ST.MARTiiNS - My Girl
“My Girl,” the newest single from Scotland-based indie-pop duo ST.MARTiiNS, is easygoing and smooth. With a catchy melody and a nice, breezy groove, the track is the definition of chill vibes. Muffled percussion helps the song feel comfortable and close, reminiscent of loose dancing in a tight space with somebody you love. A psychedelic bass sets the beat while cool, wavy guitars lower the lights, casting the arrangement in a dreamy, atmospheric glow. Clear production accentuates vocalist Katie Lynch’s unique, velvety vocals as she sings about the ups and downs of female friendships. “My girl” is luscious and fun—the perfect track to help you transition from summer to fall.
— Britnee Meiser on September 20, 2019Christinna O - Don’t That Make You Mad
19-year-old, Philly-based Christinna O just released her debut album, Girl in Passing, and its stand-out track, “Don’t That Make You Mad,” calls out anyone who delights in watching others fail. The track is a smooth, grooving melody that shows off the young artist’s skills in R&B and poetry. A funky, jaded guitar riff and chilled-out tambourine taps introduce the song before Christinna O dives right into her title line—“I still find the beauty in it, don’t that make you mad?” Her message is clear from the beginning: success is the greatest revenge against someone who wants to see you fall. The compelling and catchy track reminds us not to waste our time worrying about what other people are doing. In the song, she wonders aloud, “what about your happiness?” before driving her point home with the line, “don’t you miss your own dream tripping over me.” Christinna O’s prowess as a spoken-word poet is evident in her lyricism (lines like “And I can be sweet with my tongue but I can draw blood if I want”) as well as her cadence, which builds and drops like a rollercoaster ride. In the end, she laughs off her critics with a repeated, “oh you mad, huh?” and lets us know that she’s not worried about anyone that’s worried about her.
— Brigid Moser on July 29, 2019Bon Iver - Faith
Bon Iver is releasing new singles! Praise heaven and earth and whatever god he's singing about on 22, A Million (his genre-shattering 2016 LP.) Following his singles "Hey Ma" and "U (Man Like)," comes "Faith," the newest single in a series of releases that can only mean a new album will be dropping in the coming months. A bit quicker paced than his two previous releases, "Faith" follows this fresh Bon Iver formula that consists of organic, atmospheric lyricism and soul-touching sound that is quite difficult to describe. The only thing we can wholly describe is the way it makes us feel, which seems to be precisely the point of Justin Vernon's music. Some poets and musicians have the uncanny ability to reach the heart of a matter with perfect language. As a succinct and visceral artist, Bon Iver falls under this category. His song "Faith" does not fall short—it's evenly exceptional, emotional, and lovely. Bon Iver's music speaks to everyone differently, making him one of the most influential and transcendent voices in music today.
— Hannah Lupas on July 29, 2019BEABADOOBEE - SOREN - BEDROOM SESSION
“Soren” is a hushed, yet mighty serenade of love from the lips of Bea Kristi, aka beabadoobee. This stripped-down version of the track, which appears on her album Loveworm (Bedroom Sessions), was recorded in her bedroom with just her lullaby voice and acoustic guitar. The 19-year-old singer-songwriter is refreshingly prolific, releasing this acoustic version of her album Loveworm, which was released months before, with even more work on the way. With her bold colored hair and her sincere charmingness, Bea invites us into her space to hear of her muse, “Soren."
— Laney Esper on July 29, 2019Papooz - Moon Pie
"Moon Pie" is a silky, sweet love song from Parisian pop duo Papooz. The two look like soft-rockers sucked from a time warp—with long shaggy hair, exaggerated collared shirts and flare jeans, their vibe is dripping late '60s / early '70s. Their musicality isn't a dead ringer for this decade (or era), but it's just as solid. While most of their music carries softer, indie pop vocalization (similar to Perfume Genius), this track is far more simplistic and stripped down, in a vintage rock kind of way—think Mac DeMarco but closer to the mic. Some of the harmonies are so pleasant and attention-grabbing, they rival the likes of Simon and Garfunkel or Flyte for a more contemporary reference. The duo's vocal chemistry is particularly evident on their track "Dorothy Says." That being said, Papooz remains far from cuddly by keeping an ostentatious, hard-rock front in making the cover art of this single a cartoon version of themselves blowing out candles on a boob cake. Whatever your initial impression of them may be, Papooz undeniably feel like a summer staple band. Play "Moon Pie" while you're winding down tonight. You won't regret it.
