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.

“Forever Turned Around,” the closing track on Whitney’s sophomore album of the same name, is the worthy culmination of three years and ten soft, shimmering rock songs. Vivid sounds are weaved through a vast, emotional arrangement; listening with your eyes closed is like watching the sunset eke out the last of its golden rays before it disappears over the horizon. A little psych-rock, a little bit of jazz, and Whitney’s impressive orchestral arrangements create an unmatched, genre-defying listening experience bathed in warmth. Muffled percussion and uplifting classical piano evoke a swaying beat as familiar as a cozy, lo-fi campfire croon. Horns with bellows as soft as sunbeams and gorgeous, surprising strings give the song its golden hour glow. The true emotional girth of “Forever Turned Around” however, lies not in the grandeur of its arrangement, but the places where it strategically stays soft. This is reflected in the lyrics, which are grippingly introspective: “Has your heart grown heavy by now? / Cause mine's already on the ground / Spent a long cold winter thinking about / The way forever turned around.” The wispy, lovelorn vocal sweeps over the instrumentation as a reflection on growth and the inevitable impermanence of forever, and it never builds. As reliably pleasing as the band itself, “Forever Turned Around” is a swoon-worthy track you can listen to again and again.

Folk and electronic: it sounds like a bizarre mix, but Simen Mitlid somehow pulls it off in his newest song, “Football.” He combines dainty guitar plucks with a softly pulsing beat, mingling the two disparate sounds in a cohesive way. Layering his gentle voice over the mellow instrumentals, Mitlid creates something almost whimsical in his sound. It's truly a modern indie fairytale.

If you’ve been searching for a groovier yet still mellow Connan Mockasin, look no further. Following the release of his first full-length album Let Us Sleep Together in 2016, Pittsburgh synth-pop star wwoman has just dropped the latest of three new singles, “Chuchi.” Your ears will be treated to a catchy hook the moment the opening notes are played, setting the tone for a true bedroom pop jam. Throughout the song, dreamy melodies are paired with a strong bassline and psychedelic vocals reminiscent of Gus Dapperton—creating the signature retro vibes that are intertwined throughout all of wwoman’s music.

“I’m Fine” by Daisy the Great starts off with attitude—groovy bass quickly blends with percussion to lay an instrumental mosaic under Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker's softly magnetic vocals. Masterfully harmonizing together, the pair bemoan the fact that “You wanna dress me up in yellow / Wipe my mouth and feed me jello, caramello,” all the while paradoxically insisting “I’m fine." This song feels wonderfully simple and clearly well-produced and performed. Advancing like a story of sorts, the track concludes with a quick little whistle, wordlessly surmising everything that’s been (excellently) sung and said.