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Clairo - Reaper
Clairo - Reaper

Clairo - Reaper


There are moments in Sling, Clairo's newly released sophomore LP, that feel so eloquent and personal, I have to remind myself that I haven't accidentally accessed someone's private voice memos. "Reaper" is one of these transcendent, mature and especially affecting moments on the record. A love letter to her mother (and the prospect of motherhood in and of itself), "Reaper" was the first track Claire Cottrill penned for the album. I'll refrain from over-explaining that this album is musically distinct from its predecessor Immunity—I'll let you have the pleasure of delving into it yourself. But it's worth mentioning, for this song in particular, that Clairo is emerging as an excellent folk writer. She's clearly drawing inspiration from some of the best Americana acts of the last century, emulating everyone from Joni Mitchell or Crosby, Stills and Nash to Fleet Foxes. But don't misunderstand: Cottrill is hardly a copycat. She's carving out a sound and a voice that is entirely her own.

I, like a lot of young people during the pandemic, had the opportunity to be home with my parents for a while. Reacquainting myself with them as an adult was inspiring and hard, and most frequently filled me with a sense of hope. It is this broken hope, a hope that comes from deep, empathetic understanding, that Cottrill communicates so effectively in "Reaper." This is why it resonates so deeply with listeners. This shattered but aspirational reaching toward life reverberates through the entire record and is punctuated in the frail, little pockets of her expertly sewn lyricism. "I'm born to be somebody, then somebody comes from me / I'll tell you about the Rabbit Moon and when to keep walking" are some of my favorite lines from this track, and are all the more permeating through Cottrill's signature soft vocals.

Clairo's ability to empathize so specifically with the speakers of her songs makes her one of the wisest and most interesting young performers right now. Sling was well worth the wait. It's a clear reflection of the hard work and thoughtfulness of an expert writer honing her craft. Photo by Adrian Nieto.

Hannah Lupas on July 29, 2021
Eliza Shaddad - The Man I Admire

Eliza Shaddad - The Man I Admire


Sudanese and Scottish singer/songwriter Eliza Shaddad is building a catalogue of intricate, intelligent rock songs. Her latest single "The Man I Admire" finds her in a dream, standing in a burning home, waiting for this man to "save her from the smoke, but he takes off his shirt instead." The sincere intersection of desiring protection and mutual affirmation from a man, all the while understanding your own legitimacy and ability to protect yourself, is a subject rarely broached in feminine songwriting. Eliza executes this masterfully here. This song is an empathetic peek into the heart of a woman standing in front of a man and asking him to adore her with no caveats. It's true vulnerability, and the lyrics of the first two verses—feeling scared of the dark and being alone in a burning room—illustrate this beautifully. The theme is so succinct and yet totally complete. That's what makes Eliza's poetry so excellent. 

Shaddad's first LP, Future, was released in 2018. "The Man I Admire" is one of four singles released this year ahead of her second album The Woman You Want. Pre-order The Woman You Want here, and look out for the UK-based singer on tour this summer. Photo by Flore Diamant.

Hannah Lupas on June 24, 2021
Olivia Kaplan - Ghosts

Olivia Kaplan - Ghosts


Through her deeply personal and introspective lyricism, Olivia Kaplan’s songs stick with you. The latest track from her upcoming debut album Tonight Turns to Nothing showcases her talent as both writer and musician. With fuzzed-out guitars and a bass-heavy groove providing the perfect backdrop to Kaplan’s enchanting vocals, “Ghosts” is a track you can dissolve into. The song ponders on an ill-fated relationship and the external factors that affect our loves with the wisdom of hindsight. Both people’s inhibitions are explored in the hook with a heart-rending lyric: “I’ll watch you dance with your ghosts / If you say you love me the most.” The song’s instrumentation follows the dynamics of the story being told, ending with a glitched-out solo and a haunting shadow of regret as Kaplan belts out, “I sit and blame conditions / when I could have loved you if I tried.” Photo by Michelle Simunovic.

Sofia Soriano on June 23, 2021
Talk Bazaar - caught in limbo

Talk Bazaar - caught in limbo


There’s a strange and powerful intimacy in Talk Bazaar’s "caught in limbo," the third track of his ambitious debut album oceanic. Talk Bazaar is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Alex DeSimine, who also fronts the Brooklyn-based indie soul band Ritual Talk. Conceived and written during quarantine, oceanic boasts all the pertinent qualities that we’ve come to know of pandemic-recorded music: it's emotionally self-reflective, deeply introspective and, of course, personal. Even within the confines of his room, Talk Bazaar is not afraid to experiment. "caught in limbo" is extremely detailed and textured. Mixing folky acoustic guitar strums with intricate layers of electronic compositions and loops, the song’s style lands somewhere in between Alex G and Sufjan Stevens. While "caught in limbo" speaks to being stalled in a vulnerable and fragile emotional state, the song’s lyrics are written from the perspective of someone giving advice to another person (or persons), maybe to oneself. Fans of Ritual Talk will recognize DeSimine’s distinct hazy and soulful voice piercing through the song’s opening lines, "Of course you feel under / There's not a lot you can do." Immediately, DeSimine sets a tone of vulnerability. Then, at the end of the third and last verse, he sings, "You both are trying the best you know how," bookending the song with a powerful sense of forgiveness. Despite the devastating occurrences of the past year, whether it’s in the world or in one’s own private life, "caught in limbo" offers some healing. Photo by Sara Laufer.