— Hannah Lupas on July 26, 2019Camp Howard - Don’t Say Shit You Don’t Mean
The Wild Honey Pie is proud to premiere “Don’t Say Shit You Don’t Mean,” the newest track from Richmond-based Buzzsession alums and Larabar enthusiasts Camp Howard. Both precise and seemingly effortless, the track grooves with an intensely lazy energy. It’s a sound that should be sloppy, but this young band’s relentless performance schedule has trained them well. Camp Howard has, in many senses, broken out of their hometown—they toured nationally with the legendary Stone Temple Pilots—but they’re still rooted firmly in the Richmond scene, a scene whose support allowed them to forge their sound in the fires of the opportunity to (or perhaps struggle to) play shows every night of the week. Though evident from one song alone, the band’s versatility is truly unmistakable with perspective on their whole catalogue. Nic Perea, one of the bands two singers, occasionally pens lyrics in Spanish—and other band members admit to singing backup on lyrics they don’t pretend to understand—but “Don’t Say Shit You Don’t Mean” is as clear-cut and direct as they come. Weston Parker, the other lead vocalist and writer of the track, draws firm lines after issuing the titular command—“I won’t cook / You won’t clean,” he sings, delineating responsibilities definitively, before waffling a bit, expanding his lines to fit in his more complicated emotions. “After all this wasted time / It’s doubtful that you even care,” he sings hurriedly, but the infections groove puts complex emotions aside to reinforce the chorus: “It’s alright.” Camp Howard’s new album Cañón is out October 11th.
— Daniel Shanker on July 25, 2019Ashe - Cold in California
California native Ashe delivers supple, introspective songs, flush with lush imagery. The LA-based songstress has been on a winning streak since she dropped her debut in 2017 via Mom+Pop Music, building momentum with tours alongside The Chainsmokers, Shaun Frank, LAUV, Louis The Child, Hobo Johnson, Quinn XCII and executing notable electronica collaborations with Big Gigantic. Major advertising syncs and glowing press from The New York Times and Teen Vogue have only bolstered her indie cred. Her newest offering, the delicate acoustic affair "Cold in California," is a Dylan-esque ode to the love/hate relationship she's developed with her home state. The somber chord changes elicit the existential angst that accompanies those unwelcoming, overcast LA days. “I love California and I also despise it," Ashe told Ones to Watch earlier this month. "I’m from California and in many ways, this song is more about me than the place itself. Nothing is ever one-sided or perfect or right all the time." Check out the single here and be sure to peep the newest dates on Ashe's first headlining tour.
— Mike Olinger on July 24, 2019DJ ST THOMAS - FODDER
“FODDER,” the debut single from New York-based electro artist DJ ST THOMAS, is a dynamic, experimental pop song with an infectiously funky beat. The track effortlessly pieces together a mishmash of sounds to create a psychedelic jam with an earworm hook. Lush with bright, groovy synths and tight, island-like percussion, it bops to a pulse that flows easily with DJ ST THOMAS’s laid-back vocal as he sings about love and complacency in the age of social media. The production is crystal clear and razor-sharp, resulting in a sound that’s full and immersive without feeling too loud or overbearing. Abstract and rhythmic, “FODDER” should top all your summer party playlists. Look out for his EP, MATRIMONY, later this year.
— Britnee Meiser on July 24, 2019Julien Chang - Of the Past
Nineteen-year-old Julien Chang’s debut single, “Of the Past,” is an artful blend of genres and sounds. Reflecting Chang’s music theory background, the sprawling arrangement seamlessly merges pop melodies with psych-rock riffs, disco/funk, and transfixing jazz instrumentals for an immersive and surprising listening experience. Deep, wavy synths wash the song in a hazy glow as a classic rock guitar and funky bass line introduce Chang’s vocal. Breezy and smooth, the timeless doubling effect is reminiscent of a younger Tame Impala. The vocals are brief, occupying only the first third of the song; the rest of the time, the music does the talking. Perhaps most striking is the sweeping classical piano solo in the bridge—the messy wide-scale run has an unrelenting persistence that reflects the tonal freedom of the rest of the song. “Of the Past” is complex and original, and it signifies a deep understanding of the science of music.
— Britnee Meiser on July 23, 2019Florist - Time Is A Dark Feeling
“Time Is A Dark Feeling” is an emblem of the holistic incandescence that surrounds all creative endeavors of Florist, or Emily Sprague. This track is the second released from her upcoming LP Emily Alone, which is a departure from the Florist project, and in turn, a new submergence into self-reflection. In Sprague’s ever-thoughtful lyrics, there is something ancient being unearthed in terms of recognizing the oneness, as well as the multivalence of the self, which is reminiscent of, American poet, Adrienne Rich’s piece “Diving into the Wreck”. Of her exploration, her hushed voice sings: “Look through to see somebody / You knew and now you don’t”—gracefully brushing, her fingers through the passing of time that we all feel in separately, but know together.
— Laney Esper on July 22, 2019Molly Drag - Out Like A Light
When someone you love causes you pain, it hurts until it doesn’t. Montreal-based artist, Michael Charles Hansford, who creates under the moniker, Molly Drag, realizes the weight of dealing with his own dark nostalgia on his latest single, “Out Like A Light.” As the first track from his upcoming record, Touchstone, we find a piece that moves like a steadily rocking boat—it’s swirling guitars offset by a relaxed, tittering rhythm. Hansford mentions, “While I was recording this album I started thinking about my hometown a lot, the small places within, the parks where I would smoke with my friends after school, the water that surrounded us always.” With the addition of sprite overdubs and subtle synth tones, Hansford creates a pool of gloom that is reminiscent of prior love and given life by the breath of the lyricism. “Out Like A Light” is the heart of Touchstone, which is set for release on October 4 via EggHunt Records—the track's natural beating is sure to unveil a record with a striking awareness, a gift to his past life.
— Deanna DiLandro on July 22, 2019