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.

Hatchie trades in shoegaze guitar for upbeat dream-pop synth in her newest single “Stay With Me.” The Australian singer-songwriter explores the contradictory nature of moving on as she sings, “It’s all better now you’re gone / It’s all better on my own” then switches to “why won’t you stay with me / why don’t you stay with me / ‘cause I’m not done.” This back-and-forth perfectly encapsulates the feeling of wanting to hold onto a relationship even if it’s bad for you. The sentiment works well with the almost overwhelmingly lush production. It’s like she is trying to convince herself she is ok by putting on a brave face, but sometimes the mask slips off. It follows in the footsteps of other dance-while-you-cry anthems like Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own.” There is a tinge of hopefulness in the production and the verses even if it is forced, but hey, fake it ‘til you make it is a mantra for a reason. “Stay With Me” is the second single from Hatchie’s debut album, which comes out on June 21.

Meg Myers’ rendition of the Kate Bush classic “Running Up That Hill” is invigorating—Myers’ hints of electronica lend new power to the message that the song has pondered in many covers over the past three decades. This version sets itself apart with firm vocals and a busy but not overbearing blend of instrumentals. Myers' arrangement reinforces and pays homage to the best aspects of the original, while still remaining distinctly contemporary and drenched in her distinctive sound.

Singer-songwriter Adam Melchor meanders through memory and nostalgia in his single “Plan On You.” The song is about Melchor’s father reconnecting with his own ailing father after 40 years of distance. With all the emotional tension that likely permeated this experience, it could easily have just been sad and angry. Instead, it hangs onto a level of hope as he sings, “But if you make a plan to love and let me in / My only promise is to not let go again / I won’t need a plan I’ll just plan on you / I'll just plan on you.” This hopefulness is aided by the gentle and sweet timber of Melchor’s voice, which allows the song to experience melancholy without reveling in it. The production also lends a hand as his vocals are doubled, which creates a sense of detachment that comes with time. The song itself resembling a memory as the buzzy guitar, ambient noise, and well-placed piano come together to fill in the track. “Plan On You” is the first single and title track of Melchor’s sophomore EP, which came out on March 22. He will be playing a string of headlining shows this May in support of the release.

Earlier this year, Irish singer-songwriter Rosie Carney released 11 hauntingly beautiful songs on her debut album, Bare. The opening track, “What You’ve Been Looking For,” immediately sets the mood; a gorgeous acoustic melody and Carney’s soothing, reverberating vocal consistently bathe your ears in bliss. As the song builds and Carney’s affinity for piano becomes apparent, so does her talent in front of a baby grand. The instrumental arrangement, which carves out its own genre of indie folk, has a lush, full sound, making for a heavily atmospheric listening experience. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a field filled with wildflowers, or sipping cocoa by the fireplace while a snow storm rages outside—there’s no clear imagery, and that was an intentional part of the production. When describing her sound, Carney says, “it’s anything you want it to be.” Even though at its core, it's evident that “What You’ve Been Looking For” is made up of raw, honest songwriting and Carney’s mesmerizing voice. Don’t miss the chance to see her live next month at Mominette for The Wild Honey Pie’s first ever French dinner party! Buy tickets here.

ALASKALASKA’s newest single “Bees” comes in fast and strong in the first few seconds then mellows into a groove that extends throughout the four-minute song. With a seamless layering of instrumentation, the South Londoners build an ethereal and futuristic track without losing touch of reality. This is due in part to the grounding nature of Lucinda John Duarte’s vocals. Their sound is malleable. It ebbs and flows without constraint mixing more electronic elements with a surprisingly sexy saxophone that peaks in and out. Though it is lush with sound, each element is balanced perfectly. No one part overwhelms or even tries to compete with the others. Their experimentation extends past just the sound as there is no defined chorus for the song. This fits with the message of constantly questioning and progressing as it ends with Duarte repeating, “Buy another face, pretend.” “Bees” is the second single from ALASKALASKA’s debut album The Dots out on May 3rd.

