136. Fifteen Minutes of Fame Spotlights: New Releases, May 30th
Originally Published on May 30th, 2025
Spotlights
As this Spotlights feature is a new one, I am still figuring out how I want to do it. Here’s where I have landed so far: I think it would be cool to do a Spotlights article every Friday and it will feature releases from 3-4 artists on the day of the article.
I know I like to present myself in a way that makes it look like Fifteen Minutes of Fame are more organized than we are. Admittedly, sometimes it is just a process of throwing spaghetti on a wall to see if it sticks. I do think this is the best way to feature spotlight articles every week. These features can be of new artists who haven’t been covered, or they might feature recaps of artists who have been covered, but I like the idea of publishing with the excited energy of the new release.
Take, for instance, today.
TAKEOVER by Uta K
About the Artist
If I am being honest, October may have the biggest month for Fifteen Minutes of Fame, to date. It was the biggest month for growth for us. It was the month that Blind Reactions launched, and there were some great artists introduced that month. One of them is one of my most proud and surprising discoveries, Uta K. He submitted his album, Golfcove, his debut. I remember getting chills the first time I listened to Change. I don’t even remember writing his review, the album was so inspiring, the article practically wrote itself.
Since Golfcove, Florida-based hip hop artist, Uta K, has released two singles already in 2025; Overcast in February, and a collaborative song, New Year, where Uta shared the mic with OFBJay, which released in March.
About the Song
TAKEOVER is the latest release by Uta K. Releasing today, May 30th, TAKEOVER is a little more than 3 minutes and is produced and performed by Uta K.
About the Music
TAKEOVER is the best release by Uta K this year, so far. Not taking from Overcast and New Year, both songs are very good, but TAKEOVER is such a smooth and steady flow that just builds and builds; getting better with every bar, all the way to the conclusion.
As always, Uta K fearlessly confronts the barriers of being a “white rapper,” and tears them down. He does it in a way that isn’t competitive, but unifying. It’s in this approach where I still think he will find his audience. It blows my mind that he’s currently only getting 10 monthly listeners on Spotify.
In TAKEOVER, Uta K discusses the optimism he has as an independent recording artist where he confronts the critical narrative, and points out that if he maintains his authenticity and stays true to himself, that’s what matters.
He talks about understanding he is part of the cliche as “another white rapper from Sanford.” He talks about finding clarity in how it’s more important to find love in society, rather than worrying about dying on the street or catching a bullet. He talks about the serenity of being high when smoking weed and how those highs can expand perspective on the meaning of it all.
Uta K is focused, the production is crisp and has a natural and emotional progression. There are no breaks or choruses in TAKEOVER. He starts his verse subtle and as the song progresses, he brings more and more energy right to the last bar where he closes with the line “Yeah, it’s Uta season, I think I might just takeover.”
Yeah. I think he might.
Listen to Takeover and follow Uta K on Spotify.
ONE. (Remix ONE) Circumstantial Saint, featuring Coral Rites
About the Artist
Also in October, (see what I mean), I had the wonderful privilege of covering my first Spoke. word Poet Artist in the incredible talents of Circumstantial Saint. Then, in February, through Saint’s referral, I discovered the wonderful debut album by Coral Rites. These two artists have collaborated with each other on a number of releases. Circumstantial Saint, as I mentioned in his review, stays very busy, as he is very active in his community as a cultural warrior, and advocate for equality, and he is a person who is motivated to lifting his community up. He hates oppressive behavior, he doesn’t believe in exclusion, and he isn’t afraid to be a single voice standing against an army of indoctrinated soldiers who are bought into fascist propaganda.
Coral Rites, as equally inspiring, released their debut album, Something Softer Than Saturn, in February and I reviewed one of its songs that same month. As stated, these two have collaborated on a number of projects and Saint was heavily involved in the production of this album as well.
Speaking with Saint earlier this month, he is planning on releasing an album every single month this summer- already releasing The Fall Of The Empire: Capitalism on May 23rd.
About the Song
ONE. (Remix ONE) is a new Single by Pennsylvania’s Circumstantial Saint, featuring Coral Rites, also from Pennsylvania. It released today, May 30th, 2025 and has a run time of about 5 minutes. It features poetry performed by Circumstantial Saint and Coral Rites and was produced by Circumstantial Saint.
About the Music
Musically, the production has a dissonant sound. As it begins, there are three synth parts playing over one another. The arpeggiated synth plays contrast to the synth strings. Then a groove-jam percussive beat comes in with a saw bass. Coral Rites opens the lyrics with the line “Not everyone wants to be saved.” Then both lyricists repeat the line over one another.
