“Stranger” is the seductively dreamy debut track from folk-pop band The Weird Years. This four-piece may be brand new, but its members are all seasoned musicians, which fits the single’s timeless, ethereal sound. Beautifully stacked harmonies work with soft, raw guitar picks and a piano soaked in reverb to create a hypnotic melody with mystical appeal. Otherworldly synth sounds ruminate in the background, adding unique depth to the classically leaning folk lines happening up front. The lyrics are equally haunting. “I am a stranger here / I don’t belong,” vocalists Hannah Winkler and Bess Rogers sing, opening the song on a note of floating isolation that continues to build through the verses. In the chorus, the sound culminates into one forceful message: strength. “I’ll keep this flame alive / shield it from the coldest night.” Soothing and experimental, “Stranger” secures The Weird Years a place amongst the most interesting up-and-coming bands to watch.

After a childhood of consistently uprooting, Missouri based Brian Bulger is no stranger to the weight and grief of nostalgia. His recent release "Dance Until We’re Gone" is a swelling, swirling love song that distills the feeling felt when you’ve finally found someone that stays, and the peace and lightness that accompanies that arrival. The tune is given a natural sense of movement through a lush, folk-based arrangement that is equal parts cinematic and sentimental. A harmonic chorus of voices compliments Bulger’s earnest, quietly powerful delivery and love-letter prose sense of lyricism. Bulger’s sound reflects his Midwestern sensibility. His creative choices are made with a sense of purpose as he synthesizes folk and alternative elements with a bleeding sense of honesty and vulnerability. Bulger doesn’t shy away from instrumental complexity—what might be considered a classic folk love song is elevated by the resonant production and expansive string and percussive sections. We’re excited to hear what is to come from Bulger and his band on his upcoming record, due out in April.

Charlie Sztyk’s “Nineteen Twenty Two” is a fresh rock single. Sztyk’s vocal delivery feels raw and longing as he processes a love lost. Resigned, he sings “You left me something / A letter say you’re going out / With who I don’t remember / I never did like that crowd / Hope you stay dry my love.” Relaying these thoughts, Sztyk’s vocal lament is supported by high energy instrumentals consistent in their presence throughout. All in all, the sound Sztyk cultivates throughout feels novel but familiar and vents a frustration many know all too well.

Shy Girls, otherwise known as singer-songwriter/producer Dan Vidmar, just released his second album, Bird On The Wing—11 groovy tracks that give modern R&B a good name. A standout among them is “Drain,” the first on the album. It’s a song with a pulse perfect for walking down the street with the sun at your back and your headphones on full blast. “Drain” is a tribute to classic R&B with an alternative twist; it’s bass-heavy with a throbbing drum beat and Vidmar’s signature warm, low-fi vocals. The simple repetition of the three act as a base for the eclectic synth sounds (plus the deep, rhythmic background breathing in the chorus) sprinkled throughout. The result is a fun, slightly off-beat R&B bop you’ll want to play on repeat. Through masterful arrangement, Vidmar, who produced the entire album himself, proves he knows the conventions of the genre and, therefore, how to effectively break free of them.

The Parisian musician Vincent Fenton, the man behind FKJ (or French Kiwi Juice), just dropped a tribute to his home in France with his newest single, "Leave My Home." The rhythm grooves consistently through the song, creating that lush, electronic jazz vibe that so characteristically marks the New French House music genre—a genre FKJ has helped pioneer. This song itself will keep you purring along all night long, and humming it all week. FKJ is known for his creativity, particularly when it comes to taking his life and turning it into beautiful sequences of perfect chords. "Leave My Home" is no exception. Through the subtle reminiscent tone mixed with an upbeat funky loop, you can almost hear his outlook on life as he prepares to move away from Paris and onto the next chapter of his journey. He points to Paris as one of the biggest influences in his music. Now, only time will tell how these changes will influence his art in albums to come.

“Indigo,” the newest release from Fake Dad features pensive lyrics and vocals from the Brooklyn-based duo, Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford, helped by Loren Taylor. Just in time for spring, Indigo’s freshness and simplicity are more than welcome. Youthful vocals float above the song's unique cadence and subtle electronic undertones. “Wanna lie by the flowers / Wanna lie there for hours” evokes a certain restfulness and peace, elevated by such poignant lines as “I've learned to sink in the sound and fall away,” something easy enough to do listening to this thoughtful track.

Distant party sounds and the definitive click of a closing door open Loud Hound’s newest single, “High in the Bathroom.” Suddenly, you’re in a private room at a hazy house party, utterly immersed in low-fi rock sounds and Loud Hound’s reverb-heavy vocals. Jersey-based artist Tommy Florio sings, “All we have in common is getting high in the bathroom,” and you realize listening to this song feels like doing exactly that. The instruments are loud but muffled, and the psychedelic synth that joins the chorus sounds like something skirting the edge of sobriety — a slightly trippier Alvvays. There’s a sadness to the song that is uniquely carefree, like knowing there’s nothing to do for your wounded heart but to let go of your inhibitions completely. The production compliments that mood nicely, arranging the music in a way that feels like a loosening of one’s grip on reality, while still maintaining clarity and tightness overall. “High in the Bathroom” is Loud Hound’s fourth single, and it effectively showcases Florio's talents as a singer-songwriter and producer. We can’t wait to see what he’ll release next.

Not many can get away with not only gracefully covering a George Michael classic, but also managing to give it a distinctly refreshing take. Taken By Trees does just that in their recently released cover of “Careless Whisper.” Swedish singer-songwriter Victoria Bergsman is like your magical tour guide through a lush, brightly-hued rainforest. Her unmistakable voice guides you through this entrancingly sultry, Caribbean-inspired rendition that’ll make you sway in ways the song has never made you sway before. A reggaeton-like beat pulses underneath fluid, hypnotic synths that spill over Bergsman’s clear and silvery vocals — creating a practically spiritual experience. Produced by Dan Lissvikk of Swedish dance-rockers Studio and Aaron Drake and featuring Mr Little Jeans on backing vocals, this cover is nothing short of impressive.

British R&B singer Pip Millett pays homage to Otis Redding with her newest single, “Try a Little Tenderness.” The cover retains the soul and spunk of the original while bringing in modern sonic elements that nestle it firmly in the 21st century. Millett swaps Redding’s horns and piano for a heavy bass line and a soft, clapping hi-hat that groove behind her vocals. Smooth and sure, Millet’s voice is the standout element of this song. It’s got a soul-appropriate swing that feels effortless as it carries you from one verse to the next, and her crooning, lo-fi cadence, which feels a little bit indie, hooks you onto her every word. The lyrics stay true to the original, though the fact that they’re being sung by a young woman — the subject of the song — turns the meaning on its head in a great way. “Try a Little Tenderness” is beautiful and deceptive in its simplicity, and it’s only the sixth song Millett has ever released. We can’t wait to see what’s next from her.

"Cherry Tree" is the first song that Sam Owens ever released under the name Sam Evian. It's fitting as such since the song seems to be just the right mix of his soft rock sensibilities — no clichés and just the right amount of guitar riff mixed with a steady piano tone. "Cherry Tree" was written by Sam under an actual cherry tree in Central Park, which only adds to the authenticity of the vibe. The track is also very lyrically compelling. Like poetry strikes the mind and the heart, Sam's words hit you in all the right places, “Cherry tree hungover me / Waving with empathy" and "Tell me life’s a passing cloud.” The guitar that comes in around the first minute is absolutely addictive. It's just like having a daydream under a tree in a park, refreshing and full of creative life. Even in the slowness, the song is just that, creative and refreshing.