Slow Dress is the Boston-based duo of Katie Solomon and Bredon Jones. Together they craft contemplative indie-folk songs. Their latest single, “Butterfly,” promises a life saturated with feeling. It is a commitment to experience everything fully, no matter how uncomfortable. “I don’t want to follow their feet. I want bare toes even in the snow and the sleet,” Solomon sings, dedicating herself to the necessary discomfort that comes with open awareness. Better frostbitten than oblivious, she insists. In a statement accompanying the release of “Butterfly,” the band wrote, “...it’s about watching people, especially those with money and privilege, close their hearts and minds to what is happening in the world.” The song illuminates the possibilities that emerge when we turn our focus outward. The butterfly in question isn’t taking flight; its body is fixed to the kitchen wall, like a pressed flower in a frame. “Admire,” Solomon urges, and for a moment, you pause to do just that. “Butterfly” is available for purchase and streaming, with half of all proceeds going to National Bail Out, Black & Pink, and mutual aid funds.

London trio Girl Ray have dropped a new single to set a groovy tone for their upcoming sophomore LP. "Show Me More" tells the story of a classic back and forth, when things feel right but "your boo is playing savage games." Lines like "Don't give me these highs then leave" capture the will they/won't they energy of an unhurried summer fling that simply needs a nudge to evolve into something more. The chic tune gravitates towards a mainstream hook and poppy bassline, aided by the springy production of Ash Workman, whose credits include Christine and the Queens and Metronomy, for whom Girl Ray will be opening this fall. "Show Me More" is polished and sleek without losing the handcrafted haze at the heart of Girl Ray. Girl is due out on November 8 through Moshi Moshi Records.

Common Holly delivers another take on human growth and restlessness with the second single, “Joshua Snakes,” from her forthcoming sophomore album When I say to you Black Lightning. Montreal singer-songwriter, Brigitte Naggar doesn’t shy away from the self-delusion and pain that manifests in her own head. "Joshua Snakes" embodies the search for a calm and peaceful place amongst constant chaos and self-doubt. Naggar’s airy, smooth vocals coast along as she lets out her poignant lyrics, “I’m tied against the tracks / But I can’t figure out the ending.” Things step further into disarray as the instrumentation becomes more brash and bold toward the latter half of the track. Punchy guitar kicks in and uncertainty seems to be circling as Naggar leads us to the end, asking “Can’t get enough, can we?” In the end, we’re left wondering who really wins in this back-and-forth, an inner fight with ourselves that we've all experienced in one form or another. When I say to you Black Lightning is out on October 11 via Barsuk/Solitaire.

Breezy indie-pop duo slenderbodies’ new single, “arrival,” is as lush and atmospheric as a drive through the Redwoods. Awash in warm soundscapes and soaked in reverb, the arrangement is vibrant and tranquilizing; you’ll happily lose yourself in its calm, swaying beat. The opening notes are a sun-soaked rush of autumn air to your senses. Surreal, spacey synths set the mood, followed by slenderbodies’ signature silky vocals and lyrics that perfectly fit the bigger picture: “Bend around the road / I give away my silhouette / Nothing holds you like the sun / I'm youthful in the morning light.” Breathy and distinct, the harmonies are hypnotic. The clear, thoughtful production creates accessible clarity and allows you to hang onto their every word—even if you can’t always understand the lyrics. Relaxing and smooth, “arrival” is the definition of “chill vibes,” and is the perfect song to ease you into fall.

Leading up to the release of her first-ever solo album Jaime, Brittany Howard’s newest single “He Loves Me,” delves deep into Howard’s psyche through her relationship with religion. With her signature smooth musical stylings, Howard combines powerful preaching with her compelling vocals as she examines her positive relationship with God. With lyrics like “He still loves me when I’m smoking blunts,” Howard casts God in an all-loving, all-accepting light. Partnering sermon excerpts and thoughtful lyrics, “He Loves Me” provides a deeply personal outlook on religion—one that stands in contrast to how religion is so often portrayed today—and does so in an enchanting way.

Bon Iver meets The 1975 on “I’d Rather Lose a Fist Fight,” the electrifying debut single from Minneapolis songwriter and producer Bobby Rethwish. The hook-filled indie-pop track opens on an intimate note, with a muffled but sweet piano and one softly sung line to draw the listener in: “I’d rather lose a fist fight.” Suddenly, after a burst of white noise, the arrangement opens up to a colorful and energizing palette of sounds. Part dance-rock, part electro-indie pop, the song transcends genres. The instrumentation is lush with cheerful, atmospheric synths and samples; a pumping percussive beat on top of a persistent classical piano line; and capped off with a vibrant guitar solo. Rethwish’s vocal, reminiscent of Matt Healy’s, is grippingly pleasant; his passionate delivery and colorful array of harmonies force you to lose yourself in his words, even if you can’t always understand them. “I’d Rather Lose a Fist Fight” is a bright, invigorating mid-tempo jam that will appeal to a wide variety of tastes.

After putting out a single every month of 2017, Twin Peaks is finally teasing a new full-length album, Lookout Low, out September 13. The second single, “Ferry Song,” fully embraces a musical direction introduced in the Sweet ’17 Singles. “Ferry Song” was inspired by singer Colin Croom’s daily trips across the Mississippi River on a visit to New Orleans, but the song is steeped in the rich tradition of Chicago soul. With blaring choruses, gentle verses highlighted by rolling piano chords and lilting acoustic guitar riffs, a deeply groovy syncopated drumbeat, and the addition of a classic horn section, Twin Peaks is sounding more and more like their Windy City contemporaries, Whitney. Early comparisons may have pointed more towards The Rolling Stones, and the raucous outro provides some hints as to why. But it’s clear, as it will be if you catch them onstage on their upcoming tour, that Twin Peaks is mostly concerned with a good time—“Two dollars ain’t too bad / When you’ve got nowhere to go.”

LA-based Hana Vu returns with a new single “At the Party.” The post-punk-disco-synth track is danceable yet detached. Vu is vying for someone’s attention as she sings “I hope you’re at the party / when you hear my song.” The meta-narrative continues as she wonders if hearing her song will drive this person back to her, but her subdued droning vocals add a laissez-faire quality to the otherwise desperate call for attention. The 19-year-old artist blends the meaning with the sound—using a variety of synths and driving basslines to create a song that could feasibly be heard at a college party. The track is slow, deep, and sensual as she asks “does it make you fall in love with me?” “At the Party” is the first single from Hana Vu’supcoming double EP Nicole Kidman / Anne Hathaway due out October 25.