For nearly four decades Donavon Frankenreiter has been traveling the globe, first as a professional surfer and now as a musician. Born in Southern California, Donavon spent most of his youth chasing waves, turning pro at the age of 16. These days instead of surf competitions, it’s concert halls that bring Frankenreiter to town, where he entertains audiences with his unique blend of laid-back grooves, philosophical lyrics and soulful delivery. Last year, Frankenreiter released his first studio in 9 years, out September 20, 2024. The album, entitled Get Outta Your Mind, marked the 20 year anniversary of his self-titled debut album.

​Art unearths grandeur from hardship. It documents the typically unseen splendor of struggle and offers the encouragement to forge ahead. Christina Holmes does so on her aptly titled third independent full-length album, The Beautiful Struggle [Cove House Records]. The New Jersey-born and Rhode Island-based singer, songwriter, and Cove House Records founder threads together stories of love and life across eleven alternative folk anthems united by her confessional lyricism and instrumental proficiency on guitar, bass, djembe, and piano. As a result, she delivers her most personal, passionate, and powerful statement to date informed by true trials, tribulations, and triumphs. “The album is called The Beautiful Struggle, because I feel as though everybody lives a beautiful struggle,” she states. “There are so many good things in life. There are so many bad things in life. You’re just trying to find a happy balance. You know what you want. However, you might not be able to have it. Maybe it’s just out of reach, so your struggle is reaching for it.” The music magnifies this universal journey. After keeping a childhood songwriting ambition a secret, she went from braving open mics to brightening the spirits of bedridden hospital patients alongside the charity Musicians On Call. Following a seminal “Amateur Night” gig at the Apollo, she dropped her 2013 debut, Peace, Love, & C. Holmes and canvased the country on a sold-out tour with Trevor Hall. 2017’s Stand Up—produced by Warren Huart [Colbie Caillat, James Blunt]—would be the first official release through Cove House Records.