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Ali Holder - Reborn
Ali Holder - Reborn

Ali Holder - Reborn


When an artist sounds like where you come from, it can be an immediate, visceral kind of connection, and such is the connection I’ve found with Ali Holder’s track, “Reborn.” The pillowy organ, slow rhythm guitar, and ever-so-slight drawl on this track had already transported my heart to my hometown of Austin, TX before my mind had time to recognize the nostalgia. Growing up in Austin, I always assumed that no matter where you went in the world, you’d find singer-songwriters on every street and in every restaurant, every day of the week. I thought it was a basic part of shared human experience, like fending off grackles or getting unlimited free refills of unsweet iced tea. And from the ubiquitous, strumming masses of my youth, I have come to recognize there is absolutely an “Austin sound.” To me, it's a sound that I will never be able to shake as long as I live; to many, it’s inextricably linked to the strong, warm breezes of July evenings; and if you want to know what it can mean to you, well—I’d start here with Ali Holder.

Karl Snyder on April 29, 2020
Dirty Projectors - Overlord

Dirty Projectors - Overlord


There's something a little daunting about the concept of Maia Friedman's angelic voice singing the word "Overlord" several times in two-and-a-half minutes, but the reality is actually much better. For their first single in two years, Dirty Projectors comes back with a sunny single reminiscent of a radio single we might hear in the Summer of 1998; Friedman's beautiful voice singing over a simple acoustic melody, while still tackling tough topics. "Overlord" kicks off with an inner dialogue plea appropriate for, and thought by so many through the seemingly endless election year, "Please don't yell at the train / just get aboard." The politician wants us to all strap in and stay quiet. Never mind we all might be feeling afraid. Other common desires between citizen and candidate are addressed, but for listeners, the relatable subject matter never becomes tense. Friedman makes us feel like we're sitting with our friends over a cup of coffee while endlessly lamenting possible outcomes to a crucial election and facing its potential reality because we know "Those who stay behind / will be left on the shore," and, as she continues in the chorus, the elected leader will inevitably ignore our concerns by begging us to believe "Good outweighs bad / as we approach perfection." Dirty Projectors are currently on tour.

Taylor Hodgkins on March 10, 2020
The Avalanches feat. Blood Orange - We Will Always Love You

The Avalanches feat. Blood Orange - We Will Always Love You


With releases that span at most 16 years apart, Australian band The Avalanches take their time carefully crafting music that feels both grounded and out of body. And their newest single “We Will Always Love You” is just that. The track begins with a sample from Smokey Robinson, tripped out and mixed to introduce a cosmic energy to the song. Additionally, Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes), contributes soft lyrics that are delivered in both spoken-word and Hynes’ gorgeous falsetto. The hook samples the iconic “Hammond Song” by The Roches, pitched higher for a haunting feeling that takes you floating out of your body as the track comes to a close. "We Will Always Love You" will keep you cozy, contemplative and hopeful through these remaining winter nights, as we prepare for the fabulous spring weather we've all been waiting for.

Julie Gentile on March 10, 2020
Ellis - Embarrassing

Ellis - Embarrassing


Contemplate the nuances of shame with “Embarrassing," the second release off the self-proclaimed emo dream-pop artist Ellis’ new album, Born Again. In this deeply confessional slow burn, the Ontario-based artist turns her gaze inward to address the feeling of embarrassment, deviating from the beaten path towards a much harder truth; sometimes we feel shame because we should. This synth-forward, dreamy track is no pity party, it’s a promise to be better in a remarkable coming to terms with accountability. Making concessions like “maybe you were right when you said I love to play the victim” Ellis displays a maturity and self-awareness beyond her years. Despite its vulnerability “Embarrassing” is full of defiance and strength, using a feeling we so easily look away from or blame others for as a tool for growth and self-forgiveness. The purposeful drumbeat and unhurried guitar move steadily towards a power ballad climax and in the closing refrain Ellis repeats in her honey-sweet voice, “some things should be embarrassing” over and over as a reminder not just to herself, but to her listener as well. Born Again is out on April 3 via Fat Possum Records, and be sure to catch Ellis on her North American tour while you can.

Shasha Léonard on March 9, 2020
Hamilton Leithauser - Here They Come

Hamilton Leithauser - Here They Come


“All of the songs on my new record are about people. Individual, real people. Some are strangers I’ve met, but a lot are friends”, explains Hamilton Leithauser in a teaser for lead single “Here They Come” before the song’s official release. That video would lead us to believe that the friend is actor Ethan Hawke (who, upon hearing the song, turns off the stereo and bludgeons Leithuaser with a chair), but in truth it doesn’t matter. Hawke, or whomever the song’s subject truly is, may or may not have hidden from his problems in the darkness of a movie theater, but “Here They Come” is a song for anyone who runs at the first hint of difficulty. Yes, you. The track is an excellently executed return, a chance encounter with an old friend who is just as excited to see you. It features all the hallmarks of a Hamilton Leithauser classic—the lightning-fast classically influenced fingerpicking, Leithauser’s own strained yells, and of course that unmistakable piano sound—but perhaps the most Leithauser-like quality of all, keeping the familiar sound fresh, is his unbridled bandleader’s joy, a smile behind every syllable.

