Aria, also known as Mariano Schiavolini, is not just a name in the music industry. He’s a phenomenon who encompasses in his fold the whole world, and translates this mélange into his music. A crusader of global harmony and authentic music, Aria’s smashing new release carries his signature amalgamation of styles that transcends musical boundaries and borders.
His latest musical offering, “Smile,” is a compelling creation that reels in the listener with its infectious rhythm and uplifting vocals. Released on August 14th, this tune resonates with the melodies of rumba and cha-cha from South and Central America, embroidered with jazz and R&B influences and garnished with the unmistakable touch of seasoned American bassist, Joseph Patrick.
What sets Aria apart is his persistence to retain the originality and grandeur of real music. “Smile” stands as a living testament to his commitment, as the song is recorded using analog set-ups, a rare phenomenon in the age of digitization. With this approach, the song preserves the genuine frequencies of each instrument, resulting in rich rhythm layers and a complex composition that contemporary pieces often lack.
To achieve such authenticity requires a resolute devotion to the art. Aria, who also has his roots in rock, classical, and progressive music, has been a vigilant sentinel of real music, going beyond the confines of genre specifications. His style of music is also reflected in his collaboration with international sensations like the Soweto Gospel Choir, Peter Gabriel, and the group of Miriam Makeba.
The music video for “Smile” mirrors Aria’s vision of universal brotherhood, with smiling faces from all walks of life, brought together by the power of music. A quintessence of global collaboration, it features lyrics penned by the English author Nicolette Turner and sung by Ariel Jones, who also translated the song into her native Portuguese for its South American release.
Aria’s use of music as a medium to bring change is commendable. His discography, as diverse as his collaborators, often coincides as a reminder of crises and subjects that require attention. His song “Where Will it End” commemorates the victims of the Garissa University tragedy in Kenya, while “The Next Life” hones into habitat destruction and animal extinction. His latest release “Smile” however, intends to rekindle the forgotten joy of celebrating life in its listeners.
A stalwart in the musical fraternity, Aria harbors the philosophy of producing evocative music that resonates at a deeper level. He has been in the lineup of pioneers such as Mike Oldfield, Alan Parson, and Rudimental, who made it a point to delve deeply into musical tonalities and harmonies. These dive deep-ers are typically the ones producing original, timeless music, staying afloat in a sea of ephemeral, trendy tunes.
Aria, in his relentless pursuit of authentic music that hearkens back to the heavenly symphonies of 60’s and 70’s rock ballads, also desires the revival of slow dance music which, he believes, can bridge the gap between people. The safety and precision provided by digital tools, although essential in the current age, often create a disparity, distancing listeners from the raw, organic feel of music. He hopes for a renaissance of music fueled with the warmth of vinyl records and hi-fi sound enabling listeners to appreciate the subtleties of nuanced musical compositions.
This Italian maestro, infusing his music with a touch of nostalgia, invites everyone to the melodious soirees he constantly hosts where you can get up, dance, forget all your worries and relish the joy that music is meant to evoke.
Continuing his odyssey, Aria’s upcoming endeavors revolve around the nu-jazz genre, featuring a renowned New York City Jazz singer. His releases include tunes like “Blind Eyes,” “Find that Man,” and an ensemble piece “Broken.” Each song representing stories of refugees, features a star-studded line-up of opera and pop singers.
Delighting in the world’s treasury of traditional music and bathing in the shower of colorful measures and scales, Aria’s genuine love for real music facilitates the weaving of the diverse musical threads the world offers into a gorgeous tapestry of sounds. That, dear listener, is the magic called Aria.
“Smile” is available across all platforms now. For those captivated by this melody, links to his work are available on Spotify and Youtube as well as Apple Music and his official website.
This article contains branded content provided by a third party. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the content creator or sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or editorial stance of Popular Hustle.
Some artists talk about grinding. Others actually live it. Calvin Davenport, better known as GMDCASH, falls squarely into the second category. The Seattle-born rapper has navigated the kind of obstacles that would make most people quit, including incarceration, legal restrictions on his content, and the predatory side of an industry that loves to take advantage of independent artists. He’s still here, though, and with previous coverage in outlets like Earmilk and The Source already under his belt, his recent output suggests he’s figured out how to turn setbacks into fuel.
