Hypnotizing listeners back into his universe yet again, Frank Ocean returns with highly hyped new single “DHL” from the artist’s first studio album release since 2016. The track dropped unannounced at the end of Ocean’s most recent blonded RADIO session, giving a taste of what is rumored to be a thirteen-track LP. Ocean teams up with electro-house producer Boys Noize on “DHL” and delivers swirling sounds and carefully casual lyrics. The song begins with his signature, stylized ambient noise—reminiscent of a more somber, slow version to the introduction of “Nikes.” He raps about a lover, things he’s bought, and attending fashion week in camping gear, “Look like I’m dressed for a hike / But I really look like I’m in Paris.” A mundane tone, almost droning, takes over the beats of the song and paints a portrait of Ocean in his day to day life—as normal as it can be. Following the announcement of “DHL” came the news of two other singles, “Cayendo” and “Dear April." Both were premiered at Ocean's new club PrEP+, where the artist played some remixed snippets. Both old and new Frank fans alike can look forward to new content being released in this era of activity.

The pop-rock trifecta of Braeden Lemasters, Dylan Minnette and Cole Preston behind Wallow just released their debut album, Nothing Happens. The trio, who have been playing together since they were 11, are known for their inventive take on rock with sturdy vocals and captivating instrumental cadence. The album itself leads with a unique and much softer sound from the band, which particularly shines through in the project's most popular track, "Are You Bored Yet?"

"Are You Bored Yet?," which features lo-fi bedroom pop genius, Clairo, is a collaboration match made in lo-fi-indie heaven. The perfectly bittersweet pop-rock song was created through the brilliant pairing of Clairo's signature dreamy vocals and the upbeat style the band is known for. As the lyrics wade through a relationship at the critical point of either making it or breaking it, Wallows and Clairo's vocals represent the two conflicting perspectives involved. One is ready to let go, and the other is still hopeful that the pieces can come back together. The sad tune is catchy in the way its tempo transfers energy into the melancholy tone, which further fuel the already memorable lyrics. The track will surely be stuck in your head as you drift into memories of your own personal past romances that fell apart. Magnetic, intimate and real, "Are You Bored Yet?" is an instant addition to your spring playlist.

Los Angeles dream-pop artist Xoller premieres her latest single "Loom" with us today at The Wild Honey Pie. With a childhood full of moving and starting over again, Ella Zoller found solace in the familiarity of music. She began her songwriting career at an early age, and took on various projects with different collaborators throughout the years until she arrived at her current solo project, Xoller. In "Loom" she sings of her love being the "home" to a significant other. Inspired by the award-winning movie Call Me By Your Name, Zoller tells us, "You’ve finally tasted love, and you’ll never be the same. But then real life happens; you move to different places, meet new people and collect experiences that open you up to new possibilities, and just like that the summer of your love grows cold. The heart calls out, don't leave me; I should be enough for you. I should be the thing that makes you feel like home."

The desire to be her love's constant is wrapped up into every lyric, but mostly in the repeated line, "I should be the willow in the wind that makes you feel like home," which seems to sing with more emotion each and every time. Xoller's debut EP Diamond In My Head, is out next month. It is described as "incisive longing and cyclical heartache through melancholic vocals and soaring, ear-catching choruses." Fans of Lana Del Rey, MARINA, and Sky Ferreira will not be disappointed.

British indie-alternative quartet, Mosa Wild launches back onto the scene with their newest single “Night.” The familiarity of a guitar-driven summer anthem is made fresh by the fullness of Jim Rubaduka’s smooth and lilting vocals. His jazz influence adds a complexity that elevates the track to be something special. The entire song has an immersive quality aided by Jim Abbiss' rich production, which leaves no dead space within the track. The anthemic youthfulness of "Night" would feel at home in a festival setting or a blockbuster movie soundtrack as Rubaduka repeats, “This night is long and this fire is burning out / help me be strong / help me be strong.” It's a rallying cry that is meant to be blasted in the car with the windows down. "Night" is a strong follow-up to the band’s 2016 debut single "Smoke, "and is the perfect first taste of their debut EP Talking Circles due out this summer.

Everything that MorMor touches turns to gold. "Outside" is another example of how this indie newcomer puts the kind of heart and soul into his work that make his songs noteworthy. Hailing from Toronto, Seth Nyquist has been releasing music since last year—including his debut EP Heaven's Only Wish. MorMor has a keen sense of crafting melodies that sonically waft through his songs. In "Outside," Nyquist sings of dark times that seem not to have any light. Instead of finding hope on the outside, it just begets more distress—there, the sky is dark and the sun seems to have hidden itself. The bleating vocals sit on top of a bed of synths and a heavy-hitting drum, showing us even though things are dark they are not stagnant. There is movement towards the sun, whatever it may be.

