In “Who Do I Turn To?,” Joy Oladokun takes deep-rooted pain and pushes it to the surface, creating a poignant tune with only her voice alongside a piano. However, it’s not a simple song at all—hearing her meditate on repeated, unanswered questions is like hearing an echo in an empty home, only finding security in the fact that you are present, yet completely alone. 

“I’m tired of turning on the news / And wondering why it happened again,” she sings, expressing her exhaustion. In a society where systemic racism is only now becoming prevalent for the comfortable majority, Oladokun asks her listeners: “Tell me who’s gonna make it right / When the good ones are to blame.” Her words are not masked by any intense instrumentation, but rather come fully exposed: “If I can’t turn to God / And I can’t turn to you / Who do I turn to?” A portion of her publishing royalties will be going to Launchpad Nashville, a shelter that LGBTQ youth can turn to in times of need.

Soccer Mommy’s Sophie Allison explores her dark side with new single “lucy.” The title nods to the devil himself, but instead of admiring the evil as she has in the past, Allison seems warier this time as she sings “He'll touch you and burn you / And break you down to your core / Succumbing to evil / I thought I was something more.” The guitar on this track is a little sharper and off-kilter than what we have heard from Soccer Mommy in the past, but it still fits within the sound they’ve cultivated. Allison’s slightly disinterested tone pairs well with with the chorus as she somberly begs, “oh lucy please / quit taunting me.” It sounds like she may have already given into lucy albeit reluctantly. “Lucy” is the perfect next step in Soccer Mommy’s constant progression towards a heavier sound.

“My Girl,” the newest single from Scotland-based indie-pop duo ST.MARTiiNS, is easygoing and smooth. With a catchy melody and a nice, breezy groove, the track is the definition of chill vibes. Muffled percussion helps the song feel comfortable and close, reminiscent of loose dancing in a tight space with somebody you love. A psychedelic bass sets the beat while cool, wavy guitars lower the lights, casting the arrangement in a dreamy, atmospheric glow. Clear production accentuates vocalist Katie Lynch’s unique, velvety vocals as she sings about the ups and downs of female friendships. “My girl” is luscious and fun—the perfect track to help you transition from summer to fall.

Chicago rock band, The Evening Attraction dropped a timeless tune influenced by the classic ballads of Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. "It's hidden in the details of the universe / I read it in the story of a lovers curse / Your beauty is the magic of a God's design / Spend a million years just trying to make you mine". It's often hard to explain the powerful love you feel for another person. This is the story that inspired vocalist, Miles Malin's croons in "Something Bout It". Beyond the romance, the single features memorable harmonies, an irresistibly groovy bassline and a majestic string section from Ohmme's Macie Stewart. This the best yet from The Evening Attraction.

NYC-based singer-songwriter Murielle is choosing to put herself first with "Felt Cute (Might Delete Later)," a self-love hymn she describes as her "reclamation." By invoking a meme in the title typically used to shame confident women on social media, Murielle reclaims the joke for herself, shattering the notion that women should be humble or coy about their looks. Featuring cadenced production by Swami Sound, the track fuses world music with pop-R&B synths and atmospheric elements, such as birds chirping to mimic the start of a new day, one that has her "feeling some type of way." Ambient harmonies further the anthemic quality of the song, as she makes a simple, yet revolutionary choice to "give her [ego] a twirl" even if she "didn't get laid / No, I didn't get paid." The music video features Murielle in various rooms of an empty building with a group of double-duty background dancers and admirers. The satisfaction of asserting her confidence, "Something that I worked for," is a feeling well-earned.

Charlie Martin and Will Taylor both started out their musical journeys as drummers, but the hushed sound they have developed as the principal songwriters of Hovvdy show no trace of the speed, aggression or volume one might expect from clashing percussionists. Sometimes described as “pillowcore,” their tour with an artist like Lomelda makes perfect sense. It’s not so much mood music as it is moody music. “Ruin (my ride)” is Hovvdy’s second single from their upcoming album, Heavy Lifter, and it “explores the often complicated nature of social and professional rejection, and aims to celebrate the power in genuine connection.” But, like all or at least almost all of Hovvdy’s music, “Ruin (my ride)” inevitably has the primary or at least secondary or at the very least tertiary effect of capturing an overwhelming wave of nostalgia. The tape recorder fuzz, the gentle acoustic strumming, the simple drum loops, and the sound of the vocals like they were processed through an iPhone microphone (a tactic they actually employed until recently, when the quality of their production caught up with the quality of their stellar songwriting) all sound like the ache of a yearning for something long gone or never experienced.