Relationships can be challenging, we know this. A partnership could have a pair of fantastic communicators, and somehow the whole thing can still unravel. Elah Hale, singer/songwriter, model & native New Yorker, at only 20-years-old, has her own story of disconnect to tell on the track “ITPA,” short for “in the party alone.” Apparently, after getting into it with a significant other, Hale went to a party to clear her mind. During the party, she came to certain realizations about the relationship. “You only miss me when you’re by yourself, I’m losing patience,” Hale sings with her tender, silky vocal, sharing a storyline that so many young lovers face. Hale’s cadence is fixed with a sense assurance that might confirm her desire to find a healthier affair. Despite it’s melancholic message, the smooth, alt-pop track is melodic magic that sounds like it could fit right into any party playlist. The beat is churning, steady and provides proper space for atmospheric textures and Hale’s vocal to be the track’s driving force. “I don’t know myself, I just can’t do it,” she sings. Hale’s honesty and lush confidence will get her to where she needs to be, and it’s likely a path that will be her own.

Indie alt-rock trio Middle Kids dive into the “lifelong quest for meaning” and touch on feelings of inadequacy in the expectations of one’s life in their latest track, “Real Thing.” The Sydney natives begin the song with a wavering, somber-sounding guitar intro paired with singer Hannah Joy’s attention-grabbing vocal sighs. Once the chorus hits, all three members come together to create a bittersweet melody backed up with fuzzed-out guitar and pulsing percussion. As a whole, the single is effortlessly layered and contains touching lyrics like, “Don’t it ever make you feel sad / Is this is the real thing.” This enables listeners to pick up on the song's themes of vulnerability and emotional isolation—staying true to this narrative of constantly searching for “meaning” in a world that doesn’t provide you with a clear path to happiness.

Big Thief’s new single “Cattails” feels like home. The major key is somewhat desirous and dreamy, and vocalist Adrianne Lenker’s upward inflections make the song feel like the sight of a car rolling up a gravel driveway it’s been away from for too long. As Lenker sings out, “And the clusters fell, like an empty bell / Meteor shower at the motel / Where the empty space is a saving grace / Making good time and doing well," the star brushed poetry of this song reverberates through the soul. Filled with endless grace, "Cattails" builds a kinship between the music and the listener that is satisfying in its broad nostalgia.

Field Medic’s “henna tattoo” combines acoustic strings and lo-fi beats to create a cathartic analogy about the temporary and mercurial nature of love. Singing “I’ve been feeling so insecure/ like is it gonna come true if i say it?/ rolling blackouts in your heart/ gave you a henna tattoo/ and it’s fading,” Field Medic beautifully uses the imagery of a henna tattoo to allow listeners to conceptualize and empathize with the universal experience of love’s tribulations. “Henna tattoo,” the fourth track off the album, fade into the dawn is a cool, calm song that feels like an upward swing. It sound marries indie folk and lo-fi, resulting in something fresh that’s definitely worth a good listen.

Halima, New York City-based R&B songstress, continues to skillfully fuse together electronic music with bedroom pop and soul to create something both new and nostalgic in her latest single, "Do Better." The track is a reflective self-love ode with an upbeat hook that complements her soulful and warm R&B voice. With catchy, heartfelt lyrics like, “I’m bet betting on love to keep up / When the going gets tough, I won’t let ya down / When you having bad days, Imma be around,” Halima expresses to listeners that it’s time to finally put herself first. With its retro beats, consistent, bluesy guitar lines, and well-blended harmonies and vocals, “Do Better” is an uplifting track with the ability to pull you out of any funk—reminding you that you too “can do better.”

“Heart Attack” is a carefree grunge-rock anthem from LA-based band Sego. It’s a track off the quartet’s newest record, Sego Sucks, out now via Roll Call Records. The name originated from an internet troll, but according to vocalist Spencer Petersen, it has come to embody the ethos of the album. This is certainly true of “Heart Attack,” which is immersive and atmospheric in its loud, low-fi production and gritty instrumental tones. It’s an accessible sound, like listening to a well-loved tape of a classic rock demo, led by a sharp snare and an electric guitar reminiscent of The Strokes. The arrangement’s devil-may-care attitude extends to the vocal, crooning and imperfect with a doubled effect, so it sounds like Petersen is shouting the melody straight through a rowdy crowd. In the chorus, he sings “Live fast and die last,” personifying the mood in one line. Bold and bright, “Heart Attack” is a song meant for big speakers and no inhibitions.

After the success of her debut album Pendulum released last year, Aisha Badru is back again with her latest single "Enough". The song is off our her upcoming EP Road to Self which is set to release this summer. While her first album delved into heartbreak and its side-effects, Road To Self focuses on Badru's process in discovering her intrinsic self-worth and the healing that it brings. In "Enough" she offers us this newfound wisdom as she urges, "don't be afraid to fall."

We've come to love Badru's forthright lyrics coupled with her soft and whispery vocals, both elements that further fuel the other. In "Enough," Badru uses analogies from nature to compare to our personal journey of self — "If it didn't rain would the trees rise from the ground? If it didn't hurt would you be this strong now?" These references to nature also show glimpses of Aisha’s passion. If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing her live show you will probably know about the love she has for taking care of the world and its inhabitants. When she's not writing songs, she's growing her own fruits and vegetables and as of recent, beekeeping. Within this artist is a passionate, quiet strength that is harnessed into her songs and her own colorful and generous life. The Wild Honey Pie is pleased to remind you that Aisha Badru will be playing at Welcome Campers next month!