Murielle - Felt Cute (Might Delete Later)
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.
— Ysabella Monton on September 18, 2019Devendra Banhart - Memorial
In the third release from his upcoming album, Devendra Banhart paints a painstaking picture of loss. “Memorial” is so weighed down in grief, it might be hard to take if not for the relief of the gentle strings, subtle piano, and simple, grounding guitar strums that play evenly through the whole track. Banhart speaks directly to his lost loved one, giving voice to the frustration of not being able to ask all of the questions you have after tragedy strikes. “Can you hear me? Did you mean it? Did you plan it out? Was it an accident?” Banhart asks, knowing nobody can give him the answers he needs. The heavy content easily stays afloat with the help of a waltz-like melody and Banhart’s delicate, though heartbreaking delivery. The single is part narrative and part prayer as Banhart moves from describing the hospital and the funeral to pleading to his lost friend, “I know it don’t work like that, but maybe you can take it back.” “Memorial” washes over you, conveying the numbness and heartbreak in the most gorgeously tender way it possibly can. This latest single is a wrenching lead-in to Banhart’s album, Ma, which will be out in September via Nonesuch.
— Brigid Moser on August 7, 2019Okey Dokey - Winnebago
Okey Dokey is back at it with their newest release “Winnebago.” Once again they’ve put together a vintage vibe using funky instrumentals reminiscent of folk mixed in with refreshing drops of psychedelia. A collaboration with Liz Cooper & The Stampede, a band that was also featured on their previous album, “Winnebago” is the pure embodiment of a summer love jam. Liz’s dreamy folk vocals coupled with Okey Dokey's shimmering guitar and heart-racing production is a match made in heaven that could go on forever and never get old. The song itself goes through phases of intimacy, building in tempo, going through lulls, and picking back up again. “Love like this is like a lazy river right unto the other side,” vocalist Aaron Martin sings as the song itself dazes its way over to pass off to Liz. This modernized folk duet is a quintessential taste of a sweet love grown old.
— Monica Hand on August 7, 2019Blood Orange - Birmingham
"Birmingham" is an explosion of artistic creativity by Blood Orange from his latest project, Angel's Pulse. Like so many masterfully produced tracks on this album, "Birmingham" is assisted by Ian Isaiah and the vocals and writing power of Kelsey Lu. Olympic-level vocals take this solemn gospel-inspired interlude to the next level as each artist lends their own unique take on a beautiful, short, and poetic tale of tragic loss.
— Jazzmyne Pearson on August 6, 2019Julia Jacklin - Someday
Julia Jacklin’s cover of “Someday” by The Strokes is a stripped-down, sultry take on the garage rock-revival energy of the original. A dreamy rock ballad for lonely, wandering nights, the arrangement is slowed down but kept in its traditional 6/8 tempo, so it moves at a gentle, swaying pace that maintains its momentum. Jacklin’s emotional sound, which exists at the intersection of indie-pop and alt-country, lends itself nicely to the moody, angst-ridden pulse at the heart of the original arrangement. Her performance is mellow but just as raw and sonically immersive—not to mention it was recorded live, which pays homage to garage rock in its own right. Most captivating of all is Jacklin’s control over the vocal melody, which feels and sounds like it was written for her. Silky, crooning, and evocative, her voice commands the arrangement and your attention. Jacklin’s cover of “Someday” is a quiet and captivating force that holds its own against the original.
— Britnee Meiser on August 6, 2019slenderbodies - away from you
"Away from you" is a dance-pop deviation from slenderbodies' usual psychedelic jazz style without losing their trademark sound. This track reminisces upon unresolved feelings from an ended relationship with lyrics that make it evident that slenderbodies have broken into a fresh space as songwriters. "It's a lonely world, yeah, I'm on my own / The memories they sell you / You told me that you felt it, it's over here / I don't let it go now"—words drawn from personal relationships of all kinds have become the focus of the band's latest work enhanced by their already stellar musicality.
