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Rostam - These Kids We Knew
Rostam - These Kids We Knew

Rostam - These Kids We Knew


"These Kids We Knew," the latest single from ROSTAM, addresses climate change with an assertive, but hopeful hand. Lushly produced simple strums are a warm background for the contrastingly harrowing subject matter. Written while Rostam was recovering from Covid-19 last March, the song chronicles Gen-Z putting an older generation on metaphorical trial in "sidewalk courts" for the state in which they've left the Earth's climate. We see the lasting effects already with what's going on in Texas as we speak, unprepared for the temperatures they are now withstanding. It's not a far-off future that Rostam conceptualizes in this track, so with young activists like Greta Thunberg and Leah Thomas as key leaders in the climate revolution, change may still be on the horizon. Rostam's hopeful outlook might inspire that generation to believe that it's not too late to hold these harbingers of destruction accountable for their part in causing this crisis. You'd just have to wait for them to get back from Cancún first. Photo by Olivia Bee

Ysabella Monton on February 19, 2021
Perfume Genius - Nothing At All

Perfume Genius - Nothing At All


This [Perfume Genius] record came out during the hottest week of the year for us, in the middle of lockdown, and I was aching to be anywhere other than in my house. It was perfect timing because this whole record and particularly this song transports me. It’s enormous and close at the same time, and that line "I’ve got what you need, son, nothing at all" breaks my heart. I’m probably misinterpreting it, I hope I am, because the way I understand it is painful. — Fenne Lily

Fenne Lily first emerged within the indie spotlight in 2018 after her self-released album On Hold was discovered via online music platforms. Since then, she has amassed over a million monthly listeners on Spotify and toured with indie superstar Lucy Dacus. Photo by Camille Vivier.

Lilly Rothman on September 30, 2020
Fleet Foxes - Sunblind

Fleet Foxes - Sunblind


September 21 welcomed the first day of autumn and a brand new album from the Seattle-based folkies, Fleet Foxes. “Sunblind,” the second cut off of Shore, is a bright and lush eulogy of influences and contemporaries. Throughout the track, frontman Robin Pecknold names off around nineteen artists that have both had an effect on Pecknold’s life and have passed away at a young age. Though the song deals with death, it never comes across as mournful, at least not in a traditional sense. Pecknold vows to carry on the legacy of Elliott Smith, Arthur Russell and a handful of others through his own music, celebrating and honoring by creating music under their influence. Instrumentally, “Sunblind” reflects the same idea, rising to a crescendo under sunny guitars and warm vocals. Fleet Foxes are a great band, and “Sunblind” finds the ensemble squinting to the heavens as they cite some of the sources of their success. Photo by Emily Johnston.

Jonah Minnihan on September 30, 2020
cehryl - Superbloom

cehryl - Superbloom


There’s a special kind of innocence tied to the tumultuous journey of an immature love. From the spirited beginnings that paint our worlds crimson red all the way through to the disillusioned end, an immature love is often one that we cannot forget. The Hong Kong native cehryl simulates these mercurial highs and lows in her charming release “superbloom.” The lo-fi bedroom pop track is minimal in nature yet speaks volumes of its own in such a short amount of time. Utilizing story-like lyricism to guide the song in a poetic fashion, and a youthful soundscape to maintain a sense of innocence, cehryl unfolds a good-natured love that is not quite yet able to bloom. In the words of the young creative, “['superbloom'] is about the death of immature love.” The song sees itself as the artist’s third 2020 release following "Hide n Seek / Moon Eyes” and a “Together Lonely” remix with Tim Atlas. Although “superbloom” is much shorter than the former tracks, it’s definitely one you’ll find yourself listening to on a loop!

Bianca Brown on September 30, 2020
Shannon Lauren Callihan - Love You Right

Shannon Lauren Callihan - Love You Right


Nashville-based R&B/soul singer-songwriter Shannon Lauren Callihan delivers a romantic groove that is sweet and sultry in its proclamations. “Love You Right” is a track that is full of sweet-somethings, one of my favorite lines being, “I don't need no shiny things / Just want the joy your smile brings / It's in the way you look at me.” Reminiscent of the modern sounds of Natalie Prass and Tom Misch, while infusing elements of classic soul, Callihan is an artist you can listen to and satisfy any mood. Smooth vocals mixed alongside funky bass and an air of vinyl crackle creates a sound that could be described as both modern and timeless. A multi-instrumentalist known for her guitar playing, Callihan started releasing singles in 2019 and shows no sign of slowing down. Working with Nashville producer Jude Smith, she is focused on putting out more music and solidifying her place in the world of neo soul. Photo by Sydney Conrad.

Beck on September 30, 2020
Belle and Sebastian - Sleep The Clock Around

Belle and Sebastian - Sleep The Clock Around


I was given Write About Love on CD when I was 12 and I listened non-stop for years, and then got to a point where I kind of disregarded music I’d loved and reinvented my taste for no reason. Like I was rebelling against myself. So there was a long period of time where I forgot about Belle and Sebastian and recently this track came on a discover playlist, something like that, and I felt so stupid for leaving them behind. A perfect melody — it’s so simple, I tried to play it myself and it sounds shit, too empty, it’s that constant harmony that makes it so addictive. Everything about the arrangement is essential, nothing goes to waste. I’m also getting more and more obsessed with finding The Perfect Snare Sound, which I know seems boring, but this one’s a really, really good snare. — Fenne Lily

Fenne Lily’s sophomore album, BREACH, is nothing short of a feminist masterpiece. Her song writing brims with confessional authenticity and poetic self-awareness. Many of the tracks from this album confront the intermediate space between love and loss, providing a soundtrack to the grey areas of our life.

