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.

“A Lonely Shoulder to Cry On,” the smooth new single from slack-rock quartet Brother Son, pulls from a variety of classic indie influences to evoke an entirely new genre of easy listening. Two years ago, four very different dudes bonded over the likes of Mac Demarco and Alabama Shakes and then decided to start a band. Since then, they’ve developed their own sound, but their favorite bands will always continue to influence it. Such is the case in “A Lonely Shoulder to Cry On.” The light, pinging keyboard and soft, intricate percussion are reminiscent of Mac Demarco and give the track its gliding feel, while the guitar’s bluesy rock influence is all Alabama Shakes. Vocalist Francis Harrington’s voice is easygoing and pleasant; he holds a subtle but certain command over the lyrics and your attention, even when what he’s singing is just “La di da di da.” More than just a mashup of good sounds, “A Lonely Shoulder to Cry On” is a catchy, genre-bending slow jam, and you’ll want to play it on repeat all summer long.

Dublin singer-songwriter Sorcha Richardson downplays her own emotions in her newest single “Don’t Talk About It.” It starts small with just a simple beat, electric guitar, and Richardson’s smooth and mysterious voice. She lilts seamlessly into the refrain where everything builds as she sings, “hey ok we don’t have to talk about it/ it’s only love / I guess we’ll live without it.” Richardson has come a long way from her bedroom-pop days with this certifiable indie-rock track meant for blaring and shouting along to. It’s anthemic in both its composition and central message. Sometimes speaking feels impossible like it will ruin everything. Maybe love is too scary. Maybe the other person isn’t ready. They may never be, but Richardson seems to want to keep them around even if it means the most important things are left unsaid. Maybe it will all be ok if we just don’t talk about it. “Don’t Talk About It” is the latest single from Richardson’s debut album First Prize Bravery out this fall.

In their latest release, "Is It Too Early? (Kilmainham)," Irish duo Morgan MacIntyre and Gemma Doherty, known as Saint Sister, use unlikely sounds in their just-a-little-unnerving soundscapes, like the hubbub of a party and the plucking of Doherty’s harp. The empty space and floating vocal harmonies point towards Bon Iver influences, and the start-and-stop syncopated percussion could form the backbone of a Chance The Rapper beat. After the 2015 EP Madrid, Saint Sister toured extensively, sharing bills with The National and fellow Irish hitmaker Hozier. In a handwritten note posted to Twitter, Macintyre describes the duality of the touring lifestyle, the vast difference between perception and reality. “I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was supposed to be having the time of my life but all I wanted to do was go home,” she writes, struggling to make peace with the never-ending days “in the back of the van not getting to explore the different places [they] passed through, coping with the stress of a hectic new routine.” The song’s chorus frames this conflict in terms of a social gathering, designed to be fun but in all likelihood equally stressful. “Is it too early / To leave this party?” sing Macintyre and Doherty in harmony, and the takeaway of the song, MacIntyre’s note and the band’s body of work is a reminder of the power of a strong friendship, a statement made bolder in harmony.

Harmony Byrne’s newest single, “Smoke Inside,” is a robust, romantic ballad about celebrating who you are and not settling for anybody who doesn’t let you shine. Produced by Jim Eno of Spoon, the blues-inspired rock track sways to a catchy and gripping pendulum beat. Behind Byrne’s gorgeous, smoky vocal, a hip-swinging sample is played on repeat to hypnotic effect, sucking you into the rhythm of the song immediately. The classic sound of the electric guitar works well with Byrne’s husky vocal, simultaneously energizing the track and giving it edge. Once again, Byrne delivers the lyrics with raw emotion: “Honey if I burn sometimes will you let me smoke inside / If I die tonight will you set my soul on fire.” “Smoke Inside” is a soulful track with a sensual beat, and Harmony Byrne is a powerhouse. Look out for her debut LP, Heavy Doors, this fall.

“Lucky,” from Choker’s EP Forever & A Few, the final act from his project Filling Space, brings together the positive energy of childhood and the security of becoming an adult who knows himself. The lyrics in “Lucky” follow the process of growing into who you need to be. The 23-year-old Michigan-based hip-hop artist, ventures into layers of self discovery with this project—allowing three separate EP’s to tell three separate stories during three weeks of 2019. As the final act of this project, Forever & A Few closes up on a high note. “Lucky,” the second track off the 3 track EP, captures the energy and impact of Choker’s bold journey into growing and learning to value the things he made for himself while growing. The single and its visuals, along with the entirely of Filling Space are out now.

Baby Rose’s distinct and uniquely soulful vocals lend themselves to her equally soulful lyricism. “Borderline”, one of her latest singles to be released explores the push and pull of an undefined relationship in a state of flux. “Heavy stuck in the motions / but we’ll just keep it going / trying to find where we stand." When does it end? Where is the line between something and nothing? The emotions behind such uncertainty are emphasized throughout the song, ultimately ending in, “Maybe if I could just stop / dreaming of him, I’d be fine / I don’t know where to reside / I’m still / on the borderline, “ a feeling many know all too well. The rising Atlanta native’s layered vocals and old jazz-infused instrumentation give this track the exact pensive and somber feeling the lyrics themselves convey. Charismatic and unique, Baby Rose is absolutely one to watch.

“Calm Me Down” is the fun and eclectic new single from digital punk rockers Top Bunk. Formed in Silver Lake, LA the band is made up of a large handful of friends who had musical eccentricity in common. “Calm Me Down” is an excellent portrayal of what they’re capable of—clocking in at just 2:22, the tiny track has a big sound and isn’t afraid to break the rules of conventional songwriting. A lush arrangement creates vast soundscapes through buzzy, vibrant synths and electronic keys. A throbbing bass line introduces you to the song, bopping to a smooth, catchy beat, and carries the rhythm the whole way through—creating nice consistency in a track so packed with sounds. Frontman Petro A.P.’s voice is clear and fluid, switching between languages and cadences with seamless ease and transfixing from start to finish. Ultimately, “Calm Me Down” is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. Now, you won’t be able to stop listening.