Remi Wolf - Woo!
Building on the success of her 2019 EP, You’re A Dog!, Remi Wolf is back with "Woo!" showing no signs of slowing. A perfect summation of Wolf’s one-of-a-kind music, "Woo!" has it all. Funky production and stunning vocals, filled with songwriting that’s somehow deeply insightful, wildly goofy and completely relatable. The production plays the perfect partner to Wolf. Setting the mood and complimenting every move made. Refreshingly groovy and just as playful as the lyrics. A voice full of so much heart unleashes a remarkable performance from start to finish. Even as the chorus opens subdued, the seams quickly begin to burst and set Wolf free to soar. Pondering the complexities of love, only Wolf could deliver the stellar, “and I don’t know what I really wanted / and fuck I think I lost my wallet"—floating between the heaviness and the light of life. The versatile young artist is an undeniable hitmaker, each release bringing more to the table, winning over more ears. No one will put you in a good mood faster.
— Max Himelhoch on May 11, 2020Izzy Heltai - Marching Song
"Marching Song" is the latest release by indie-folk songwriter Izzy Heltai in anticipation of his full EP out April 19th. Izzy's simple and often nomadic life is deeply reflected in his music. An unusual power and constant movement dominate his storytelling. There is a quality to his voice that is very timeless and comfortable, even when the lyrics tell a stirring story. "I couldn't tell you through the telephone / that I am not myself / I am not myself anymore." The horns and keys throughout the song offer a contrasting softness to the raw guitar. Izzy delivers a refreshing voice in the folk community. There is something very delicate, yet purposeful about his instrumentation and songwriting. You can catch Izzy Heltai on tour in the United States and Canada this fall.
— Sophia Theofanos on April 19, 2019Beauty Queen - Sold You Out
“Sold You Out,” a new song by Beauty Queen, will make any day feel like a Sunday afternoon. The band, hailing from San Francisco, is due to release their forthcoming EP, Out of Touch on April 19th via Brooklyn’s Sleep Well Records. "Sold You Out" is truly pleasant and comforting, and sometimes, especially these days, that’s the kind of song we need. It’s a track that makes smiling at the fresh spring leaves seem like an entirely normal and not dorky thing to do. Yes, synth dream pop is all the rage right now, but Beauty Queen has truly hit the nail on the head with what the genre is trying to achieve. Even though "Sold You Out" is full of synths and simple chord patterns, it’s layered in an unpretentious yet non-basic way. Like many other west coast bands, Beauty Queen appears to be drawing from artists like Washed Out and Tennis, but there's still something distinct about what they're doing. Take a listen and see what I mean, I swear I’m not over-selling it.
— Samantha Weisenthal on April 18, 2019Middle Kids - Real Thing
Indie alt-rock trio Middle Kids dive into the “lifelong quest for meaning” and touch on feelings of inadequacy in the expectations of one’s life in their latest track, “Real Thing.” The Sydney natives begin the song with a wavering, somber-sounding guitar intro paired with singer Hannah Joy’s attention-grabbing vocal sighs. Once the chorus hits, all three members come together to create a bittersweet melody backed up with fuzzed-out guitar and pulsing percussion. As a whole, the single is effortlessly layered and contains touching lyrics like, “Don’t it ever make you feel sad / Is this is the real thing.” This enables listeners to pick up on the song's themes of vulnerability and emotional isolation—staying true to this narrative of constantly searching for “meaning” in a world that doesn’t provide you with a clear path to happiness.
— Alessandra Rincon on April 18, 2019Big Thief - Cattails
Big Thief’s new single “Cattails” feels like home. The major key is somewhat desirous and dreamy, and vocalist Adrianne Lenker’s upward inflections make the song feel like the sight of a car rolling up a gravel driveway it’s been away from for too long. As Lenker sings out, “And the clusters fell, like an empty bell / Meteor shower at the motel / Where the empty space is a saving grace / Making good time and doing well," the star brushed poetry of this song reverberates through the soul. Filled with endless grace, "Cattails" builds a kinship between the music and the listener that is satisfying in its broad nostalgia.
— Ben Burke on April 18, 2019Junaco - Willow
Northern California duo Junaco balance the warm and inviting with the haunting and suspenseful in their latest track, “Willow.” Singer Shahana Jaffer provides dark, smooth vocals that linger, leaving the listener hanging on to her every word. The vocals float above plucky, bellowing guitar lines that when combined create eerie and atmospheric soundscapes. The track is an emotional one that shifts and bends from its gothic, folky open to a sonically bright wave of warm Americana guitar tones. The duo then change things up even more by switching vocal duties and throwing some shimmery indie pop guitar and expressive drums into the mix. This variety expresses a full spectrum of emotions, but cleverly keeps it all connected so that we can also “feel the room.”