His latest single “Bump A Whore Pt. 2,” released January 16th, 2026, sees him team up with MikeJack3200 and Frostydasnowmann for a polished follow-up to the original. But it was his comeback track “I’m The Product,” dropped at the top of the year, that set the tone. That title isn’t just a song name. It’s a thesis statement. The track positions GMDCASH as someone who’s done waiting for opportunities to find him. Instead, he’s become the opportunity. With a new EP on the way, he’s building momentum on his own terms.
We caught up with GMDCASH to talk about what drives him, how he creates, and what’s next.
GMDCASH / January Cover
Take us back to a specific moment when you knew this was what you were going to do. What happened?
I think after getting out of jail I geared my focus towards my music career. I really needed a positive outlet, something that woke me up, drove me, and inspired me and the people around me. Music did that for me.
If someone’s never heard your music before, how would you describe what you do?
I would say my music is for everyone. I have a pretty big catalog and it’s forever expanding, so if you don’t hear something you like, check back every now and again. I’m sure something will catch your ear. And if not, it’s more than music. It’s my life story. I want people to be inspired by my music. I want people to hear it and know that anything is possible.
Who or what shaped your creative voice the most?
My family is a big part of my influence. Both my parents and some of my family members have been in the industry. Growing up in a musical household is number one. I have a unique style. I couldn’t say one thing shaped my creative voice, and I feel like my creativity is forever changing every time I’m in the studio.
Walk us through how you actually create.
Honestly, I book a session and spend four hours minimum in the studio. Sometimes I don’t even book. I’ll just feel something and call a studio and get to work. Most beats are made as soon as I pull up. The producer gives me the sample, I approve, he starts the loop. Most of my lyrics are life experience, so it’s not hard for me to make a song. I just rap how I’m feeling. Sometimes it’s a smooth process, others take time. Then they mix and master and I schedule the release.
What’s something you had to figure out the hard way?
I think going to jail at the end of the year was really a wake up call. I have to protect myself and keep people around me who want what’s really best for me, not just have anyone around me.
Is there anyone you’d love to work with down the line?
I really would like to collab with Hurricane Wisdom.
Where are you at in your music career right now?
This is just the beginning. I feel there’s so much more to come. Music is my passion. I don’t think I’m leaving the mic anytime soon.
What are you working on that you’re excited about?
I’m excited for my next EP coming out early this year. I focused on songs with uplifting, positive energy and the GMD, Get Money Daily, vibe. I’m hoping to do at least two shows before the middle of the year. I’m just excited about the possibility of the new year and all the good things it has to bring.
If there’s one thing you want readers to take away from this feature, what is it?
I’m an up and coming Seattle rapper. Check out my music, be inspired, follow my page, interact, share your thoughts.
GMDCASH
What stands out about GMDCASH isn’t the adversity itself. Plenty of artists have tough stories. It’s the clarity that came out of it. He’s not chasing validation or waiting for a label to cosign his vision. Beyond music, he has plans to move into artist management and eventually relocate abroad. For listeners who connect with authenticity over polish, that long-term thinking is the whole point.
Some artists spend years waiting for their moment without realizing it already came and went. Lil Deezull knows what that feels like. He’s been rapping since 2015, freestyling with friends in Cambridge, Maryland long before he thought of it as a career. It took seven years and a viral track before he understood what he’d been sitting on.
The Cambridge rapper, born August 16, 2005, didn’t start out with a plan. His first actual track, “Big Booty,” got passed around locally and gave him his first taste of what connecting with an audience felt like. But it wasn’t until 2022 that everything clicked. A track called “Purple Rain” went viral, and suddenly the kid who’d been rapping for fun had people actually paying attention.
Lil Deezull
“Since then I started taking my music career seriously,” Lil Deezull says. That shift shows in his output. His 2024 album, For All The Snow Bunnies, marked his biggest project to date and helped establish him beyond his Eastern Shore hometown.
