Maya Elise - Side of the Road
Today, Berkeley folk artist Maya Elise premieres her newest song, “Side of the Road.” The track tells the story of a summer road trip, which makes it especially fitting that it’s perfect for singing along with. In the first verse, as Maya describes all the people she is picking up along the way, her rich vocals fill every crack between guitar and drums with a friendly warmth. Though she gives us only a few details on each person she meets, you can almost see each of their faces: the woman in Portland making jasmine tea, the Washington man she learned to trust, the brave woman from Alabama, and the South Dakota man looking for a home all look somewhat familiar. The song gradually builds to a transcendent scene in which the car full of new friends go skinny-dipping in the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps the ultimate symbol of the trust they have built along the way. On “Side of the Road,” Maya reminds us that making friends doesn’t have to be as complicated or awkward as we often make it out to be. Sometimes all it takes is two people going in the same direction and choosing to not be alone. The rest, perhaps, will figure itself out.
— Karl Snyder on January 31, 2020maye - Tú
Maye delivers effortlessly gorgeous vocals and combines them with silky Bossa nova styled production on her new single "Tú." This is the Venezuelan-born artist's second single release following the drop of "My Love" earlier this year. "Tú" explores someone entirely wrapped up in the object of their affection—wanting only to be encompassed in the other person's universe and the timelessness they radiate. And while many love songs share similar sentiments, maye and producers, Pat Howard and Fernando Belisario, create a world that feels both nostalgic and experimentally enticing. Soft guitar plucks and gentle, slow drum hits materialize the perfect backdrop for the singer's leisurely, fluid vocals as sweet romance comes to fruition. "Tú" is a must-listen track that you'll have on repeat in anticipation of the rising star's debut LP.
— Julie Gentile on October 22, 2019SYML - Symmetry
Indie folk artist SYML, otherwise known as Washington-based Brian Fennell, has released the hauntingly atmospheric single “Symmetry.” Intricate guitar and lovely strings beckon you into the arrangement’s dark, dreamy soundscape, while Fennell’s gentle voice croons a hypnotic and lovely melody. His honest, poetic lyrics speak of comfort and acceptance: “Come now child, the day is long / Hide not yourself from me.” What begins as a mellow, simple arrangement builds into something grand and gripping—evocative brass, emotional strings, and thrashing percussion let you lose yourself in the surprising and rewarding instrumentation. “Symmetry” bends genres and defies expectations. It’s a nice follow-up to Fennell’s debut album, SYML, which came out earlier this year via Nettwork.
— Britnee Meiser on October 22, 2019DONNA BLUE - DESERT LAKE
Surfacing from the Netherlands is indie-pop duo Donna Blue’s old Hollywood-inspired new single “Desert Lake”. This track is a self-described passing through the obstacles of every artist facing the inevitable dimness of doubt. It clothes itself in a sultry sixties influenced sound, enveloping the listener in a haunting yet cunning vision of a journey. In turn, it succeeds in creating an imaginative space for what it'd be like moving through a Tarantino movie. Picking up Western tones with the call of a pensive whistle, “Desert Lake” draws its listener into a stylized, intricately personal mystery of an artist in the throes of creative madness.
— Laney Esper on October 22, 2019Rachel Bobbitt and Justice Der - Iris Road
Breezy and classic, "Iris Road" is a carefree daydream with a catchy melody. The new single from Canadian musicians Rachel Bobbitt and Justice Der captures the wild, carefree spirit of youth through upbeat, muffled percussion and lush, lo-fi instrumentation. Bright, beachy guitars are a burst of sunshine, while Bobbitt’s warm, harmonic vocals are a refreshing breeze throughout the arrangement. The lyrics are dreamy and pensive, perfectly matching the mood. "I fall in line / You get dizzy tracing circles in my mind / And you take your time / Hands in your pocket so you never reach for mine." "Iris Road" is sunny and atmospheric, and is featured on Bobbitt and Der’s debut album, When This Plane Goes Down, out October 25th.
— Britnee Meiser on October 21, 2019Big Thief - Those Girls
“Those Girls”, the fifth track off of Big Thief’s latest record Two Hands starts quickly and plays out slowly. Adrianne Lenker sings in a forceful almost-whisper that extends over an entrancing three and a half minutes. Consistent percussion pairs with an easy, calming ensemble of strings that reverberate over themselves and fall into silence as the song concludes with a reflective fifteen seconds of silence. Wistful verses and easing instrumentals fill the middle of the album with grace.