Lilly Rothman on September 29, 2020
Jamila Woods - Sula (Hardcover)

Jamila Woods - Sula (Hardcover)


Jamila Woods’ Toni Morrison–inspired “SULA (Hardcover)” has a sensual groove, and revolves around what it means for her to be in her own body. She rejects the notion that women should be submissive when it comes to their sexuality, stating “I don’t wanna make no babies / I don’t need a man to save me” in a sharp, searing tone. “Freedom and triumph, they weren’t meant for me / Girls of my color find something else to be / I’m better / I’m better,” she then sings effortlessly over the rollicking beat. As an empowered Black woman, she reflects on the boxes Black women have been forced into for centuries, and in turn creates a sonic oasis where she can feel comfortable being herself without having to worry about society’s pressures closing in on her. A fascinating exploration of the erotic and the unique kind of intimacy that one can only have with themselves, “SULA (Hardcover)” is a moving anthem of self-love and bodily autonomy. Listen on Bandcamp or wherever you stream.

Paige Shannon on September 29, 2020
The Undercover Dream Lovers - Drive Thru

The Undercover Dream Lovers - Drive Thru


Out of isolation comes an abundance of passion and articulation of the inner landscape of the artist’s mind. This is true and evident in the release of “Drive Thru” from The Undercover Dream Lovers. Throughout the duration of isolation, Matt Koenig spent his time pouring into an album which was written in its entirety over the course of the ongoing quarantine. “Drive Thru” is a synth-infused structure with layers of Matt Koenig’s silk-like vocals rippling over a compelling groove of a beat. This track provides a sound that evokes the feelings of a night drive with someone, beholding an undeniably enticing energy; it is a melodious bubbling over of connection, care and depth.

Laney Esper on September 29, 2020
Juni Habel - Run Dry

Juni Habel - Run Dry


From Norwegian singer/songwriter Juni Habel comes “Run Dry,” a delivery, as if from nature, made of an honest emotional outpour through instrument and voice. On her second single, not only does she sing with ethereal character, but she uses her voice intuitively to welcome her listeners into a romantically trying experience. Over gorgeous guitar arpeggiation, she sings with confessional spirit that longs for a response greater than the one she has been given thus far. Habel’s storytelling abilities are governed by her ability to express corresponding feelings through melodic interpretation, and her images of human interaction are painfully accessible. It is clear that she is in touch with something beyond us—perhaps beneath us. Photo by Andrea Hovik.

Daphne Ellis on September 29, 2020
Faye Webster - Better Distractions

Faye Webster - Better Distractions


Faye Webster’s latest single “Better Distractions” further cements her laid-back sound, which comes together to be an unexpected combination of R&B, classic country and indie rock. “Got two friends that I could see, but they got two jobs and a baby / I just wanna see you,” Webster croons longingly over slide guitar, a bassline that is hard not to sway along to and delicate keys that brighten up the track. The verses are breathless sentences of boredom and yearning that swell into a singular message as she repeats, “Will you? Will you? Will you? Will you? Will you? Will you be with me?” The accompanying video furthers the dreamy and detached feeling of the song as Webster seemingly floats through her day singing deadpan into the camera. This hazy dissociative quality is somewhat of a through line in Webster’s work, and it pairs well with her distinctive vocals that are impossibly both pleading and detached. Photo by Brandon McClain.

Corey Bates on September 25, 2020
Raye Zaragoza - They Say

Raye Zaragoza - They Say


Folk singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza challenges the proverbial "American Dream" on “They Say,” a song that demands to be heard. "They say that folk music's for the elite," the Mexican, Native American and Japanese-American Zaragoza sings, confronting gentrification of the genre head-on. These exclusionary practices date back to Indigenous folk artists such as Buffy Sainte-Marie being blacklisted by American media in the 70s and 80s for their political music, deemed then as controversial and taking away from folk music's heart; it was meant to tell honest stories for all to hear, and Zaragoza reclaims it with grace. For Zaragoza, existing in a genre that doesn't typically make space for Indigenous women is a political act in itself. "They Say" points out lies people of color have been fed about health care (it will "never come cheap") and how all it takes to be happy is a little hard work ("just get another job"). Zaragoza doesn't hesitate to address the disparity of romanticizing an ideal not actually attainable by the very Americans who give texture and color to the fabric of this country. “Who’s gonna sing for me?” she asks, daring her "elite" counterparts to take a stand as clear as her own. No stranger to being the voice of protest, Zaragoza first gained traction with her 2016 track “In The River,” which protested the Dakota Access Pipeline. There lies an even grander statement in the title of her upcoming record, Woman In Color, insisting that she cannot be muted. Woman In Color will be released on October 23 via her own label, Rebel River Records. Photo by Cultivate Consulting.

Ysabella Monton on September 25, 2020

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