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.

Diet Cig turns nightmares into a sonic dream with their newest single, “Night Terrors.” Born out of lead singer and guitarist Alex Luciano’s real struggle with night terrors, the track harnesses the driving beat of Noah Bowman’s drums to reclaim some power lost to sleepless nights. “I’m doing my best to keep it in check but it’s out of my control,” could very easily apply to many situations in life. The powerlessness of nightmares is akin to being a bystander in one’s own life—hoping and praying that our decisions won’t hurt us or the ones we love the most. The song perfectly displays the cohesion Diet Cig is known for while amplifying the punk duo’s ability to have fun with just about any subject matter. “Night Terrors” is the band’s first new release since 2017 and came alongside an announcement of a North American and European Spring tour.

Melbourne’s Wolfjay lets go of the past in their newest single “In Memory Of.” The new track blends synth-pop and alt-rock to create something that feels familiar yet new at the same time. Wolfjay is the project of non-binary musician and producer Jack Alexander. They create music caught in the middle of gender, genre, and time. Alexander wrote the song before coming out as queer. It commemorates the almost physical sense of loss you can feel as you grow up and out of your past self. While the loss can be painful, it is often for the best, "I left a long long time ago / I was sick of the neglect / cause now I’ve learned to think of myself.” Wolfjay harnesses a pop-punk rebellious spirit to push forward through a heavy distorted guitar and into their future—fully becoming the person and the artist they were always meant to be. Wolfjay will make their first visit to America this March at New Colossus in NYC.

Embarking on the journey to their fifth full-length album, New Jersey band Real Estate shares a maturing sound with their recent single “Paper Cup,” featuring sweet vocals from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso. The song meanders away from their previously beachy and carefree tone into a more introspective look at seeing the people in your life grow and change while you stay in the same patterns you’ve always been in. The easy-listening flow of the production feels at home in singer Martin Courtney’s voice—soft on the ears, but now with lyrics that stretch deeper into self-awareness like, “You’re trying on new fits / I’m on the same old trip / But you know that I love it / And I can’t seem to quit.” “Paper Cup” is revealing, searching, and just what’s needed for Real Estate’s growing musical journey. Catch them on tour this spring following the release of The Main Thing which comes out on February 28.

From the outset of her debut EP in 2018, Ellis’ strengths as a purveyor of plaintive, perfectly-paced dream-pop tracks were evident. These strengths have been sharpened to a fine point on new track “Fall Apart," the first single from her forthcoming debut album via Fat Possum Records, Born Again. “Fall Apart” starts with a seemingly sweet story of Ellis listening to her favorite songs with a companion, but it becomes increasingly clear throughout the track that she’s in the midst of emotional turmoil. The strength of her songwriting is matched by her delivery—rather than adopt a self-deprecating tone, Ellis sounds apologetic and remorseful, mimicking the all-too-human compulsion to compound our misery with the thought that we’re being a burden to those we love. When the second chorus rolls around and the instrumentation builds to a crescendo, it’s natural to think her voice will follow suit. Instead, she stops the refrain of “I didn’t mean to fall apart” at the penultimate word, letting her voice slowly trail off as the instrumentation swallows the sound of her lamentations completely. This idea is brilliantly executed, and her delivery of that final line will stick with you long after the song has finished.

Aaron Maine, AKA Porches, is back with an emotional, swoon-worthy new track fit for late nights and the last dance. “Do U Wanna” is catchy and cool with a soft, sweeping melody that revels in the disparity between how people want to act and how they actually act. That disparity is mirrored in the arrangement, which combines intimate elements like atmospheric synths and Maine’s lovely vocal with grander, more distinct percussive sounds to exemplify the perception of joy. The instrumentation is easy-going and surprising, with a nostalgic, 90s-inspired bass and reverberating cowbell sound adding fun and whimsy to a song that, lyrically, veers in a much heavier direction, including the lines “I just wanna watch you live / But I never wanna do anything.” The clear, reverberating production gives the track a dreamy, weightless feel, and solidifies “Do U Wanna” as one of Porches’ best songs ever. Stay tuned for his new album, Ricky Music, due out in March from Domino Records.

Today, Berkeley folk artist Maya Elise premieres her newest song, “Side of the Road.” The track tells the story of a summer road trip, which makes it especially fitting that it’s perfect for singing along with. In the first verse, as Maya describes all the people she is picking up along the way, her rich vocals fill every crack between guitar and drums with a friendly warmth. Though she gives us only a few details on each person she meets, you can almost see each of their faces: the woman in Portland making jasmine tea, the Washington man she learned to trust, the brave woman from Alabama, and the South Dakota man looking for a home all look somewhat familiar. The song gradually builds to a transcendent scene in which the car full of new friends go skinny-dipping in the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps the ultimate symbol of the trust they have built along the way. On “Side of the Road,” Maya reminds us that making friends doesn’t have to be as complicated or awkward as we often make it out to be. Sometimes all it takes is two people going in the same direction and choosing to not be alone. The rest, perhaps, will figure itself out.