The new EP from LA-based Scarypoolparty (solo project of Alejandro Aranda), Doom Hologram, opens with “Return2Sender”—the first of an eight-track story, meant to be played in order. Lingering just under five minutes, “Return2Sender” encapsulates the feeling of watching raindrops roll down the window, as golden candlelight flickers and once-fresh flowers on the table slowly wither away. Throughout the ethereal track, the scent of broken promises is as fragrant as wilting roses, leaving the listener to once again taste the words they wish they’d said to someone (“You take my words and break me down / I wrote you letters just to say ‘I love you’ / And now I know that you would tear them all apart”). The track allows Aranda, an American Idol alum, to flex his pop sensibilities and brings to mind the exact inspirations referenced in the release’s press statement—that he “channels the prodigious dexterity of John Mayer overlaid with the ethereal pop of The 1975.” Aranda’s hurt is undeniably palpable, and this candor is the heartbeat that drives the song through its melodic turns and an aching acoustic interlude. But, as great art is so often made, Aranda turned heartache into a glowing and visceral connection with his listeners — and one they won’t soon forget. Photo by Nicole Busch.

Pensive and soulful, Yianna's latest, "If I Never Left" joins both "Heavy Waters" and "Hard Pill To Swallow" as her latest single before the heavily anticipated release of her debut EP. With a hopeful and emotional tone, this introspective track looks back at how the experience of a broken and unhealthy relationship can build one into an even stronger person than before. The titular lyrics "If I never left / I would be a different person than I am today" certainly evoke a feeling of triumph from a familiar pain. Powerful vocals and writing take this track to the next level and its R&B undertones make for a smooth sound that certainly has us excited for her next release.

Bedroom pop phenom Clairo blossoms into a refined, yet unflinchingly sincere songwriter on her debut album Immunity, released August 2 via FADER label. With "Softly," Clairo gives queer girls an outlet to dance around their bedrooms full of youthful infatuation. It captures the subtlety of a soft brush of fingers and stolen glances in the early stages of an innocent crush without the pressure of labels on a relationship or sexuality. Wistful lyrics over a lax, off-rhythm guitar melody improvised by Rostam further the song's whimsical energy. "I got this feeling / Telling me girl, I gotta know," she croons in a way that young queer girls can look up to, while also tugging at the heartstrings of older queer girls who felt confused and repressed. As a children's choir echos "I don't care what they say" in the background, Clairo asserts that she's exploring her sexuality on her own terms; she's "doing it differently," and although some look down upon queer love, this blissful feeling is the only thing that matters.

Indie pop artist Someone’s new song “Playground Love” sounds like walking through a dream. The opening track on her new EP, Airspace, showcases ambient, spacey synths, twinkling, reverberating keys and raw guitar tones working together to create soft, pumping mood music. Someone’s vocal, sung just above a whisper, is dark and velvet-smooth as she beckons her lover like a siren: “I’m your high school lover / And you’re my favorite flavor.” She holds your attention as the instrumentation builds, even when it’s not clear where her voice ends and the strings begin. The lush composition is mysterious and surprising, using slapping percussion and deep, swinging bass to give the song a pulse while amplifying the strings to emphasize the song’s hopeful, emotional center. Perfect for those quiet, contemplative hours of the night, “Playground Love” is soothing and surreal.

“Hologram Lover,” premiering today from Brooklyn-based songwriter and instrumentalist Jesse and Forever, is a lush and full amalgamation of pulsing, eerie soundscapes and catchy, head-bopping beats. The track is just two minutes long but has an arresting composition, packed most notably with nostalgic samples, a groovy bass line, and grungy, rippling guitar. Jesse Scheinin’s vocal—dreamy and wistful in a hypnotic soprano—is transfixing as it guides you through the arrangement, keeping you hooked even though specific lyrics are sometimes hard to make out. Hazy, atmospheric moments awash in oohs which are offset by strikingly clear lines like “You can lie to your friends but you can’t lie to me.” It’s a distorted but pleasant listening experience where latching onto the vocal forces you to lose yourself in the arrangement, and once more, you’ll love every second of it. Surrealist and vibrant, “Hologram Lover” is a unique and carefree party song.

Pearla, the folk-tinged project of Brooklyn-based songwriter Nicole Rodriguez, has a knack for evoking worlds that exist slightly off-center. On her recent release "Quilting", Rodriguez's imaginative lyricism is on full display as she weaves esoteric sentiment into her reflections on love and loss. Smoldering, dreamlike production and a kaleidoscope of sounds—like the creaking of a closing door, or humming overheard from the next room, settle like a haze over Rodriquez's steady folk lilt. Aching turns of introspection—"I should be fine on my own / I was born there / now I’m reaching out with both hands and nothings there"—pull us from the abstract into her inner world, where she parses through the notions of isolation and impermanence. Check out our recent Buzzsession with Pearla, where she performs two tunes from her upcoming release Quilting and Other Activities, out Sept 6 via Egghunt records.