Brooklyn residents and lifelong friends, Daniel Alvarez de Toledo and Jordan Dunn-Pilz have been hard at work on TOLEDO’s new EP, Hotstuff, due out today, April 5th. “Some Samurai” is a dreamy track from the forthcoming EP that showcases the duo’s penchant for tight harmonies, soaring production and storytelling through run-on sentences. The song ties these elements together at every turn, like the feeling of time grinding to a halt and zooming in behind the line, “It’s hard to watch you want to understand,” before jumping into a shimmering chorus, hiding the duo’s doubts behind a veneer of dream-pop. It’s unclear whether or not leaving your “shoes lying in the hall” really qualifies you as “such a mess,” but if you feel that way, is there really a difference? Constant battles with inner demons can lead to constant battles with others. “Some Samurai” reminds us of the ways in which this kind of isolation can be so paralyzing — “Still I can’t stand to be alone / No, I can’t seem to stand at all.” There’s so much to unpack in TOLEDO’s vivid writing style, but it’s easier to get lost in the joyous choruses.

A whirlwind of sound and feeling, Chris Cohen’s “No Time to Say Goodbye,” off his brand-new self-titled album, highlights the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter’s lyrical and compositional talents. This track is equal parts lively and somber, and altogether unique. Full percussion, keys, traces of synth, plenty of guitar, and surprise appearances by other instrumental elements in the bridge play with equal rank to Cohen’s vocals, nothing fading or lost in the background. The poignant lyrics, “the fun is over // goodbye my darling,” drive home a particular sadness akin to knowing exactly where you lost something you knew you could never get back. Truly a masterpiece in its arrangement, evident by subtle key changes and a classic, low-fidelity sound, “No Time to Say Goodbye” is just one of many hits from Cohen’s latest project.

The stormy, unconstrained sound of Berlin-based, protean singer-songwriter and producer, Mogli truly comes alive in her latest EP, Patience. The brief yet stirring five-track project is a cohesive narrative of personal growth and acceptance in the midst of mental health issues. Mogli's unique upbringing as a child opera singer in a gender-free household in rural Germany with her two mothers is especially reflected in the title track, "Patience." In this song, she hones in on the power of self-empathy, healing, and taking in the moment for what it is. You can hear traces of female folk-rock icons, Cat Power and Feist in Mogli’s tender timbre and emotive melodic structure as she sings, "we should have patience to let the hurt dry out / we should have patience to let our hearts down.” Like much of the EP, “Patience” is soaked in dreamy, somber synths and uplifting percussion that effortlessly carry Mogli’s vocals through calm, patient waters.

“Martingale” is a darkly sweet new song from Aussie indie songwriter Jo Schornikow’s debut LP, Secret Weapon. During the time the album was written, Schornikow moved from New York City to Nashville and had two children with her husband, Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent (a band with whom she also tours). Grappling with her new identity, grounded now in motherhood, Schornikow wrote Secret Weapon as a rumination on the complexities and intricacies of being a parent. On “Martingale,” she does so with quiet tenacity—addressing large subjects, like love and persistence, through hazy vocal melodies and a soft, sparse arrangement. A reflection on the production, Schornikow recorded the album with a friend in a modest home studio in Melbourne. The subtle build throughout the song, led by keys and guitar, culminates in a beautifully reflective chorus of backing vocals that gives new intention to the track as a whole. At exactly two minutes long, “Martingale” is an ephemeral powerhouse on an album full of gorgeously bare songs.

With “How To Love You Today,” you're guided through the initial feeling of being completely in love and trying to figure out how to translate something so beautiful into words. Son of Cloud’s much-anticipated album is right around the corner, and the first single doesn't disappoint. Indie-folk singer, producer and songwriter Jonathan Seale's moniker is a nickname given to him by the Yukpa indigenous tribe of Venezuela, close to where he grew up. In "How To Love You Today," Seale pulls us in with swipe-you-off-your-feet lyrics and the kind of wholehearted vibe of a well-worked folk melody. The artist has been working on his album while producing for several other artists over the last ten years. Son of Cloud’s self-titled debut comes out on 4/12.