Daniel Shanker on March 9, 2020
Núria Graham - Marjorie

Núria Graham - Marjorie


Two packs of cigarettes down, half-Catalan and half-Irish singer Núria Graham peaks into the past on the title track of her latest album. A slow-burning folk ballad warped by airy, chiming guitars and soaring synthesizers, "Marjorie" is built perfectly for dramatic moments of introspection. Keeping watch for a lover as the night draws in around her, Graham lovingly connects the dots between her and the grandmother she never met. Despite being permanently separated by a gulf of time, she pulls herself closer to Marjorie as she chews through painful, intergenerational deja vu; "we seem to be making the same mistakes," she sings out, in the chorus of one of her most direct and powerful vocal performances to date. A window-gazers dream, "Marjorie" pushes a revitalized Núria Graham to new heights.

Phillipe Roberts on March 6, 2020
Blue Canopy - 656

Blue Canopy - 656


Blue Canopy is the newest project of Portland-based musician Alex Schiff. "656" is Blue Canopy’s first-ever release, and it is a single that will be appearing on the band’s forthcoming album Mild Anxiety dropping April 17. "656" is high-energy, its full-bodied sound inspiring motivation in all of us. However, a closer listen reveals a somberness lurking behind the track's spirited instrumentation; its lyrics describing “crippling anxiety” and the defeat of an ending relationship. New York City, a place where finding solitude in hardship is historically difficult and Schiff's former home is the backdrop of "656". In this sense, the tone of the song is not mismatched to its message, but rather, its most clever feature. "656" highlights a frustration that every New Yorker harbors at some point; that despite what you’re going through in your personal life, the city’s pace does not slow. Think of it like crying on the subway—it won’t stop a performer from dangling on the rails with their speaker on full blast.

Brittany Cortez on March 6, 2020
Orion Sun - Coffee For Dinner

Orion Sun - Coffee For Dinner


Promising a chimerical energy to her upcoming album, Hold Space for Me, singer Tiffany Majette known as Orion Sun introduces us to the new era with the single, "Coffee For Dinner." The track brings up the chaotic vibe of the internal war going on within the self of a 2020-living human being. Evoking her childhood dreams of being an astronaut, the Philadelphia-based artist wants you to feel like you're looking at Earth's mayhem through a collection of dark clouds and that is exactly what "Coffee For Dinner" delivers. The song also reminds you that what you see and the truth are two separate things that many times barely touch. Breaking the barrier of the suffocating world with her voice (to paraphrase the artist herself), Orion Sun builds up the universe she wants to make music in. Hold Space for Me comes out March 27 via Mom + Pop and her US tour starts in late April.

Giulia Santana on March 5, 2020
GUERRIÈR - Baby, It’s Okay to Worry Sometimes

GUERRIÈR - Baby, It’s Okay to Worry Sometimes


“Baby, It’s Okay to Worry Sometimes” is an anthem for the age of anxiety. The verse kicks off with a man’s bass-baritone register, “Darling I / I need to talk to somebody / So they can take a look inside." For a second, it sounds like it could be sampling early Johnny Cash. Cue bait and switch: GUERRIÈR picks up the trailing vocal (“Inside my mind,”) without skipping a beat, a seamless transition from folk to pop. GUERRIÈR is the stage name of Tyler Alfred Guerrier, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Orlando, Florida. His fluid approach to genre creates sounds that feel fresh and beguiling. As the beat drops around the 1:30 mark, a third, female voice is introduced, and with it, a new dimension. Her airy vocals layer atop GUERRIÈR’s ear-warming ones and a series of delicate harmonies follow, “Inside my mind / There’s something off / Cause I am not where I belong." Stay tuned for an EP this year.

Corinne Osnos on March 5, 2020
Waxahatchee - Lilacs

Waxahatchee - Lilacs


In a breath as fresh as spring, Waxahatchee shares “Lilacs,” a windows-down dealing in a tangle of intrusive thoughts and a glass half empty, half full look at self-sufficiency and love. The track begins with a jangly, quiet groove, blooming into a chorus that contends that the process of coming to love yourself doesn’t have to be lonely, “if I'm a broken record / write it in the dust, babe / I'll fill myself back up like I used to do” and sweeping into the admission of being better with another with anthemic resolve, “I won't end up anywhere good without you / I need your love, too.” “Lilacs” is the second single released in anticipation of Saint Cloud Katie Crutchfield’s fifth record as Waxahatchee, out March 27 via Merge Records.

Emma Bowers on March 5, 2020
Carli & The Dark - Mimi

Carli & The Dark - Mimi


Led by Carli Naff, a Brooklyn-based, singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona, Carli & The Dark bring us their debut single “Mimi” via Paper Moon Records. The song announces itself with a combination of subtle layering and poignant lyrics, a swell and exhalation of intimacy. Not unlike Lucy Dacus or Haley Heynderickx, with a lilt reminiscent of Mitski, Carli’s clear but tender voice cuts through the first few seconds like a call to attention. The opening electric guitar is soon joined by an acoustic as the song continues to build, adding layer over layer in a tasteful arrangement of dreamy vocals, shoegazey riffs, and even the subtle accent of horns. It takes looking back to realize how many elements are at play on this track, how the textures culminate in a lush harmony without sounding overworked. This unconventional breakup song also replaces drama with compassion, speaking of the shift in the relationship between two women when one cannot provide what the other needs anymore. Rather than falling apart, they find a balance through love and empathy. Carli sings about the strength of their bond continuing on past their romance as her voice echoes through to the end, “We walk in stride / I love you always.” With thoughtful lyrics paired alongside gorgeous vocals and intricate instrumentation, “Mimi” is an impressively mature and promising debut, making Carli & The Dark an artist to keep an ear out for.

Shasha Léonard on March 4, 2020

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