One thing I like about the delivery of the lyrics is, from a musical perspective, the lyrics are not performed synchronously. Instead, one poet often trails the other, then in moments they come together and perform the lyrics in sync. Also, they sometimes are repeating poetry one after the other, then other times, each poet is performing an individual part; all relative, but lyrically different.
The content of the poetry is to the standard we should all expect from Circumstantial Saint. It is incredibly profound. It is so layered in what he is saying, making reference to reclaiming land, as if he is referencing a people reclaiming the land but then speaking of nature reclaiming it through elemental forces like fire or water (reference of a Tsunami).
He and Coral Rites talk about how some people want to stay blissfully ignorant and how they will “come to regret,” these decisions. Regardless of the polarized societies we belong to, they resolve that “it doesn’t matter, we are still one.”
“Nobody wants to prevent unnecessary graves.” This line resonated so much with me. I often ponder the correlation to that very thought as I see so many avoidable consequences succumb to violent endings. As this line is referenced in a phrase referencing gun violence, school shootings, and pulling triggers, I get very frustrated on how we can’t unite as a people to save children’s lives.
But as Circumstantial Saint and Coral Rites have enlightened us, not everyone wants to be saved. Not everyone wants to be the hero. We live in a society that needs to worship something. A god. A president. A voice that tells them that immigration is bad. Abortion is murder. Climate change isn’t real. Covid is a hoax.
The reality is more horrific, perhaps. What if this is all we get? No heaven, no afterlife, no eternity. What if we are rapidly bringing about the end of life as we know it as we continue to poison the earth. What if we are being lied to by the media? What if there is an alterior motive to make the rich get richer, as they perpetuate a civil war between the lower classes to distract us from their greed?
If all that is true, god help us.
So yeah, I’m sure not everyone wants to be saved. Fortunately, this isn’t stopping Circumstantial Saint and Coral Rites. Their mission, their purpose remain as clear as ever; to save those who do want to be saved.
Faces in the Sun by Lexie Modica
To read about Lexie Modica, one would have to go back to the first month of Fifteen Minutes of Fame’s existence; to article number 8 which would technically make them the 4th artist that FMOF ever published about. Modica, from Minnesota is a versatile artist who got their start as a musician classically (just like me!), but then started exploring other styles and genres of music. Citing artists like Chappell Roan as inspiration, they released a beatiful alt-folk song, Home, that referenced a sad ending to a relationship, seeming to dissolve over the rest of their lives as they learned how to exist beyond its end.
I was so impressed with this song, the moment I heard it I knew I was going to feature this artist. I was even more excited to learn this was their debut. I really liked the idea of following an artist from their first release to see their development from the very beginning.
They made us wait.
Nine months and Nine days later, Modica blessed their fans with single number 2, The Bitter End. Like Home, the Bitter End opens with Modica singing and playing acoustic guitar, but takes a turn that impressively shows they have an ability to show their versatility as an artist and also staying fluid within the constructs of the music they are producing. The Bitter End takes Modica’s listeners further into the possibilities of their vocal performance as the chorus just soars above this incredibly dynamic song. Modica’s voice is immensely impressive.
After this, would Modica have us wait Nine more months before another release? Thankfully, we would get a follow to The Bitter End much, much sooner than that.
About the Song
Faces in the Sun is the third single from Minnesota’s Lexie Modica. Released on May 30th, 2025, this alt/classic rock song features Modica fronting a full band, and runs at just over Three minutes. Faces in the Sun was released by LXM Records.
About the Music
Once again, Lexie Modica is prepared to show their listeners another stylistic performance they are capable of pulling off. This one, has a vintage twist to it as it almost sounds like a 50’s “Bebop” rock song, like Buddy Holly or Dion. This swinging song features a full rock band; drums, bass, acoustic, and electric guitars. Additionally, there is a Rhodes keyboard, and a small horn section accompanying Modica’s vocal performance.
I love how Modica shows us, with every performance, they are capable of entertaining any audience they are in front of. Their vocals feature in every different style of music they experiment with, from one song to the next. Also, no matter the diversity in the influence, it all relates back to Lexie Modica’s own authentic sound. Each song is different, but each song is theirs.
As Modica progresses, I can’t wait to hear what comes next. Maybe a multi-track release? A debut album or EP perhaps? Knowing their capabilities with how diverse their sound can be, I would love to hear a collection of work that showcases this ability to be dynamic and yet tie together as one larger work. I think this could be an element of music they could excel at.
Faces in the Sun is a bright, upbeat song that gives off so much nostalgic energy as it would be an incredible add to any summertime playlist for laying in the sun, splashing in a pool, or taking a trip to beach.
Listen to Faces in the Sun on Spotify
Hey. HEY! Don’t forget to go press play!
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