enjoyed a worry-free break with no classes or homework, and had time to check out some amazing music in your free time.

I decided to try something different, as this will be my first and final “Livewell’s Latest” for this semester. I will be studying abroad at UNH’s satellite campus in Prato, Tuscany this semester and, therefore, I will have a new column every week entitled “Postcards from Prato.” Unlike my current column, “Postcards from Prato” will not be solely focused on music and artist interviews. There is really no telling what my new column will focus on, but you can believe I will be keeping you update with all you need to know about the UNH Prato campus.

For this article, I thought I would talk about the artists who I have recently discovered, specifically over this winter break. Some of you may have all of their albums and be their biggest fans, but the hope is that you will hear about someone in this article you have never heard of before, and that they will become your new favorite.

I recently fell in love with a band by the name of Lawson. They are a British pop-rock band and their music really touches the roots of alternative rock. Andy Brown is the main acoustic guitarist and vocalist for this rock band and his voice boasts a passion that is rare for the genre today. Their debut album, Chapman Square, was released in October of 2012 and I am so sad it took me this long to discover them. I suggest going to YouTube and typing in “Standing in the Dark,” ignore the YouTube add that is bound to put a damper on your music experience. When the music starts, just close your eyes and enjoy the sweet sounds that are bound to make you fall in love with this edgy, yet ardent band.

For those of you who are in love with genre of RnB as am I, I suggest checking out Bridget Kelly. She is a young singer/songwriter from New York City and she fuses Alicia Keys with Kelly Rowland. Her sound is so pure; this girl’s voice is one for the textbooks. Her newest single, “Special Delivery,” will have your computer freezing with how many times you hit the replay button. To be a good RnB singer, you need to know pain.

Rhythm and Blues (blues being the key word) is a style about pain and heartbreak; they are meant to be songs that people can relate to when they’re going through break ups or have just lost someone they love. Even if you are the happiest you’ve ever been, when you listen to this song you are bound to think about the last person that broke your heart, and the fact that a song can evoke that kind of emotion really says something about the artist.

In 2012, I was introduced to a young singer who was from the Bay Area. He is an urban/indie singer songwriter who has a voice that you would never match with his appearance. After doing some research I learned that he began his vocal training at age four in Indian Classical music and broadened his style throughout his time at Berklee School of Music, where he recently graduated from.

He just recently got his own VEVO channel on YouTube, which is definitely a large step. The one video featured on this page is his new, self-written single Limitless. The riffs this boy can carry out are amazing. I can honestly say I have not heard a male voice as pure and passionate as his enter the music industry in a while. The best part about this artist is that his lyrics are all so profound. They are not just your run-of-the-mill, “heart-ache rhymes with milkshake,” bubblegum pop lyrics you hear today. His words mean something. I suggest checking out his older videos as well. His covers are some of the best I’ve come across on YouTube. This Bay Area singer is amazing at taking a song and making it his own, while keeping the true meaning that the original artist intended it to have.

Lastly, I’d like to talk about an artist who originates from a town about 15 minutes away from me. Amos Lee is a singer/songwriter from Philadelphia, Penn. He has recorded four albums on Blue Note Records, and I recently fell in love with his song titled Arms of a Woman. When I heard this song for the first time, it actually brought tears to my eyes. His voice is incredible and it has nothing to do with his range, but the feeling and emotion that he puts into every word that he sings. The music video for this song is even more emotional than simply listening to it, so I suggest you check it out.

Alright, I promise I am done rambling about all of the great music I was exposed to over the past few months, even though I could go on for days. These four are definitely my “must listens,” and they should hold you over until I get settled in Italy and can send much more your way. If you check out any of these artists, I’d love for you to let me know on Facebook. If we aren’t friends, just message me! I am easy to get a hold of and because I won’t be on campus to hear feedback, I’d love to still know what you guys think of these talented musicians. Keep your eyes open for my first post card from Prato!