— Alessandra Rincon on April 17, 2019Field Medic - henna tattoo
Field Medic’s “henna tattoo” combines acoustic strings and lo-fi beats to create a cathartic analogy about the temporary and mercurial nature of love. Singing “I’ve been feeling so insecure/ like is it gonna come true if i say it?/ rolling blackouts in your heart/ gave you a henna tattoo/ and it’s fading,” Field Medic beautifully uses the imagery of a henna tattoo to allow listeners to conceptualize and empathize with the universal experience of love’s tribulations. “Henna tattoo,” the fourth track off the album, fade into the dawn is a cool, calm song that feels like an upward swing. It sound marries indie folk and lo-fi, resulting in something fresh that’s definitely worth a good listen.
— Ben Burke on April 17, 2019Halima - Do Better
Halima, New York City-based R&B songstress, continues to skillfully fuse together electronic music with bedroom pop and soul to create something both new and nostalgic in her latest single, "Do Better." The track is a reflective self-love ode with an upbeat hook that complements her soulful and warm R&B voice. With catchy, heartfelt lyrics like, “I’m bet betting on love to keep up / When the going gets tough, I won’t let ya down / When you having bad days, Imma be around,” Halima expresses to listeners that it’s time to finally put herself first. With its retro beats, consistent, bluesy guitar lines, and well-blended harmonies and vocals, “Do Better” is an uplifting track with the ability to pull you out of any funk—reminding you that you too “can do better.”
— Alessandra Rincon on April 16, 2019Papercuts - Comb In Your Hair
Having recently taken time away from his personal practice to lend his talents to the production of recent Beach House and Cass McCombs projects, Papercuts has returned with three track EP, Kathleen Says. Humming waves of synthesized warmth and a rich, metallic guitar are the only accompaniments to songwriter Jason Quever’s conversational candor on "Comb In Your Hair," the final track off his latest project. Memory plays a significant role in the lyrical narrative of the tune, while Quever’s dreamy remembrances cast a gauzy sheen over the sleepy, low-fi instrumentation. “And your eyes fell back in your head / to a place inside the light just couldn’t get” repeats a slightly gritty, emotionally affected voice following a series of lyrical tableaus that sift through intimate memories—seeking perhaps both comfort and gold.
— Emma Bowers on April 16, 2019Sego - Heart Attack
“Heart Attack” is a carefree grunge-rock anthem from LA-based band Sego. It’s a track off the quartet’s newest record, Sego Sucks, out now via Roll Call Records. The name originated from an internet troll, but according to vocalist Spencer Petersen, it has come to embody the ethos of the album. This is certainly true of “Heart Attack,” which is immersive and atmospheric in its loud, low-fi production and gritty instrumental tones. It’s an accessible sound, like listening to a well-loved tape of a classic rock demo, led by a sharp snare and an electric guitar reminiscent of The Strokes. The arrangement’s devil-may-care attitude extends to the vocal, crooning and imperfect with a doubled effect, so it sounds like Petersen is shouting the melody straight through a rowdy crowd. In the chorus, he sings “Live fast and die last,” personifying the mood in one line. Bold and bright, “Heart Attack” is a song meant for big speakers and no inhibitions.
— Britnee Meiser on April 16, 2019Aisha Badru - Enough
After the success of her debut album Pendulum released last year, Aisha Badru is back again with her latest single "Enough". The song is off our her upcoming EP Road to Self which is set to release this summer. While her first album delved into heartbreak and its side-effects, Road To Self focuses on Badru's process in discovering her intrinsic self-worth and the healing that it brings. In "Enough" she offers us this newfound wisdom as she urges, "don't be afraid to fall."
We've come to love Badru's forthright lyrics coupled with her soft and whispery vocals, both elements that further fuel the other. In "Enough," Badru uses analogies from nature to compare to our personal journey of self — "If it didn't rain would the trees rise from the ground? If it didn't hurt would you be this strong now?" These references to nature also show glimpses of Aisha’s passion. If you've ever had the pleasure of hearing her live show you will probably know about the love she has for taking care of the world and its inhabitants. When she's not writing songs, she's growing her own fruits and vegetables and as of recent, beekeeping. Within this artist is a passionate, quiet strength that is harnessed into her songs and her own colorful and generous life. The Wild Honey Pie is pleased to remind you that Aisha Badru will be playing at Welcome Campers next month!
— Dara Bankole on April 15, 2019