Petey’s “The Same Chords” begins with a captivating ricochet of sound and continues into gorgeously honest lyrics. This track comes off of Petey’s new EP Checkin’ Up On Buds, which features a lineup of four candid, hard-hitting and compelling songs, each with unique feels but carrying consistency in charm. Guided by the soft touch of keys and the ease of guitar, this song addresses the monotony and consternation that comes with being human and the importance of recognizing that there are people who truly care, and being a friend who does truly care. Throughout the chorus, Petey repeats, “There’s nothin' more important than your checkin' up on buds,” which is the lyric that christens the EP with its name.

Having released their debut single in November 2019, London-based duo Charlotte Spiral is practically an infant by industry standards, but you couldn’t tell by listening to them. Amy Spencer and Avi Barath drew their name from a gravity-defying figure skating term, and create music that’s just as delicate and mystifying. “Only Place I Know” is one of three tracks on the EP they released in February. Distorted, warbly piano and creepy, unidentifiable sounds draw the listener into the musical equivalent of a horror movie. After about 45 unsettling seconds, a pleasant chord splays out like a sigh of relief. What follows is a careful dance between psychological torture and pleasant nostalgia. The tension and uncertainty about where the harmonic structure is moving symbolize the discomfort of a period of healing. Spencer’s vocal delivery seems almost complacent, but the lyrics suggest otherwise: “I am just waiting here for something / To come and take these feelings away.” Only when she mentions falling back into the familiar is the uneasy tension released, like exhaling into a warm bath. The euphoria doesn’t stay; moving backwards is counterproductive, and Spencer knows she must make the uncomfortable steps forward to grow into her true self.

An incredible list of artists join Cautious Clay on a delightful new single to help raise money for Musicares. No second is wasted in this tune, Clay playing the ultimate indie band leader, bringing out the best in all of his collaborators. His signature smooth sound instantly sets the tone. Remi Wolf pops in, her “Oh boy!” enough to turn up the energy, effortlessly floating along a fun verse. Still Woozy brings his own melody to push the boundaries of what this song could be. Sophie Meiers shines in a moment of calm, as angelic layers build before handing it off to Claud for an intimate verse, “it’s a sign of the times and it’s hard” a beautiful culmination of the crew’s messages. All the while Melanie Faye holds the song together on guitar, breaking loose for a solo to round it out. Each artist showcases what makes them them, and against all odds, it all fits perfectly. Here’s to hoping this supergroup keeps collaborating.

Del Water Gap's brand new single is due to have you make that call you can't stop thinking about making. After all, what better time to make uncomfortable calls than when you know you and the person you're calling won't have to be in the same room the next day? Singing of a relationship that came like a hurricane and left leaving nothing but wreckage on its way out, Brooklyn-based songwriter Holden Jaffe's description of human contact will leave you yearning for everything other people have ever made you feel. "Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat" is exactly what the title say it is: an ode to words left unsaid and people you can't let go of. Even though the beat is great for a bedroom dance party, a song this poignant should be not be streamed lightly during these trying times of social distancing.

Oh Wonder has just released the second track from their quarantine music project, The Home Tapes. This project takes Josephine and Anthony back to their roots of recording, producing and mixing everything from their home studio. “Keep On Dancing” is an ode to finding joy in the moments alone. Lockdown is the last place anyone wants to spend a birthday, graduation or any sort of celebration for that matter, but we can’t bypass those moments all together. A party of one is nevertheless still a party, and this tune builds to a chorus that leaves you no choice but to dance around your room alone. There is a simplicity in the pop melody that rests over flickering keys and hollow drums, which seems to insist that small moments still be treasured, even if they’re not the grand production you once imagined they would be. The duo is continuing to put out a song off the project every two weeks and is currently building a soundtrack to ease our minds during this isolating time.

Our third Quadio pick of the week is Dad Bod. The group got their start just last year at the University of Minnesota and has quickly become one of the most promising indie rock bands out of the Twin Cities. Fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Callie Marino, the band also includes Alex Gray on drums, Noah Topliff and Wilson Zellar on guitar and Michael McGough on bass. Written from the perspective of a “ghost looking for a flesh experience,” their latest single “Spirits” is one that will bring you to your knees. As good things often do, it all starts with a snare and kick-drum, before the first electric guitar is counted in, dreamy and echoing, and then the second, crisp and sunny. Marino’s voice soon sails sweetly over the taut instrumental track that has been laid out. Marino’s songwriting is stellar, and in “Spirits” she plays to the deep-seated loneliness we feel when we find ourselves emotionally isolated while longing for intimacy. With notes of Lucy Dacus, Soccer Mommy and Great Grandpa, and recurring riffs reminiscent of Mazzy Star, it would be unfair to compare Dad Bod to just one of these artists. Dad Bod is a band with their own sound and one to watch. We are stoked to be partnering with Quadio to bring you a taste of their music. Keep an eye out for Dad Bod’s forthcoming first EP set for release this summer, and until then, catch them doing livestream shows on the ‘gram.

PDLIF- "Please Don't Live in Fear" feels like a convoluted request right now. Much like Bon Iver's music, there is something quietly anxious and hopeful about the time we're living in. Each day seems like a Russian roulette of outcomes and emotions. But really good music is a highlight and a reminder of our humanity. Bon Iver's "PDLIF," released on April 17, has that ruminating quality that makes his artistry so excellent. After the first listen, the track feels somber and unassuming, but it's still loaded with immense depth and feeling. "PDLIF" is an internal wrestling of despair and optimism. It's a scale weighing options and opinions. A verse cries "I'd be good to fall back / I think we're on the wrong track somehow," all while balancing the delicate decry of the chorus: please don't live in fear. This song is far from a looming contradiction. It's a descriptor of an uncertain time, a moment in our hearts where hope's fleeting cries win over the primordial temptation to give up. This track was specifically made in support of the medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Bon Iver has vowed to donate 100% of the song's proceeds to benefit those protecting the lives of the public from this disease (through the organization Direct Relief). This is Bon Iver's first studio release since Grammy-nominated i,i (outside of Blood Bank's 10th-anniversary edition release). Listen to "PDLIF" wherever you stream your tunes.

When an artist sounds like where you come from, it can be an immediate, visceral kind of connection, and such is the connection I’ve found with Ali Holder’s track, “Reborn.” The pillowy organ, slow rhythm guitar, and ever-so-slight drawl on this track had already transported my heart to my hometown of Austin, TX before my mind had time to recognize the nostalgia. Growing up in Austin, I always assumed that no matter where you went in the world, you’d find singer-songwriters on every street and in every restaurant, every day of the week. I thought it was a basic part of shared human experience, like fending off grackles or getting unlimited free refills of unsweet iced tea. And from the ubiquitous, strumming masses of my youth, I have come to recognize there is absolutely an “Austin sound.” To me, it's a sound that I will never be able to shake as long as I live; to many, it’s inextricably linked to the strong, warm breezes of July evenings; and if you want to know what it can mean to you, well—I’d start here with Ali Holder.