Our third Quadio pick of the week is Dad Bod. The group got their start just last year at the University of Minnesota and has quickly become one of the most promising indie rock bands out of the Twin Cities. Fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Callie Marino, the band also includes Alex Gray on drums, Noah Topliff and Wilson Zellar on guitar and Michael McGough on bass. Written from the perspective of a “ghost looking for a flesh experience,” their latest single “Spirits” is one that will bring you to your knees. As good things often do, it all starts with a snare and kick-drum, before the first electric guitar is counted in, dreamy and echoing, and then the second, crisp and sunny. Marino’s voice soon sails sweetly over the taut instrumental track that has been laid out. Marino’s songwriting is stellar, and in “Spirits” she plays to the deep-seated loneliness we feel when we find ourselves emotionally isolated while longing for intimacy. With notes of Lucy Dacus, Soccer Mommy and Great Grandpa, and recurring riffs reminiscent of Mazzy Star, it would be unfair to compare Dad Bod to just one of these artists. Dad Bod is a band with their own sound and one to watch. We are stoked to be partnering with Quadio to bring you a taste of their music. Keep an eye out for Dad Bod’s forthcoming first EP set for release this summer, and until then, catch them doing livestream shows on the ‘gram.

Lætitia Tamko, better known by her moniker Vagabon, leans into electronic with her newest single “Flood Hands.” Tamko’s voice glides over each beat and synthesizer, shifting from deep and syrupy to high and piercing with casual precision. She played every instrument and produced the entire track, which explains the extreme cohesion. Every sound builds or subtracts from the ones around it as it peaks and drops in just the right places. It is eerie and ethereal as Tamko explores submission to the unknown of love and life. The vulnerability that one must embrace if they are to truly experience it in its full capacity as she sings, “I know even if I run from it / I’m still in it / I know I’ll hold you so close.” It’s not defeatism though—it’s a sincere belief that releasing control could be the answer. “Flood Hands” is the first taste of Vagabon’s upcoming second album All the Women in Me due out via Nonesuch Records on September 27th.

“Windows” is Frankie Cosmos aka Greta Kline's newest, artful endeavor. The track explores refraction and nuances of the self, as well as the reinvention of other objects that act as life’s anchor holds. "Windows" shares the same freedom and swelling spirit as Kline's previous works—creating space to reflect, but also dance. A golden-hour peer into the bigger picture in song form, Kline draws all things together, leaving each of us as one glimmer adding our own bit to the whole of the light. “Windows” is a tender romp tune with the lyrical grace of a deep breathed coming-to-self.

"Lately" is the first peek into what Metronomy has in store for their 2019 album Metronomy Forever. Known for keeping every album a mix of unique experimentation with sound while still never failing to evoke endless lo-fi synth vibes, "Lately" is the perfect first single. The steady beat seems simple at the start and the airy vocals capture the ear as the track builds with flashy synths and abstract textures. Even the lyrical rhythms make the song dynamically addicting. Though the lead vocalist, Joseph Mount, sings of a love that can’t be, the track itself is bittersweet with its ever rapid beats weaving together. Released with a music video that shows a mini version of the band climbing out and playing on top of a cassette marked Metronomy 4 Eva, "Lately" is just as light and nostalgic as it is sonically intense and raw. We can’t imagine how dynamic the rest of the album is going to be.

You may recognize British singer-songwriter Delilah Montagu’s crystal clear voice from Black Coffee and David Guetta’s single “Drive.” While her personal style is in a completely different vein of music, Delilah’s debut EP In Gold showcases the same distinguishable voice. The EP is a beautiful collection of songwriting—showing a person discovering more about themselves, reminiscing on past loves, and taking the journey of self-discovery that comes with falling in love, heartbreak, and loss. The third track, “Next to Me,” has a mournful air of melancholy that somehow also feels light and breezy. With striking vocals, a funky prominent bass line and a more jazzy feel, the song chronicles someone reminiscing on simple memories with a past lover, as they’ve moved on and are reliving similar experiences with a new person. The chorus ruminates on old memories and questions, “Now I’m driving through the tall trees / Someone else is in the front seat / But only for a minute / Only for a minute / Why can’t you be? / Next to me.” Only for a minute, she wonders what it would feel like to have her old flame by her side but ultimately knows that the past is in the past. She’s resigned that everything is how it’s meant to be. She continues with a definitive jab, “If I were you / I would have begged me to stay / Well you’re too late.” This killer track is a haunting and impressive display of lyricism and showcases amazing things to come from Delilah Montagu. “Next to Me” leaves you wishing there were more than four songs to keep playing on repeat.

Snail Mail's debut EP Habit was re-released on Spotify last week, featuring a cover of Courtney Love's "2nd Most Beautiful Girl In the World." Rereleasing Habit might almost seem inessential, considering that the 20-year-old indie rocker has been making crashing waves in the female-led tide of melancholia rock in recent years. A pluckier and spunkier Phoebe Bridgers or Liza Anne, Snail Mail holds her own as a rock authority. Studying guitar from a young age, Jordan released Habit at the age of 16. Though a few years younger than the other artists mentioned prior, her music is as mature as it is listenable (and it's frankly fantastic). Lush, her first full-length album and sophomore release, claims your attention from start to finish without it ever feeling like the artist is trying hard to do so. Track-by-track, Snail Mail is unstoppable. I can't wait to hear more from this artist.