— Ben Burke on October 21, 2019Wilco - One and a Half Stars
On their eleventh studio album Ode to Joy, Wilco strings together intimate, direct moments that paint a picture of hope, solace and a search for meaningful connection. Frontman Jeff Tweedy leads the way through discord with a steady maturity and calmness, bringing us out the other side with a higher self-awareness than before. In each track, Wilco makes the case that belonging and happiness do not have to be diminished for one person just to be attainable to others. The third song on the record, “One and a Half Stars," fully embodies that theme, examining how we deal with comfort, feeling safe and communicating appropriately with one another. Although there are certainly hints of weariness and poignancy throughout the song, Tweedy's forthright, heartfelt vocal tone really takes the center stage. His tender lyrics don’t miss a beat, “You mean too much to me / I'm angry / I could need so much / I'm worried about the way / We're all living.” The humble mix of acoustic guitar, gentle drums and keyboard lightly march along before eventually picking up in pace as Tweedy attempts to find a way to adopt new habits. Even though "One and a Half Stars" is one of the more modest ballads on the project, it holds an incredible amount of emotional resonance that helps build more empathy. Wilco isn’t trying to roll out new tricks or outdo themselves. Instead, they offer their honest take on the anxious, perplexing and ever-changing world we all currently reside in. Ode to Joy is out now via dBpm Records.
— Meredith Vance on October 21, 2019st.martiins - saw the moon
Dundee-based band st.martiins continues to bring a refreshing versatility to their work with latest single "saw the moon." The duo consisting of Katie Lynch and Mark Johnson conjures up sleepy sentiments about the familiarity of a relationship and its possible disintegration. A smooth bassline creates the backbone of the song while the contrasting guitar reverb fondly brings to mind early projects from Jay Som. Amidst the carefully constructed production, Lynch sings, "If I see things differently / Will they last?" and "If you look right at me / I might look back." Noncommittal "if's" and the repeating line "I saw the moon" flow out in the lyrics and ride the wave of emotion that Lynch so beautifully performs. "saw the moon" showcases another side, expanding st.martiins sound to areas not explored in their previous singles like "My Girl" and "Want God." While you await the band's first LP, you can catch them playing a handful of shows this December.
— Julie Gentile on October 18, 2019HalfNoise - Guess
Indie psych-rock act HalfNoise, the solo project of Paramore drummer Zac Farro, just released his third album, Natural Disguise, via Congrats Records. Filled with bright, disco-inspired melodies and clear, vibrant arrangements, the album features some of Farro’s boldest, most genre-bending work to date. A standout track is “Guess,” a mid-tempo, synth-pop dance anthem with a contagiously groovy beat. A pumping bassline with colorful, reverberating guitars evokes the carefree vibes of 70s psychedelia, while bright, tight drums and a clear, affected vocal emphasize Farro’s crisp, modern production style. Spacey synths and electronic keys round out the dynamic instrumentation, adding some fun, quirky details that highlight the track’s playful undertones. Overall, “Guess” is an exciting party song with a catchy melody and an arrangement full of surprising intricacies.
— Britnee Meiser on October 18, 2019Nevil - 5 Year Warranty
Nevil oozes bass-filled 90s nostalgia in their new single “5 Year Warranty.” The all-girl rock trio from Austin creeps their way through the breakup track with a steady bassline, shoegaze guitar, a heavy dose of high hat and languid vocals. The song stays in the pocket for over four minutes—showing immense restraint as the lead singer and guitarist Emily Rose sings, “there you go making another god damn scene / as you shout ‘why is everybody being so mean’.” They chronicle a break-up in which one party feels they’ve been unjustly made into a bad guy and is constantly reappearing in search of some answers. The track is droney, buzzy and dripping in reverb. “5 Year Warranty” is a cool-girl breakup anthem. It’s the perfect example of how we all would like to hold our composure when someone is blaming us for something falling apart. "5 Year Warranty" is quiet and restrained in its angst as it leans into the annoying reality of post-breakup communication.
— Corey Bates on October 17, 2019Loose Buttons - Strangers In A Nightclub
“Strangers In A Nightclub” by Loose Buttons begins with a powerful, almost spooky guitar riff before introducing simpler, strummed guitar, producing a lovely sort of layering. As the vocals introduce themselves, the song takes on a distinctly romantic tone. "Strangers In A Nightclub" rocks and flows between guitar and husky vocals, maintaining its simplicity while remaining mesmerizing. Towards the tail-end of the track, a crunchy, wailing guitar solo steals the show. It takes the listener on a quick little adventure, before returning to the crooning vocals and the beach rock sound that drive the song. "Strangers In A Nightclub" is an alluring little tune.
— Caroline Peacock on October 17, 2019