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Chauhan ‘Age 17’: A Raw Anthem of Perseverance and Self-Belief

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Chauhan’s latest single, “Age 17,” is a heartfelt tribute to his early experiences as an emerging artist, offering listeners a raw and authentic glimpse into his journey of self-discovery and resilience. The song captures a deeply personal moment in his life, marked by both the struggle for acceptance and the triumph of self-belief, as Vaibhav Chauhan reflects on the pivotal year when he found the courage to share his music with the world.

At its core, “Age 17” is a story of perseverance. Chauhan delves into the tension between the harsh realities of life and his unwavering determination to pursue his passion, even when those around him doubted his potential. The line, “The hard reality of life is that your own beloved people support you when you finally make it; no one wants to support you while you’re struggling,” powerfully encapsulates the emotional weight of his journey. It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has faced skepticism from their closest circles while chasing their dreams.

Musically, the track leans into a minimalist production, reflecting Chauhan’s DIY approach. With only basic recording equipment and a phone, he channels the spirit of underground rap and hip-hop, where storytelling and lyricism are king. Yet, despite the limited resources, Chauhan’s passion and ambition shine through, creating an intimate yet impactful listening experience.

The chorus stands out as an anthem of self-confidence and ambition. Chauhan’s assertion that even at 17, he had a “hustler’s mindset” is a powerful statement, reinforcing his belief that one day, his words and music will leave a lasting mark. The repetition of these themes of struggle and eventual triumph adds layers to the track, drawing listeners into his personal journey.

In terms of influences, Chauhan takes inspiration from Punjabi giants like Sidhu Moosewala, not only in sound but in ethos. Much like Moosewala, Chauhan uses his music to pay homage to his roots while aiming for global recognition. His pride in his heritage is palpable, and the track becomes more than just a reflection of his personal journey; it’s a declaration of intent to represent his community on an international stage.

“Age 17” is an authentic and compelling offering from Chauhan, blending emotional vulnerability with a strong sense of purpose. It’s a testament to his growth as an artist and his refusal to let doubt or limited resources stand in his way. For fans of rap and hip-hop, Vaibhav Chauhan’s story and his music will likely resonate deeply—an inspiring reminder of the power of persistence.

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Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.

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Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.

There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”

Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?

‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”

Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.

Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.

Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.

The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.

“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.

Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:

1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent

5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham

6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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