Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
Dreamer Boy - “ARE YOU LETTING GO” (feat. BENEE)
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Dreamer Boy (Zach Taylor) has paired up with New Zealand star BENEE on his latest single “ARE YOU LETTING GO?”
Recruiting BENEE on this poignant track strikes the perfect balance between emotional storytelling and ethereal melodies. The artists have joined forces to create a sweet song that Taylor describes was written as an SOS or smoke signal to another person. Taylor succeeds in emulating the feeling that comes with the lack of communication in a relationship, falling wistfully behind an vibrant, indie-pop background. BENEE’s warm vocals add an extra dimension to the track, and her velvety vocals intertwine with Taylor’s as they sing ‘are you leaving, leaving?’ The blazing guitar riff that is unleashed towards the end of the song is an exciting teaser of Taylor’s musical experimentation and what fans can expect from his new music.
Jordan Paul - “New Thang”
Amidst our generation’s preoccupation with pleasantly genre-less or genre-bending, feel-good tunes, newcomer Jordan Paul gives us a fresh offering with “New Thang.” Funk, nearly gospel-inflected, with a hazy guitar borrowed from the best of lo-fi indie (even a break-through guitar solo moment!) and notes from Jordan Paul’s native Kaua’i, “New Thang’” thrives off fusion. The song deals with another familiar preoccupation of our generation: navigating the tenuous start of a new relationship— over the phone. “Do I text you? Do I call you? Should I leave you a message?,” Jordan Paul sings, before swiftly following up the couple-existential worrying with the vexed cry, “I just want a new thang!”
“New Thang’s” strength comes from borrowing the best of old feelings, sounds, and finding a particular expression to them that feels both personal and approachable. It also shows us a version of Jordan Paul on the rise — we can’t wait for whatever newness he has in store for us next.
Sugarplum Fairies - “Sugarfree”
Sugarplum Fairies have reimagined their party crashing shoegaze anthem from the 90’s, and drenched the single in eerie and ethereal harmonic melodies. “Sugarfree” showcases the hauntingly breathy and gossamer vocals from frontwoman Silvia Ryder, and pairs them with orchestral dream pop synths that hypnotize and transport the listener into their own hazy dream sequence. With late Mazzy Star drummer, Keith Mitchell’s, drums featured on the track, “Sugarfree” is a song to simultaneously daydream and dance to. Archived footage has been pulled from the collection of Mercedes Helnwein and pieced together for the official music video to create an equally mystifying visual experience to coincide with the song. Sugarplum Fairies are just letting us have a sip of what they have in store on their upcoming album Alter Songs 1998-2021, set to release in December 2021.
honeywhip - “pineapple cloud”
honeywhip’s new single is worthy of the band’s name: the song sounds like whipped and latticed sugar — light, airy, golden warm, syrupy. Actually titled “pineapple cloud,” the single was inspired by the duo’s first road trip post-lockdown to the Bay. It was their first memory of a time not marred by pandemic worries, dreamed up while driving around listening to Japanese New Age mixes, going night swimming, feeling at ease. You can hear it in the optimistic, almost cheeky drumline, in the delicate synth progressions; the duo’s harmonies are decadent enough that you can almost feel the sun streaming across your shoulders, feel the clean air press against your cheeks, through your hair as you drive up the coast of California. A 2 minute, 24 second portrait of happiness.
Pete The Human Boy - “Let’s Be Hippies”
On his new track “Let’s Be Hippies”, Peter the Human Boy perfectly encapsulates what it might feel like to blissfully float through a field of daisies. The groovy tune creates a peaceful world to make you wonder what it might be like to stop everything and just be a hippy for a day. Like many far-out tracks of the past, the lyrics came to Pete while high one day and brought him to daydream about a “loving community of forever young and beautiful people”. Peter’s vocals carelessly linger above smooth indie guitar lines to eventually open up to a luscious string break down. “Let’s Be Hippies” is one of those tracks that let us take a breath of fresh air and enjoy a little bit of peace and love.
Mediocre - “Give In”
Mediocre’s new single, “Give In,” is fluffed with dreamy guitar notes and an airy sweet vocal flow. The track comes to no surprise on the sweet style that Mediocre encompasses. “Give In” grabs you instantly, feeling reminiscent to the bittersweet dreams of a lonely night. The instrumentals are what really moves the song, not many can capture feelings into their instrumentals but Mediocre does it elegantly. With the added vocals, the hint of pain lingering in the vocals really puts the song into motion. Relating to the title and subject, it’s a song that captures the daydreaming of just wanting to give in, knowing there is no hope left but wondering of what could be. It’s a track that will swiftly make you a fan of Mediocre.
