Contemplate the nuances of shame with “Embarrassing," the second release off the self-proclaimed emo dream-pop artist Ellis’ new album, Born Again. In this deeply confessional slow burn, the Ontario-based artist turns her gaze inward to address the feeling of embarrassment, deviating from the beaten path towards a much harder truth; sometimes we feel shame because we should. This synth-forward, dreamy track is no pity party, it’s a promise to be better in a remarkable coming to terms with accountability. Making concessions like “maybe you were right when you said I love to play the victim” Ellis displays a maturity and self-awareness beyond her years. Despite its vulnerability “Embarrassing” is full of defiance and strength, using a feeling we so easily look away from or blame others for as a tool for growth and self-forgiveness. The purposeful drumbeat and unhurried guitar move steadily towards a power ballad climax and in the closing refrain Ellis repeats in her honey-sweet voice, “some things should be embarrassing” over and over as a reminder not just to herself, but to her listener as well. Born Again is out on April 3 via Fat Possum Records, and be sure to catch Ellis on her North American tour while you can.

Bedroom folk-rock trio Sour Widows continue their streak of creating sleepy, harmonically driven singles in their latest track "Open Wide." The song opens with a warm, guitar intro that leads us into a sonic place of depth and intimacy. Maia Sinako's mellow vocals make a cozy entrance, acting as a guide throughout the single's growing dimension and dynamics. Susanna Thomson's complementary vocals join the journey as the track dives into themes of freedom, expression, and darkness, taking us through many climatic and meditative twists and turns. The last lyric we hear is, "Cause the dark doesn't stop until I open wide," right before we are sent into a big interlude, showcasing the band's dual-guitar dynamic. As the song ends, Maia and Susanna's voices melt together, singing, "My body wants to let every fucking word fly," before the thematic guitar riff from the beginning of the track makes one final appearance, bringing "Open Wide" to a fading resolve.

Have you ever heard a story from a friend so many times that you wish you were there? To be a part of their memory even though it’s an impossibility? On Clever Girls’ new single, “Spark” we find songwriter and guitarist, Diane Jean, exploring this idea. “I buried your tooth hoping baby / I could grow another version of you, maybe” they sing, casting this sentiment amidst a verse of melodic and thoughtful guitars, painting the desire to absolve someone of any past trauma and start new. The band does an incredible job of pulling you in with sonic tenderness on this song. They welcome you into their narrative and then shock you with their true spark. In this case, it’s the burst of bold, driving guitars that hit in the chorus with the reminder that “You’re not the spark,” of the past but you’re now new fuel to their fire.

Lose yourself in the upbeat emotional ballad that is “Heliotrope,” the new single from LA-based indie rockers Runnner. With a full, gorgeous arrangement that feels all-encompassing, the track is atmospheric and evocative as it explores the highs and lows of love through one pressing question: “Is this the conversation you want to have?” A catchy acoustic guitar strum feels hopeful and raw over a thrashing drum beat that sways like a pendulum, giving the song an easygoing sort of flow despite the constant build-up of momentum and intensity in the instrumentation. Best of all are the strings, which swell with complexity and elevate the arrangement by adding a layer of tenderness and starry-eyed whimsy, tying everything together in one big, beautiful bow. Nostalgic and endearing, “Heliotrope” feels like a grand romantic gesture you’ll want to experience again and again.

As music has pushed itself to a place where genre labels are more of a suggestion than a guarantee, bands like Sorry have found success through their chameleon-esque ability to not just adopt a different style from track to track but to make that style uniquely theirs in the process. “More," the third single released by Sorry in the lead-up to their debut album, sees the indie rockers trying their hand at grunge. Singer Asha Lorenz attacks this track with a gruff, discontent growl in her voice—a fitting approach to adopt given the tone of the lyrics. The rebellious opening line finds Lorenz declaring “I want more, and more, and more, and more," and it sounds convincingly demanding over the genre-standard distorted guitars and punchy drums. The track breaks away from the intensity a bit during the chorus, opening up into a real earworm of a vocal melody that drives home the purposefully repetitive nature of the song—taken as a whole, it’s chant-like and alarmingly effective at planting the lyrics into the listener’s subconscious. Sorry’s debut album, 925, is out March 27; if the singles are reflective of the whole record, listeners can expect a masterclass in genre-agnosticism.

Australian singer-songwriter Harmony Byrne has kicked off her 2020 in a big way. This year brings a new single release and the announcement of her first Australian headlining tour, which opens February 20th. After releasing four singles in 2019, the 2020 release of "Good Idea" is surely just that—a good idea. The crooning of the slide guitar and the echoing of Byrne’s image-evoking voice create a sound reminiscent of Eagles and Joni Mitchell mixed with Faye Webster. While the sound of this song is cohesive to the rest of her discography, it tells a story that is entirely new. "Good Idea" reflects upon the longing to escape and describes feelings associated with loss. The chorus leaves the listener haunted as it discusses the impact our own recklessness can have upon others, “Running a red with your headlights down / Seemed like a good idea at the time / But others are following along your road / And some aren’t as lucky as your first line.” An album release is surely right around the corner.

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.