On “Reaper,” a song off their recently released album Mirage on the Meadow, Pine Barons combine psychedelic instrumentals and vivid lyrical imagery to deliver a haunting track that truly rocks; perfect listening for this, the spookiest of seasons. The tone is firmly established within the first few seconds, as a series of long atmospheric tones from the synth drape themselves over the drum and guitar lines. Before the lyrics come in you have already been set on a meandering walk through the dark forest in your mind. 

Songwriter and vocalist Keith Abrams cleverly illustrates the concept of scattered thoughts in the pre-chorus where, utilizing different production effects, he plays two intertwining inner monologues: one perpetually questioning, and one confident in its defeatist statements but not offering any answers. From this back and forth bursts the hook, which delivers everything you could ask for in a great rock chorus. It’s melodic, it’s powerful and it stays with you long after the song has ended. For much of “Reaper” there is an expertly curated sense of movement, like some physical manifestation of inner anxieties is stalking you at a distance. The closing guitar solo and coda, which layer in melodic callbacks from earlier sections, bring about a feeling of envelopment, like that fog of fear has finally caught up and engulfed you. Photo by Chris Sikich.

dielines, the California-based indie-folk duo consisting of Daniel Berkman and Trevor O’Neill, prepare us for their upcoming album with their newest track "Chasing Rabbits." Though self-described as curators of "psych folk," this single lends itself to a softer, warmer acoustic sound that most people do not associate with the genre. Reminiscent of early Fleet Foxes, this track has the lyrical implication of an anxiety attack, but harmonically makes you feel like taking a drive on a winding mountain road. True to that analogy, "Chasing Rabbits" is full of twists and turns—Berkman's eccentric vocalization providing the majority of the intrigue and emotional gravitas.

Playful and fresh, “Ladybug” by Ottawa duo Deelo Avery and Julian Strangelove, otherwise known as Garçons, is a breezy, genre-busting jam. The leading track on their sophomore EP, Be Human, features a psychedelic rock guitar blending seamlessly with a funky, r&b-inspired beat, while muffled percussion offers a fluid, lazy groove. The instrumentation feels nostalgic and effortlessly untouchable, like that mixtape your cool older sister listened to in the 90s that you always coveted—though notes of soul, particularly in the vocal, make it more accessible. Avery’s voice, reminiscent of a more laid-back Moses Sumney, is bright and dynamic, and adds dimension to the cozy, chill vibe conjured up by the production. Catchy and cool, “Ladybug” is the perfect mid-tempo bop for your commute.

“i leave early” by Maria Kelly is soft, tender, and a little bit heartbreaking. Backed by gentle strings, Kelly’s voice begs to be listened to. Her lyrics are full of self-doubt and worry, yet still, maintain a certain beauty and gentle acceptance. The song begins with Kelly’s delicate singing of “I am drowning at a party,” voicing the sentiments that so many of us can commiserate with. Through her thoughtful and honest lyrics, velvety vocals, and poignant instrumentals, Kelly’s “i leave early” creates a sense of intimacy with the listener. Though her vibe is reminiscent of Daughter, she maintains a uniquely captivating sound that stands on its own. Kelly communicates a tenderness that heightens the sense of isolation and yearning that so closely defines the track. Everything about "i leave early" is subtle and graceful. Having created a lullaby of insecurities and anxieties, Maria Kelly brings to light the many difficulties of self-doubt and does so in a stunningly beautiful way.

Remember going through a funhouse as a kid? The endless rows of disorienting mirrors—making you shorter or taller, fatter or thinner, appear dozens of times or disappear all at once? As we grow up we tend to forget the sense of wonder we felt the first time we looked at ourselves through funhouse mirrors—but it’s never truly gone. BK-based, indie-pop quartet, Future Generations embody that childlike sentiment of wonder and escapism we often leave behind in their new single, “Just Pretend.” The group has long since possessed a keen ability to lift listeners’ moods with their vibrant, breezy production, engaging vocal melodies and inventive lyricism. With “Just Pretend,” they take these elements a step further, becoming the medicine for the doubt they are trying to overcome. The track is a carefree hodgepodge of different sounds and influences, uninhibited by what it thinks it’s supposed to be as it shifts from one sound to another. Frontman Eddie Gore sings, “Life is easy if you just pretend,” reminding us of the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously. As we get older and life gets a little harder, we have to try to retain the sense of childlike wonder we felt the very first time we walked through the funhouse mirrors.

The Wild Honey Pie is proud to premiere “We Laugh,” the first single from Paper Fairy’s upcoming Tautology EP. Following up the 2018 full-length horror concept album Haunter Haunted is a lofty goal, but “We Laugh” skillfully highlights singer Chris Gaskell’s dedication to the unexpected at every turn. It takes only seconds for a song reminiscent of Seu Jorge’s Bowie covers to something much more haunting. Gaskell’s voice soars like Michael Angelakos' but, like the rest of the arrangement, is unsettling in ways the pristine electronic indie-pop of Passion Pit would never be. Aiming to “redraw the line between what is and what appears to be,” the track “poses an inner dialogue in which the internal self and the mediated self struggle to find coherence in a single identity,” says Gaskell. The entity that is Paper Fairy often speaks in such lofty language, ruminating on the concept of the self, but the lyrics meander more simply through “just another day I won’t remember.”

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.