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Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice Release ‘Panic Is the Norm,’ a Piano Driven Blues Rock Single Featuring Clayton Doley

Published

2 months ago

September 22, 2026

Emily

Jerry Lee Lewis comparisons get thrown around too easily these days, but Clayton Doley actually earns his on “Panic Is the Norm.” His piano doesn’t just decorate this track, it drives it, pounding away under Nathan Bryce’s guitar with the kind of reckless energy that makes you understand why rock and roll used to scare parents.

The lyrics come from Candace Crockett, a widowed mother writing about the exhausting, relentless pace of keeping a life together when the world won’t let up. That’s heavy subject matter on paper. On record, it comes out as something closer to a dare. Crockett doesn’t write from grief here, she writes from momentum, and you can hear that choice in every line Bryce sings. There’s a defiance in it that feels earned rather than performed.

Nathan’s quote about the song, that you don’t get a break, you just get better at running, sums up the whole thing better than any critic could. The band builds the track around that idea instead of around a hook, and it works because the rhythm section never lets the tempo sag long enough for you to catch your breath either. Dylan Halacy and Jerry Paswaters keep pushing from underneath while Doley and Bryce trade off up top, guitar and piano taking turns being the loudest thing in the room.

The song sits closer to 1971 than 2026, all southern rock swagger and blues bar grit, but nothing about it feels like a costume. That’s the trick this band keeps pulling off release after release. They can nod at their influences without sounding stuck in them.

Listen to “Panic is the Norm” by Nathan Bryce and Loaded Dice here.

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Pauline Frechette Releases “The Wonder of Stars” Featuring Legendary Bassist Stanley Clarke

Published

10 hours ago

November 7, 2026

Olivia Long

Billboard-charting composer, pianist, and vocalist Pauline Frechette releases her new single, “The Wonder of Stars,” featuring legendary bassist Stanley Clarke. Taken from her latest album, At the Edge of Everything, the song is a personal reflection on the beauty of the universe, the search for direction, and the quiet strength that comes from looking beyond everyday worries.

Living in Ojai, California, surrounded by mountains and natural beauty, Pauline finds inspiration in one of her favorite nighttime activities: stargazing with her husband. For her, looking up at the stars is more than simply admiring the night sky. It is a way to find peace, regain perspective, and reconnect with her sense of purpose.

“When I am tired or anxious about something, star gazing relaxes me. I feel strong and sure of the path I must follow,” Pauline explains. Inspired by the explorers who once relied on the stars for courage and direction, she sees the night sky as a reminder that there is always a way forward, even when life presents obstacles.

That feeling became the foundation for “The Wonder of Stars.” Pauline began composing the music while singing, allowing the lyrics to emerge naturally from the emotions and story already expressed through the melody. She considers the song one of her finest compositions.

Featuring the unmistakable musicianship of Stanley Clarke, “The Wonder of Stars” brings together Pauline’s distinctive approach to composition and performance with the artistry of one of music’s most celebrated bassists.

Pauline Frechette has built an impressive career as a composer, pianist, and vocalist. Her compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras, including the Baltimore Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, New West Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and National Symphony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Her work has also been presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Beyond the concert stage, Pauline has contributed her voice to major film scores and performed alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Paul McCartney, Beck, Cher, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Muse, and Leonard Cohen.

Her current album, At the Edge of Everything, features Stanley Clarke and showcases her ability to move naturally between jazz, neo-classical instrumentals, and expressive vocal compositions. Her music has accumulated more than 30 million streams worldwide.

Through her music and performances, Pauline brings together technical excellence, emotional honesty, and a deep sense of vulnerability. With “The Wonder of Stars,” she offers listeners a reminder to pause, look beyond their immediate surroundings, and find inspiration in the world above them.