Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Adele McClure, Virginia House of Delegates District 2

The 2025 election season is now in full swing and primaries are happening now! Today we are profiling Adele McClure (she/her/hers) who recently won her primary for re-election to the Virginia House of Delegates. Adele is a queer millennial of Black and Filipino descent who was the first member of her family to attend college. Although a classically trained pianist, she is a My Chemical Romance superfan who loves punk, emo, and alt rock. The issues Adele is most passionate about include mental health, housing, and gun safety.

Cinema Music Group has a Heart of Gold

Los Angeles based music production house, Cinema Music Group, has created a musical fundraising project. This project’s first product is an album titled Heart of Gold Volume 1 and is composed of several Neil Young covers performed by various well-known artists like Fiona Apple, Mumford & Sons, and Brandi Carlile. Proceeds from this first volume and upcoming volumes will be donated to The Bridge School, an organization bringing education to children with speech and physical impairments. With more volumes on the way, the support for this cause can only grow. To learn more about Cinema Music Group and this project, read on.

Raw, Real, and Unapologetically Herself: Sophia Warren on Music, Rescue, and the Quiet Rebellion of Telling the Truth

Meet Sophia Warren: singer-songwriter, activist, and rebel heart. With her newest EP Adesso, she leans into raw emotion and radical honesty, crafting songs that are messy, real, and deeply human. When she’s not making music, Sophia is fighting for animals through the nonprofit she co-founded, Animal Defenders Alliance. From challenging unethical rescue practices to rescuing dogs from crisis situations, her mission is as bold as her sound. Read more below as Sophia opens up about her journey in music, the stories behind Adesso, and why she refuses to stay quiet—onstage or off.

RAGS AND RICHES: Music for the Underdogs, Fighters, and the Dreamers

RAGS AND RICHES makes loud and proud anthems for their ‘Mob Squad’. With a powerful message, strong lyrics, and uplifting beat backing each songs, RAGS AND RICHES aims to inspire perseverance. In an upcoming EP set to release later this month, the duo plans to express a few personal stories through their music. Beyond the music, RAGS AND RICHES shows support to all those struggling with mental health through a partnership with American Suicide Awareness Organization that helps fundraise for the cause. To learn more about RAGS AND RICHES and their new releases, read on.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57Eva Elisa WellsJune 30, 2025music artist, music industry, music duo, Music Group, New SingleComment

Rob Roman's Reality Gives Back

Rob Roman, known for his time on Hulu’s “Got to Get Out” and Netflix’s “Squid Games: The Challenge”, is more than just a reality star. Dedicated police sergeant and founder of Homecare Roots, a healthcare organization providing in-home specialized care to children, Roman’s passion for helping others is the real star. To learn more about Rob Roman, read on.

Chief Kluane Adamek is Breaking Barriers with Modern Leadership

As the youngest woman to ever serve as Yukon Regional Chief, Chief Kluane Adamek is no stranger to breaking barriers. The work she does is centered around community and aims to support indigenous youth, empower young girls, advocate for women’s rights and climate action, help define what modern leadership looks like, and more. The creation of ‘Our Voices’, a collective dedicated to giving young indigenous leaders a space to amplify their voice, is just one way she has made her goals a reality. To learn more about Chief Kluane Adamek and what she has done for her Indigenous community and others, read on.

Alycia Anderson Leading the Pathway to Disability Inclusion

From sharing her story and becoming a disability advocate and TEDX speaker to supporting inclusive education through partnerships with Bay-Arenac Intermediate and Pinconning Area School Districts, Alycia Anderson puts inclusion at the forefront of her mission. Whether its speaking on her podcast, collaborating with schools, organizations, and companies to create a more inclusive workspace, contributing as a member of the California Insurance Diversity Task Force, or creating her own disability inclusion learning series, disability advocacy is Anderson’s biggest passion. To learn more about Alycia Anderson and her advocacy efforts, read on.

Courage in Full Color: Krystofer Maison on Art and Activism

Krystofer Maison is an artist who doesn’t play by the usual rules — and that’s precisely what sets him apart. With a sound that blends raw emotion, striking lyrics, and a fearless approach to genre, he’s been steadily building a name for himself as someone who creates music that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. In this interview, Krystofer opens up about his creative process, the stories behind his songs, and what drives him as an artist.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57Kylie MurphyJune 20, 2025#queermusic, queer, singer, songwriter, inspiration, activist, LGBTQ+, mental healthComment

Ginger Winn Sings to Souls

For this singer-songwriter, song writing is more than a creative outlet, it’s a way to process emotions. Ginger Winn stuns with her surprise EP “Reflections” and new single releases from her upcoming album “Freeze Frame”. Each song from these two projects produce nothing short of raw emotion, heartbreaking honesty, and deep connection. Partnering with Rewind Kingston to donate a part of proceeds to mental health initiatives and using her music to share important resources like the 988 crisis line, there is no doubting Winn’s dedication to mental health awareness. To learn more about Ginger Winn, her upcoming music, and its story, read on.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2025 - Claire Cousin, Hudson, NY Common Council, Ward 5

Up the Hudson River from New York City, Hudson is the seat of Columbia County. In the past decade or so, Hudson has reinvented itself from rust belt mid-size city to a rejuvenated scene for the arts and counterculture. Claire Cousin (she/her) is a millennial mom of 3 who is running on the Working Families Party ticket for the Hudson Common Council. Before becoming a housing justice activist, Claire spent eight years dedicating herself to the Black Liberation Movement. She was recently accepted into the Baccalaureate program at nearby Bard College, a hotbed of liberal, artistic ideas. Claire cares very deeply about social justice, Community Building, Youth Empowerment and finding creative ways to center stories and narratives of people on the ground both doing the hard work of preserving community but also those continuing to live in and foster community.