Alejandro Veciana on June 23, 2021
kezia - SAPPHIRE

kezia - SAPPHIRE


You know that feeling that wraps your heart (or stomach, or wherever you feel things) with a cold hand?  kezia's track "SAPPHIRE" from her brand new EP claire is the clearest description of those thoughts that take you into a ghost town. As she moves through the verses, the beat follows an internal monologue of words never said, things you wish you did differently, showing that love doesn't have to last for it to feel real. On claire, the Tanzanian-American singer goes from being in love and showing it, to independent and empowered, then lonely and reflective. The tracks of claire are a direct reflection of being in your 20s in this century. "SAPPHIRE" is about the missed timing and the one that got away, but never really left your mind. What would you say if you could get one more minute? Photo by Sanny Bisquerra.

Giulia Santana on June 22, 2021
fruit collective - walk

fruit collective - walk


As I sit in a coffee shop studying the world through my neighboring window, “walk,” the debut single from Zoom-born lo-fi trio fruit collective, scores the monotony of everyday life with an intimate kind of patience. Cars search for parking spots and people soak up the sunshine around me, but the pensive candor of “walk” asks me to question which of these beings may be in need of a break. We all have unique ways of grounding ourselves, whether that’s listening to a meditation, taking a nap or splashing cool water on our faces. It’s human nature to need to cope, to move away from a pressure that may feel overwhelming for one reason or another. Often these moments can feel so consequential that we’ll overlook their truest purpose: to deliver relief. “walk,” however, gives a voice to this anomalous counter-perspective. The remotely crafted track has sunshine weaved into its mellow sequence, exuding a kind of trust in the universe ornately highlighted by gentle guitar rhythms and reverberating harmonies. “walk” conquers the humility and self-control of knowing when to take a step back. As far as debut singles go, fruit collective’s refreshing and forgiving melodies on “walk” have left me appreciating life’s slower moments and while staying eager for more of their delightful breakout-room-grown tunes.

Jenna Andreozzi on June 22, 2021
Shamir - On My Own

Shamir - On My Own


Follow along this week as singer/songwriter Shamir walks us through notable tracks from his expansive DIY genre-blending discography. Don't miss your chance to meet Shamir in Brooklyn at Full Bloom, our latest food, beverage and music event in collaboration with Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha, on June 25.

"This song isn't one of my personal favorites, but I get why it's a crowd favorite. It's a good practice in all the things people love about pop music, and I found a way to filter it through my DIY sensibilities and cathartic and personal songwriting. Finding strength in solitude is a very hard, but powerful thing!" — Shamir

on June 18, 2021
Shamir - Hell

Shamir - Hell


Follow along this week as singer/songwriter Shamir walks us through notable tracks from his expansive DIY genre-blending discography. Don't miss your chance to meet Shamir in Brooklyn at Full Bloom, our latest food, beverage and music event in collaboration with Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha, on June 25.

"It was not supposed to go down like this, but I think dropping an album a few days after the worldwide COVID lockdown with a song called 'Hell' as the album's opening track felt morbidly serendipitous. Especially since it was done many months before..." — Shamir

on June 17, 2021
Wallice - Dramamine

Wallice - Dramamine


During the strange era of quarantine, Wallice channeled her energy into her debut EP, titled Off the Rails, recorded between her Los Angeles childhood bedroom and her grandparents' house in Utah. Reflecting on the vulnerabilities of being a young adult living at home, Wallice enamors listeners with unguarded lyrics about the existentialism of your twenties blended with an effortless, bedroom pop sound.

A stand-out track titled “Dramamine" is enough to lure you to listen with curiosity to a song related to the motion sickness medicine. The song allows for Wallice’s self-crippling humor and doubts of a relationship to shine. “I need Dramamine when I’m with you / 'Cause you move faster than my trust issues,” she says in the song. While there’s no denying the anthem’s lyrics are relatable, the pairing of the indie synth sound makes it a nearly perfect pop hit to blast this summer. Photo by Jerry Maestas.

Erica Tello on June 17, 2021
Shamir - Straight Boy

Shamir - Straight Boy


Follow along this week as singer/songwriter Shamir walks us through notable tracks from his expansive DIY genre-blending discography. Don't miss your chance to meet Shamir in Brooklyn at Full Bloom, our latest food, beverage and music event in collaboration with Strainge Beast Hard Kombucha, on June 25.

"I think this was the first post-Ratchet song people really resonated with in a big way. It's also in my top 5 best songs I've ever written, in my opinion. Plus it's really helped me heal from a really traumatic time of my life." — Shamir

on June 16, 2021
Luna Luna - One Thing (feat. The Undercover Dream Lovers)

Luna Luna - One Thing (feat. The Undercover Dream Lovers)


"One Thing" is a bright, synth-pop break-up song just in time for post-vaccine summer romances. The latest single from Latinx Dallas band Luna Luna features dream-pop artist The Undercover Dream Lovers (a.k.a. Matt Koenig) weaving together what seems to be a tailor-made collaboration. Luna Luna’s previous two records, For Lovers Only and Carousel, are short but sweet, romantic, fun, nostalgic pop delights that just hit the mark—and this new single is no exception. "One Thing" opens with a simple beat followed by the band’s distinct retro, synth-heavy groove, funky enough to have you bopping in the first seconds. By the time the chorus kicks in, you’ll be on your feet singing along to the catchiest chorus line you’ve heard in a while, “You know you got that one thing / one thing…” Koenig's soft, hazy vocals chime in halfway through, adding some contrast to frontman Kavvi’s soulful, delicate but sharp voice. There are many things that make this track memorable, but perhaps what makes "One Thing" stand out is its ultra-satisfying structural simplicity. Sometimes all you need is, in fact, that one thing—and Luna Luna delivers. Photo by Ash Rosas.

Alejandro Veciana on June 16, 2021

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