Tokyo-based producer, singer and engineer SHIMA has just released “Fade Out,” a track filled with those same enchanting textures and beats that have earned her much credence in such a small amount of time. Shortly after SHIMA graduated from the University of Miami Frost School of Music in 2019, she left her job as a software engineer to pursue her passion full time, and her ability to mesh beats and delicate but striking lyrics is hard to leave unnoticed. “Fade Out,” like many of her songs, uses a mix of English and Japanese all perfectly balanced and sung in a way that excites the mind and soul. “Fade Out” allows the waves of lyrics to cascade through the textured beat, making it the kind of song you want to get lost in, to let yourself fade into the surging tide of sonic prose on a rainy day. Photo by Yuri Horie. 

As we’re continuing the strife to uncover a new “normal,” we can’t help but settle in the uncertainty that these past few years have left us floating within. So much has happened and so much has changed all from behind the confines of the four walls that we call home. For the moments when the sky feels like it's falling and you need someplace to plant your feet, the San Diego-raised artist Jelani Aryeh offers his latest drop, “From These Heights."

Uniquely its own entity, "From These Heights" both separates itself from modern music and sows new roots for the music of the future in a quick 3-minute go. Aryeh reorients early 2000s indie rock to suit our time of need. Featuring existential lyricism and that good ole’ stripped-down garage band sound, this gem channels the energy of music in the past to invoke worldwide change for the future.

Aryeh began crafting this track during the pandemic, at the height of civil unrest, sharing on his Instagram: “I made this song with Alex Craig of Slaters last May...George Floyd had just been murdered, and the riots were just starting to take place. It felt like there was so much chaos + uncertainty in the air and it seemed like everywhere you’d turn there was something threatening your livelihood. It was like everyone was trapped in a box of mayhem with no exit. I know that's still the case for a lot of you and many others around the globe.  At the least, I hope this song can ease your feelings and give you somewhere to settle yourself. Even if that’s for 3 minutes.” 

The young Black and Filipino artist has been making wide strides in the industry since 2018, with his track "Daunt" catching fire in the hearts and ears of alternative indie lovers. Aryeh is a trailblazing creative, never ceasing to hone his craft or personal growth, both of which evolve with each new release. “From These Heights '' is the third single from his forthcoming debut album I’ve Got Some Living To Do and merely a preview of the young artist’s musical dexterity and effortless ability to transform hearts and minds. See for yourself. Photo by Zamar Velez.

Indie darling Soccer Mommy dropped a cover of The Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces" on May 14. Because of Soccer Mommy's melancholy rock sound, a cover of a country hit from the 90s took me by surprise. The "circle the drain" singer reminds the world that she hails from Nashville and is no stranger to country tunes as she naturally dons her metaphorical cowboy hat and clicks into this country melody. The arrangement is fun and original, and it's strangely refreshing to hear her refined, soft vocal on a song originally sung by country powerhouse—and blueprint—Natalie Maine. According to Instagram, Soccer Mommy recorded this cover a few years ago. Definitely better late than never, and I hope this means we could be getting more nostalgic country covers from the indie queen sometime soon. Photo by Brian Ziff.

The day she loved him could not have been sunnier. Light felt heavy on her skin, and even heavier on his. Even in the depths of emotion in which she found herself, her mind sauntered towards worlds of separation and distance between the two of them. Why? Was she that self-destructive? Or was her pining for long-term exclusivity with a man so fierce he had to be just right—like a glove or a sock?

“Serial Monogamist” by Ashe is one of those bass and melody-rich tunes fit for countryside serenades in the middle of flower fields and grassy lawns. The only urban thing about the song is the allusion to “checkin’ in at midnight;” whether that is into a hotel with off-hours or with the person she has written about is up for debate, but her sincerity is not. Her vocals soaring high over the production as the pre-chorus rocks and rolls onwards, and her chorus is every bit as calculated as her decision to move on without the drama and do someone right by love. Cheers to Ashe, and here’s to less sneaky links and cheating when and where two people are just trying not to bore each other. Photo by Dana Trippe.

We are delighted to premiere Coma Culture’s beautiful new single “Martha,” prior to the release of their debut album, Camouflage. Coma Culture is the new indie-rock project from Young The Giant’s Eric Cannata and Francois Comtois, along with producer/songwriter Jon O’Brien. 

