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.

It should come as no surprise that Rhea the Second’s newest single, “Pink Nation” packs a strong punch. Notable R&B influences pull this track into a groovy neo-soul direction giving us a song that’s equal parts classic and adventurous. Unique melodies and stylized vocals float atop classic beats and soulful instrumentation, accented by a contemporary sound-byte interlude that adds to the emotion that drives the song home. Rhea says she was inspired to write “Pink Nation,” after a conversation she had with her mother about her parents’ relationship. The title of the song came from a wedding photo of her mother holding pink carnations. “I nicknamed carnation, “nation” thus creating the title "Pink Nation,” certainly adding her own unique touch on something classic just as she does in her music.

The pop-rock trifecta of Braeden Lemasters, Dylan Minnette and Cole Preston behind Wallow just released their debut album, Nothing Happens. The trio, who have been playing together since they were 11, are known for their inventive take on rock with sturdy vocals and captivating instrumental cadence. The album itself leads with a unique and much softer sound from the band, which particularly shines through in the project's most popular track, "Are You Bored Yet?"

"Are You Bored Yet?," which features lo-fi bedroom pop genius, Clairo, is a collaboration match made in lo-fi-indie heaven. The perfectly bittersweet pop-rock song was created through the brilliant pairing of Clairo's signature dreamy vocals and the upbeat style the band is known for. As the lyrics wade through a relationship at the critical point of either making it or breaking it, Wallows and Clairo's vocals represent the two conflicting perspectives involved. One is ready to let go, and the other is still hopeful that the pieces can come back together. The sad tune is catchy in the way its tempo transfers energy into the melancholy tone, which further fuel the already memorable lyrics. The track will surely be stuck in your head as you drift into memories of your own personal past romances that fell apart. Magnetic, intimate and real, "Are You Bored Yet?" is an instant addition to your spring playlist.

Los Angeles dream-pop artist Xoller premieres her latest single "Loom" with us today at The Wild Honey Pie. With a childhood full of moving and starting over again, Ella Zoller found solace in the familiarity of music. She began her songwriting career at an early age, and took on various projects with different collaborators throughout the years until she arrived at her current solo project, Xoller. In "Loom" she sings of her love being the "home" to a significant other. Inspired by the award-winning movie Call Me By Your Name, Zoller tells us, "You’ve finally tasted love, and you’ll never be the same. But then real life happens; you move to different places, meet new people and collect experiences that open you up to new possibilities, and just like that the summer of your love grows cold. The heart calls out, don't leave me; I should be enough for you. I should be the thing that makes you feel like home."

The desire to be her love's constant is wrapped up into every lyric, but mostly in the repeated line, "I should be the willow in the wind that makes you feel like home," which seems to sing with more emotion each and every time. Xoller's debut EP Diamond In My Head, is out next month. It is described as "incisive longing and cyclical heartache through melancholic vocals and soaring, ear-catching choruses." Fans of Lana Del Rey, MARINA, and Sky Ferreira will not be disappointed.

British indie-alternative quartet, Mosa Wild launches back onto the scene with their newest single “Night.” The familiarity of a guitar-driven summer anthem is made fresh by the fullness of Jim Rubaduka’s smooth and lilting vocals. His jazz influence adds a complexity that elevates the track to be something special. The entire song has an immersive quality aided by Jim Abbiss' rich production, which leaves no dead space within the track. The anthemic youthfulness of "Night" would feel at home in a festival setting or a blockbuster movie soundtrack as Rubaduka repeats, “This night is long and this fire is burning out / help me be strong / help me be strong.” It's a rallying cry that is meant to be blasted in the car with the windows down. "Night" is a strong follow-up to the band’s 2016 debut single "Smoke, "and is the perfect first taste of their debut EP Talking Circles due out this summer.

Everything that MorMor touches turns to gold. "Outside" is another example of how this indie newcomer puts the kind of heart and soul into his work that make his songs noteworthy. Hailing from Toronto, Seth Nyquist has been releasing music since last year—including his debut EP Heaven's Only Wish. MorMor has a keen sense of crafting melodies that sonically waft through his songs. In "Outside," Nyquist sings of dark times that seem not to have any light. Instead of finding hope on the outside, it just begets more distress—there, the sky is dark and the sun seems to have hidden itself. The bleating vocals sit on top of a bed of synths and a heavy-hitting drum, showing us even though things are dark they are not stagnant. There is movement towards the sun, whatever it may be.