The numbers tell part of the story. His track “Suffering” has pulled over 106,000 plays with solid engagement, while newer releases like “NO KINGS” show he’s building consistent momentum rather than chasing one-off hits. He works primarily in hip-hop and rap, pulling from the melodic trap style popularized by artists like The Kid LAROI and Polo G, but he’s not interested in staying in one lane.
“I am a multi genre artist and I make music for everyone,” he explains. Recently, that’s meant studying country artists like Morgan Wallen, looking for ways to expand his reach beyond rap’s typical audience. It’s an unconventional move for a young rapper from Maryland, but it speaks to how he thinks about his career.
His lyrics draw from personal experience. Daily life, observations, things he sees and hears in Cambridge. He wants listeners to find something relatable.
“My hope is that people will relate to me and that my music can help them get through whatever they are going through in life,” Lil Deezull says.
‘Maryland Man’ by Lil Deezull
His next project, Maryland Man, drops May 16 and represents a return to collaboration after a solo-focused 2024. The album features fellow Cambridge rappers Lil Mop and Murda2x alongside international collaborator Brixton, who appeared on For All The Snow Bunnies. It’s a deliberate effort to spotlight his hometown’s scene while building on last year’s momentum.
At 19, Lil Deezull has already been making music for nearly a decade. He’s had time to figure out what he wants to say, and he’s also had time to accumulate regrets. “Don’t be like me and have a life full of missed opportunities,” he says. “Live your life and take any chance you get.”
It’s a surprising bit of self-awareness from someone still early in his career, but it tracks with why he finally got serious after “Purple Rain” took off. He’d spent seven years treating music like a hobby while the moment kept knocking. Now he’s answering the door.
Trains make for inherently cinematic settings: the claustrophobia, the momentum, the fact that you can’t just walk away when things go sideways. Dennis Dewall clearly knows this, and he’s using it to full effect in THE TRAIN, an espionage thriller that narrows his Spy Capital universe into the confined intensity of a luxury locomotive.
Dennis Dewall stars as Major Alex Stirling, a former SAS operative who finds himself in the middle of an intelligence turf war aboard the Majestic Imperator, a privately owned train carrying high-profile passengers through Central Europe. When rival intelligence services close in, what follows is a volatile mix of surveillance, manipulation, and direct confrontation. The train becomes a rolling battlefield where everyone’s watching everyone else, and nobody’s safe.
Boris Volodarsky / Westside Studios
What separates this from standard action fare is the man behind the camera. Boris Volodarsky isn’t just a filmmaker. He’s a legitimate espionage authority who’s written extensively on KGB operations, Stalin’s intelligence apparatus, and high-profile political assassinations. That real-world credibility shows up in the film’s approach, lending THE TRAIN grounded authenticity that distinguishes it from more stylized espionage entries.
Madalina Bellariu Ion / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)
The cast pulls its weight. Madalina Bellariu Ion, who’s appeared in projects like THE YOUNG POPE and TAKE COVER, plays Natalie Krug, an operative who’s equal parts dangerous and magnetic. Anouk Auer holds her own as Stirling’s daughter Olivia, adding emotional weight to the high-stakes narrative. The ensemble rounds out with Peter Ormond, Alan Burgon, Martin Ploderer, Suzanne Grieger-Langer, Polina Kuleshova, and Nadine Grosinger, all contributing to the film’s international texture.
Peter Ormond & Cast / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)
Dewall and his team shot across Vienna, London, Malta, Bangkok, Budapest, and Prague to capture authentic international locations. The action choreography, handled by martial arts expert Ali Kabalan, emphasizes physical realism. Dewall performs his own stunts, which adds weight to the physical confrontations and underscores the production’s commitment to authenticity.
Ali Kabalan & Dennis Dewall / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)
THE TRAIN releases September 10, 2026 in Germany and Austria, with a London premiere and additional territories following a week later. Dewall’s emphasis on physical authenticity and real-world intelligence expertise positions THE TRAIN as a grounded entry in contemporary espionage cinema. Sometimes the best action happens when there’s nowhere left to run.