Previous releases found Coma Culture dealing with the complexity and shallowness of modern life, as well as the feel-good, carefree joy that comes from falling in love. Mixed by Yuuki Matthews, “Martha” finds them pushing into complex emotional territory as they candidly navigate the struggles of addiction. 

Soft swirling synths and gentle keys establish an unwavering honesty that is present throughout, as ghostly vocals let us know from the start that this is a direct confession to the narrator’s wife, Martha. Droning sounds mimic the repetitive background pull that is dependence, while the narrator reveals “Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat / And I need something in my veins”. The beat intensifies, different elements of percussion set in and a whirlwind of synths come forward as though we’re moving through a maze of old alluring habits and resisting them. Despite that, there is also a felt sense of a glimmer of hope, something that keeps grounding the narrator and it comes in the form of another person, in this case, Martha herself. 

On the track, O’Brien said: "'Martha' is a story about waking up and fighting through the haze of addiction—choosing to live selflessly for at least one day and attempt a change for the person you love most. My biological father has spent most of his life in prison and drug addiction has always been a constant battle. The song is based on the premise that there is a fork in the road, a choice is to be made, and the future looks daunting but hopeful."

The optimism mentioned by O’Brien is felt when swelling strings arise, giving us a sense that the right choice will be made and despite the difficulty, the narrator will be able to pull through for the person they love. This stunning instrumental outro ends with the words “I woke for you today, Martha,” hitting us straight in the gut and reminding us of the truly positive ways other people can help shape our lives. 

Pre-order Camouflage, due out June 25th via Gourmet Music and Repost by Soundcloud. Photo by Kelly Victoria.

New Jersey's Annie Blackman is no newbie to the world of turning pain into lyrics, but with her latest single "Souvenir," that pain feels less metaphorical and more concrete. As you listen to her calm voice softly sing "Separately / I’m struggling and / standing at the sink / I deserve whatever hurts / I think," it feels like watching yourself experimenting piercing aches, so far removed from the hurt but knowing exactly what it feels like. Perhaps this is the way she paints a picture, through comparing her body to physical objects as she expresses the feel of the touch and how badly it stings. Even the titular "Souvenir" is nothing but the aftershock of the undeniable crash. "Souvenir" is Blackman's second single under the label Father/Daughter Records. Photo by Daniel Dorsa.

True to its name, Sexy Pigeon’s “Hold My Hand, Sunshine” is a feel-good summer sunshine track. Playful barbershop harmonies announce the beginning of the adventure, quickly displaced by some lighthearted ah-la-la-la-la’s. It’s like a setup to a good-natured joke by that one friend who always wears a smile and has a knack for coaxing a grin out of everyone else they meet. Buoyant bass bounces along the track, reminiscent of those little pointers that bob along karaoke tracks, tracking the words as you and your friends are singing your hearts out. Fluttery synth parts of various textures spring up and fade out, as though the song is trying on different hats trying to find one that best fits the vibe of the day. It ultimately closes with a reverb-ed-out shortstop, echoing in the exact way the surface of the water does when you cannonball into a pool on the first 100-degree day in July. Sweet and refreshing, it’s sure to tempt your toes into the water of all the summer pop to come. Photo by Pjotr van Kleef.

Born to an immigrant Pakistani father and a first-generation Turkish American mother, Philadelphia-based artist Ali Awan has a unique take on music, informed by his upbringing and passion for expression. His upcoming EP Moon Mode is a collection of stylistically varied songs tied together by a unified emotion. On Moon Mode, Awan takes on a strenuous quest from darkness to light. His latest single “Climb” finds him right in the midst of that journey. 

Jangly chords set the stage for an iconic guitar line that plays throughout. Supported by stirring drums and a deep bassline, Awan recounts the uncomfortable and taxing position he finds himself in. However, he is quick to grasp his own agency and capacity in order to get out. Bright samples from collaborator Will Brown (Astronaut Jumpshot) play as Awan slowly starts to move towards greater clarity, singing earnestly, “Dirt up on my knees / Looking kind of crazy / But feeling alright.” He vividly conveys the physical and emotional effort it takes to come out on the other side of a murky ditch. 

Awan is generous with his hard-earned wisdom as he shares some advice: “ I wanna let you know / Climb up of all those holes you dive in / Pick every piece back up.” He celebrates his triumph with a flurry of guitars, samples and a shimmering sitar, creating a mesmerizing soundscape that lets us know we can do it too. Moon Mode will be released on June 11th via Born Losers Records. Photo by Don Vincent Ortega.