The Spotlight Sessions: Writers in the Round

Southern California native and singer/songwriter Sabrina Lentini has dedicated her life to her passion for music, performing on stage since the age of five. Sabrina is a true believer in the magic of storytelling and has enchanted and captivated audiences with her unique take on the traditional country genre, and her latest releases have earned features on CMT and on Spotify’s editorial playlists. Her music has been described as “bright and playful and a true reflection of her personality”, bringing smiles to the faces of those who listen.

During her Sophomore year of high school, she was the youngest contestant to make it all the way to the Top 48 out of more than 75,000 for Season 13 of FOX’s American Idol. By working hard and playing thousands of shows throughout the years, she has turned her passion for songwriting and performing into her career. Sabrina is currently spending her time traveling between California, and Nashville, TN, working on her next release.

www.instagram.com/sabrinalentini     https://www.facebook.com/officialsabrinalentini      https://www.tiktok.com/@officialsabrinalentini

Rae Isla is an independent American singer-songwriter and musician from Bainbridge Island, WA, now based in Los Angeles. Drawing from her early years playing classical cello, learning piano and guitar as a teenager, and attending Berklee College of Music on a vocal scholarship, Rae weaves together a unique blend of folk, indie rock, and alt-country influences to create lush, evocative songs. Her 2021 debut album, Another Life, garnered critical acclaim with features in Rolling Stone and Billboard, and charted #27 on NACC radio. Her newly released sophomore album, New Frontier—featuring fan favorites like “Miles and Miles” and “Free to Love”—marks an evolution in her artistry as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and visual storyteller.

Rae’s voice has also reached new audiences through film and television. She performed the lead original song for Ezra, a feature film starring Robert DeNiro and Rose Byrne, and composed the theme for the upcoming docuseries SCENE: SILVER LAKE. Known as a “traveling bard,” Rae’s live performances are both intimate and immersive, sharing fantastical stories from the road and creating a communal experience that breaks down the barrier between artist and audience. A burgeoning American songwriter in her own right, Rae’s ability to blend honest and intimate storytelling with cinematic arrangement will draw you in, and keep you there.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/raeisla/?hl=en

X: https://twitter.com/rae_isla?lang=en 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@raeisla 

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/raeisla

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/raeisla 

Website: https://raeisla.com/ 

Millie McGuire is a twenty-four-year-old singer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Her unforgettable, precise, evocative alto is equally at home in jazz or pop settings. Millie has performed at the legendary North Carolina venue Cat’s Cradle, UNC-Chapel Hill’s music department, and Durham’s Motorco.  She has been featured on NPR’s  All Things Considered and North Carolina’s own The State of Things.  She has taken the stage at several major music city venues, including Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom, where she sang alongside R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, Big Star’s Jody Stephens, and Wilco’s Pat Sansone as part of the national tour for Big Star’s Third Live concert (also a documentary film).  She has appeared in the flagship City Winery venue in New York, opening and singing backup for legendary Texas troubador Alejandro Escovedo. Most notably, she was on stage of the Alex Theatre in Los Angeles for the annual Wild Honey Orchestra’s Benefit Concert for Austism Think Tank: Tribute to The Kinks, and the critical favorite Sunday brunch, radio veteran/music supervisor Gary Calamar’s Mimosa Music Series.

Website: http://milliemcguire.com/

Instagram: @millsbills_ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milliemcguiresmusic

Most heavily influenced by the likes of Stevie Nicks and Shania Twain, Brooke Butler pairs feminist-Americana-inspired writing with earnest vocals to offer a unique voice in Country and Folk music, pioneering the Laurel Canyon Country genre. While her digital savvy has garnered consistent virality and a large social following, she’s proven to be a songwriter, storyteller, and artist at heart. An old soul clad in a 70s-style wardrobe, Brooke strives to spread joy, making every person aware of the unfiltered beauty and pain encompassed in the human experience.

After signing to UMPG/Audio Up in late 2023, multiple singles from her debut EP Emotion Sick (full release 9/24) were playlisted in All New Country and Fresh Finds Country on Spotify as well as New in Country and Country Risers on Apple Music. Brooke’s knack for digital content has also resulted in multiple viral videos as she continues to establish herself in the Folk/Country space.

LA native musician Ali Angel is carving her own distinct space for herself within the live music scenes of Los Angeles with her retro soul meets indie twang style. With powerhouse vocals and classic, nostalgia evoking songwriting, her music sounds familiar yet distinctly original and new. Her songs are not fully country yet not fully pop, allowing her to find a space of belonging in spaces like Nikki Lane’s Horseshoe stage on the outskirts of Stagecoach 2024 as well as headlining shows alongside pop and rock bands at beloved venues all over Los Angeles. A fixture in the LA live music scene, Angel and her band have held residencies and played packed shows at prominent venues all over the city, from Good Times at Davey Waynes to Desert 5 Spot, Gold Diggers, Hotel Cafe and Moroccan Lounge. She’s received attention from prominent local and independent radio stations including 88.5 The SoCal Sound and 88.9 KXLU as well, garnering consistent radio spins on her latest indie country tunes, “Stone Cold” and “Tell Me”.  Angel’s best work to date is set to be released next year; an album’s worth collection of songs that mix her retro-twangy classic sound with a modern indie touch, while lyrically tapping into bolder and more vulnerable topics about sexuality, mental health, and self discovery.

Socials

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aliangelmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alimayangelmusic

Tik Tok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@alimayangelmusic

Website: https://aliangelmusic.com/

Bandcamp: https://aliangel.bandcamp.com/releases