Paxton Smith - From Viral Valedictorian to Musician and Activist

From a viral valedictorian speech to becoming a musician and activist, Paxton Smith is no stranger to making her voice heard. With songs off of her new EP, “But I Love It”, releasing every month, we have no shortage of things to look forward to! Beyond the music, Smith has had the chance to travel around the country to speak on the importance of reproductive rights and serves on the board for directors for WRRAP - the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project. Read on to learn more about Paxton Smith and her new music.

Jamie Margolin, Intersectional Activist

As the current regime turns away from curbing climate change and towards embracing increased carbon emissions, Gen Z is doing what it can to pick up the slack. Jamie Margolin is only 23 years old, but she has been an activist for the past 8+ years. Coming of age in the Trump era, she witnessed the systematic dismantling of environmental regulations and free reign given to petroleum and gas companies to extract fossil fuels in the cheapest way possible. The existential threat of climate change inspired Jamie to co-found Zero Hour, an international youth climate justice movement which aims to empower youth to lead the environmental justice narrative, as those who stand to bear the brunt of climate change. This organization has been going strong since 2017. Read on to learn more about climate justice leader Jamie Margolin!

Audrey Denney - Feeding American Hunger

“Public service is for all of us.” These are the words of Audrey Denney (she/her), an agriculture teacher, consultant, international human rights volunteer and political activist. Raised from a young age with the belief in service to others, Audrey has spent her whole life advocating for those who need it — the hungry, the unhoused, immigrants, and farm laborers. And she has a thing or two to say about why the Democratic party keeps losing in rural America. Read on to learn more about Audrey Denney!

Mustard Service Creates a Sound of Their Own

The Miami based group, Mustard Service, is creating a sound of their own, one they like to call “Zest Pop”. With the recent release of two new singles, an album coming this summer, and talk of even more new music in the future, we’re happy to report that Mustard Service has no plans of slowing down. Beyond the music, one member volunteers some of his time for The Sierra Club’s Inner City Outings program, a program dedicated to taking inner city youth on nature outings. To learn more about Mustard Service and their new music, read on.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 57Eva Elisa WellsMay 30, 2025Miami, music artist, music industry, Music Group, Community, HispanicComment

Regina Sayles - Helping Voices Be Heard

Regina Sayles is a queer biracial singer-songwriter who advocates for more representation within the music industry. Her latest single’s music video, One Big Lie, released on International Women’s Day and aims to create more visibility for women like her. Often donating to the Looking Out Foundation, she hopes to help other’s voices be heard. Beyond the music, Sayles is an educator and a mentor, working hard to uplift others and help them believe in themselves. With more new music along the way, we are surely in for a treat! Read on to learn more about Regina Sayles’ new music and what representation means to her.

Emily Haber: Connection Over Perfection

Growing up in a family band with severe hearing loss, Emily Haber has learned that when it comes to music, connection is much more important than perfection. And after years of writing for others, she is finally ready to have her own voice heard. Her new single, Nostalgia, explores the complexity of reflecting on what you had compared to what you could’ve had. As her way of paying it forward and expressing gratitude for the help she received for her hearing loss from the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Haber frequently volunteers for and donates to them. To learn more about Emily Haber and how living with hearing loss has affected her relationship to music, read on.

Television Skies Sings Without Disguise

Television Skies is a New York based duo with a rebellious spirit and unwavering authenticity. Their newly released single, Time of My Life, speaks to facing the unknown and might just be able to help you feel a little less alone during this time where we’re facing a lot of uncertainty. Teasing their upcoming album in this interview, they share a few songs we can expect to make it onto the track list. In response to the recent LA fires, Television Skies stresses the importance of supporting each other in times of need no matter the distance by playing shows to raise money for those affected by the fires. To show their support for struggling artists, they also partner with Sweet Relief and Letters Relief Charity, organizations dedicated to turning community support directly into real help for musicians. To learn more about Television Skies and their upcoming album, read on.

Refuge is a Rock 'n' Roll Musical Melting Pot

Inspired by music icons like Queen and the blending of genres like rock and blues, Refuge has created a sound unique to them. Their newly released single, Bored, exemplifies just that and with their upcoming album we’re sure to hear more of their diverse sound. Beyond the music, Refuge is dedicated to helping their community. Working with organizations like Newham Music Trust to bring music education to children, Music Venue Trust to keep small venues for small artists open, and supporting The Oasis Hub food, toy, and clothing pantries. To learn more about Refuge and their upcoming album, read on.

Annabel Gutherz - Pop-Rock to Pajamas

From writing cinematic pop songs to launching a socially conscious children’s brand, Annabel Gutherz is doing more than just making noise — she’s making a difference. Her latest single, “Dance Around It,” explores the emotional complexities of love, showcasing music’s ability to heal and connect. But her talent for storytelling extends far beyond songwriting. What started as a high school initiative has since evolved into Annie’s Pajammies, her purpose-driven brand that supports education and empowers children through stories and imagination. Read the full story to learn more about Annabel Gutherz and how she takes on the musical and literary realms of writing.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Chelsea ChanApril 22, 2025author, books, Musican, education, musicComment

Gender Amplified - Changing the Tune

In an industry long dominated by the male perspective, one nonprofit is changing the industry. Meet Gender Amplified, a powerful movement advocating for women and gender-expansive producers to not only be seen but heard. With the release of their first EP, In Bloom, this nonprofit is redefining what inclusion sounds like: it is not only intimate but also experimental and relatable. Read on to learn more about Gender Amplified and its musical movement as we dive deep with founder Ebonie Smith.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 56Chelsea ChanApril 17, 2025women, women in music, music industry, music, EP, nonprofit, music producerComment