Casal

19 year old singer-songwriter Michael Casings (real name Emille Lacsa) is the product of a generation that grows both increasingly confused with what it wants to be and impatient about not having it. In much the same way that teenagers grasp for familiarity when they're thrust into the world to make sense for their own, Casal's sound has influences ranging from the neo-soul stylings of Maroon 5 to Bruno Mars' hum-inducing doo wop.

Yet, his lyrics display a more introspective look than most contemporary artists. They reflect Generation Y's struggle with a broken American dream, its pursuit of storybook romances, and its terror of the unknown. With Casal's upcoming freshman debut, "Paper Hearts", he aims to do what any other person his age would do when things aren't working their way -- make it work.