Moonchild - Too Much to Ask
Smooth R&B meets plucky indie-soul on “Too Much to Ask,” a laid-back new groove from LA-based trio Moonchild. With its thoughtful lyricism and delicate, sharp production, the track marks the beginning of a new era for the group, as it’s the first single from their upcoming album, Little Ghost. Crisp and clear, the arrangement, reminiscent of Noname, exemplifies a fun and seamless blending of sounds. Clicking and snapping work together with a drum pad to create a tight percussive beat that feels close-knit, like you’re right there in the room while it’s being recorded. Nice, 90s-inspired electro keys, bursting synths and a faint guitar round out the instrumentation, invoking a sound that’s part soul, part jazz, and entirely immersive. Similarly, lead singer Amber Navran’s vocals are like smokey honey; sung barely above a whisper, her lyrics about unreciprocated love seep into you like a love spell. “Is it too much to ask for you to love me like that? / Is it too much to ask?” Hopeful and mature, “Too Much to Ask” is easy listening for the digital age that sways to a perfect summer beat. Little Ghost, which Moonchild calls their “most thoughtfully crafted and complete work to date,” is set to release on September 6.
— Britnee Meiser on August 5, 2019Mons Vi - Come on Violet
Mons Vi delivers another smooth, ethereal track that works its way into your head with “Come on Violet”. Singer-songwriter Matthew Hershoff blends emotive narratives with his take on atmospheric pop to create something truly unique in his third single released this year. “Come on Violet” is a tribute to a friend and a story of loss stemming from addiction. Hershoff creates a melancholic, reflective moment in time with his strong, poignant lyrics. His words perfectly encapsulate the feeling of looking back—“Spin on a beam at the top of the moon / run through old scenes that once felt brand new / You never notice the things you lose.” As time passes, it’s sometimes hard to believe where we are and realizing what’s actually changed around us. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stop and take a moment.
— Meredith Vance on August 2, 2019TWIN PEAKS - DANCE THROUGH IT
“Dance Through It” is a lyrically cinematic story of a woman with unfaltering intrigue carried by a palpably fresh sound. This track breaks the typical style boundaries of Twin Peaks’ music with a full take on funk. The Chicago-based indie-rock five-piece gains even more flavor for their repertoire of tastefully crafted, age-old music for the modern world. With lyrics reminiscent of a dancing Uma Thurman, this masterpiece is riddled with soulful keys, sprinklings of brass, and naturally, looming trouble.
— Laney Esper on August 2, 2019Kate Bollinger - I Don’t Wanna Lose
Kate Bollinger’s bouncy title track from her most recent EP I Don’t Wanna Lose is an anthem for indecision. Her honey-dipped voice nearly hides the struggles of a person trying to adjust to adulthood, while still feeling like a child at the same time—“I was a child once / I still am one / I know it / But I just turned twenty / And I feel time slipping by.” Bollinger's voice is soothing, and her words are relatable. If you’ve ever been paralyzed by the fear of realizing you’re a real adult person who is responsible for the rest of your own life, “I Don’t Wanna Lose” pretty much sums up that feeling. Bollinger wonders, “So what if it's all / My decisions / Or my indecision / Oh, I just can't pick one.” Amidst all the chaos and stress, she realizes she has something or someone really good in her life and she wants to hold on to the feeling that brings—“There is so damn much that I'm afraid of / You give me so much to be afraid of / But I don't wanna lose.” While the lyrics are heavy, the song is light and breezy and almost makes you forget whatever you were worried about.
— Anastasia Philabaum on August 2, 2019Jay Som - Tenderness
With her upcoming album Anak Ko ("my child” in Tagalog), LA-based Melina Duterte, better known by the moniker Jay Som, has reinforced her title of queen of bedroom pop. "Tenderness," one of two singles currently released from Anak Ko, is a lo-fi dream. Like her first album, Everybody Works, the song maintains a shoegaze sound with hushed vocals, breezy keyboard parts, and light jazzy guitar riffs. "Tenderness" ruminates on meeting someone and wondering if something more will become of it—“Tell me / Did you fall in at first glance? / Do you think you’ll take a chance?” The chorus perfectly encapsulates that rush of hope, fear, and vulnerability you feel when you meet someone new. Duterte croons, “I’m feeling like we’ve just begun / Nothing’s ever good enough / Tenderness is all I’ve got.” Just like the repetitive thoughts of someone overthinking a new relationship, the chorus repeats several times until the end of the track. Get your fill of “Tenderness” to hold you over until the full album is released on August 23.
— Anastasia Philabaum on August 1, 2019