Hatchie trades in shoegaze guitar for upbeat dream-pop synth in her newest single “Stay With Me.” The Australian singer-songwriter explores the contradictory nature of moving on as she sings, “It’s all better now you’re gone / It’s all better on my own” then switches to “why won’t you stay with me / why don’t you stay with me / ‘cause I’m not done.” This back-and-forth perfectly encapsulates the feeling of wanting to hold onto a relationship even if it’s bad for you. The sentiment works well with the almost overwhelmingly lush production. It’s like she is trying to convince herself she is ok by putting on a brave face, but sometimes the mask slips off. It follows in the footsteps of other dance-while-you-cry anthems like Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.” There is a tinge of hopefulness in the production and the verses even if it is forced, but hey, fake it ‘til you make it is a mantra for a reason. “Stay With Me” is the second single from Hatchie’s debut album, which comes out on June 21.

Meg Myers’ rendition of the Kate Bush classic “Running Up That Hill” is invigorating—Myers’ hints of electronica lend new power to the message that the song has pondered in many covers over the past three decades. This version sets itself apart with firm vocals and a busy but not overbearing blend of instrumentals. Myers' arrangement reinforces and pays homage to the best aspects of the original, while still remaining distinctly contemporary and drenched in her distinctive sound.

Singer-songwriter Adam Melchor meanders through memory and nostalgia in his single “Plan On You.” The song is about Melchor’s father reconnecting with his own ailing father after 40 years of distance. With all the emotional tension that likely permeated this experience, it could easily have just been sad and angry. Instead, it hangs onto a level of hope as he sings, “But if you make a plan to love and let me in / My only promise is to not let go again / I won’t need a plan I’ll just plan on you / I'll just plan on you.” This hopefulness is aided by the gentle and sweet timber of Melchor’s voice, which allows the song to experience melancholy without reveling in it. The production also lends a hand as his vocals are doubled, which creates a sense of detachment that comes with time. The song itself resembling a memory as the buzzy guitar, ambient noise, and well-placed piano come together to fill in the track. “Plan On You” is the first single and title track of Melchor’s sophomore EP, which came out on March 22. He will be playing a string of headlining shows this May in support of the release.

Earlier this year, Irish singer-songwriter Rosie Carney released 11 hauntingly beautiful songs on her debut album, Bare. The opening track, “What You’ve Been Looking For,” immediately sets the mood; a gorgeous acoustic melody and Carney’s soothing, reverberating vocal consistently bathe your ears in bliss. As the song builds and Carney’s affinity for piano becomes apparent, so does her talent in front of a baby grand. The instrumental arrangement, which carves out its own genre of indie folk, has a lush, full sound, making for a heavily atmospheric listening experience. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a field filled with wildflowers, or sipping cocoa by the fireplace while a snow storm rages outside—there’s no clear imagery, and that was an intentional part of the production. When describing her sound, Carney says, “it’s anything you want it to be.” Even though at its core, it's evident that “What You’ve Been Looking For” is made up of raw, honest songwriting and Carney’s mesmerizing voice. Don’t miss the chance to see her live next month at Mominette for The Wild Honey Pie’s first ever French dinner party! Buy tickets here.

ALASKALASKA’s newest single “Bees” comes in fast and strong in the first few seconds then mellows into a groove that extends throughout the four-minute song. With a seamless layering of instrumentation, the South Londoners build an ethereal and futuristic track without losing touch of reality. This is due in part to the grounding nature of Lucinda John Duarte’s vocals. Their sound is malleable. It ebbs and flows without constraint mixing more electronic elements with a surprisingly sexy saxophone that peaks in and out. Though it is lush with sound, each element is balanced perfectly. No one part overwhelms or even tries to compete with the others. Their experimentation extends past just the sound as there is no defined chorus for the song. This fits with the message of constantly questioning and progressing as it ends with Duarte repeating, “Buy another face, pretend.” “Bees” is the second single from ALASKALASKA’s debut album The Dots out on May 3rd.

Brooklyn residents and lifelong friends, Daniel Alvarez de Toledo and Jordan Dunn-Pilz have been hard at work on TOLEDO’s new EP, Hotstuff, due out today, April 5th. “Some Samurai” is a dreamy track from the forthcoming EP that showcases the duo’s penchant for tight harmonies, soaring production and storytelling through run-on sentences. The song ties these elements together at every turn, like the feeling of time grinding to a halt and zooming in behind the line, “It’s hard to watch you want to understand,” before jumping into a shimmering chorus, hiding the duo’s doubts behind a veneer of dream-pop. It’s unclear whether or not leaving your “shoes lying in the hall” really qualifies you as “such a mess,” but if you feel that way, is there really a difference? Constant battles with inner demons can lead to constant battles with others. “Some Samurai” reminds us of the ways in which this kind of isolation can be so paralyzing — “Still I can’t stand to be alone / No, I can’t seem to stand at all.” There’s so much to unpack in TOLEDO’s vivid writing style, but it’s easier to get lost in the joyous choruses.