Club Soccer - “Entertainment”
Club Soccer’s groovy baseline in their new single “Entertainment” will keep you dancing from start to finish. Nando Dale, on vocals and guitar, and Nico Brunstein, on bass, emphasize the importance of passion and production through the quality of their lyrics and their sound. Inspired by artists ranging from The Velvet Underground to The Marias, Club Soccer fuses dream pop with indie rock and jazz to create an amalgamation of trippy experimental sounds and lyrics about how confusing love and seduction can be. The music video accompanied by “Entertainment” depicts silly DIY sketch scenes involving a game show, a severed head, and of course, soccer, adding another layer of humor, fun, and authenticity to Club Soccer’s creative project.
Mazey Haze - “Don’t Care”
It’s hard to pinpoint whether “Don’t Care” is an anthem of independence or the musings of hopelessness manifesting itself as a lovely indie-pop tune. Amsterdam-based artist Mazey Haze released this new single on October 22nd as the final track from her new EP Always Dancing, also released the same day. Mazey Haze incorporates all of the best elements of indie-pop reminiscent of other female-led favorites like Alvvays and Snail Mail. The track comes with a muted and intriguing music video shot across the French countryside. Mazey and her bandmate star as the personifications of her inner turmoils and how they play out while she continues to work through them. On the track, Mazie describes it’s about “trying to get out of an endless spiral of hopelessness” and she used the experience of writing the song as a way to help herself out of that spiral. Her songs are driven by her “gut-instinct and intuition” making her lyrics raw and detailed. Put those lyrics on top of the dream-pop guitar and punchy drums and you get a perfectly balanced indie single. Be sure to check out her new EP Always Dancing out now.
Tommaso - “Sariná”
Chicago’s TOMMASO is starting his new solo endeavor. The songwriter, producer and artist has worked for many artists both on the road and in studio. TOMMASO combines indie pop with lo-fi elements to pull you in for a warm hug. “Sarina” is one you instantly like. The second you hear the sweet vocal of “Sarina” being sung, it’s like a kiss to the forehead. As the song goes on, TOMMASO creates a loving and exciting atmosphere in the track. With unique little elements that stick to you, “Sarina” is a powerful track that is the best way to get into TOMMASO. Listen to “Sarina,” dedicate it to someone or put it in a playlist for sunny days.
Neil Frances - “Be Free”
Los Angeles duo Neil Frances is bringing disco back to the forefront with their new single “Be Free”. The track opens up with an intoxicatingly groovy bass line that’s almost impossible not to dance along to. The group adds some spacey flairs with glittery effects and ethereal vocals. It’s obvious that Neil Frances wants to make people move and really be free when listening to their latest track.
Neil Frances, made up of Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry have spent the past year recording songs for their record in their Echo Park apartment. The duo just announced that their debut album, There Is No Neil Frances, is set to be released on January 28th, 2022. The album will take listeners to an “intergalactic dance party filled with disco beats and hazy 70’s grooves”. It sounds like the type of party we’d like an RSVP to!
KESHI - “Somebody”
keshi’s new single, “Somebody,” is as gorgeous and unremittingly cool as we could hope for. Carrying over tender and familiar elements from 2020’s EP always, the new release leans a little more into trap beats and production effects while leaving keshi’s vocals relatively untouched. The single is accompanied by a steamy music video directed by Sebastian Sdaigui. Set in a mansion full of old tv screens, flowers, dripped out models all in separate rooms and singing along, the video paints a picture that’s sultry and sinister, reflective of a simultaneous isolation and longing that feels heavily influenced by the past two years.
keshi is touring with LANY this October and November, and playing at very hype festival Head in the Clouds (hosted by 88rising), among the likes of Audrey Nuna, Joji and Saweetie.
Future Husband - “Ritual”
The debut single “Ritual” by Future Husband, a Dutch-Nigerian singer-songwriter, is a dreamy indie pop song with vulnerable lyrics about an incautious love interest. On the meaning of “Ritual,” Future Husband explains that “It can be hard to let go of the love you receive from someone who means very well but is reckless in the process of loving you. “Ritual” is a song about how hard it can be to realize what’s best for you while you’re in the middle of this.” Written and recorded with her bandmates and best friends in a teepee along the beautifully picturesque Dutch countryside, Grammy award-winner Scott Jacoby mixed the track in New York. In the upcoming months, anticipate more music to be released by Future Husband, as well as visuals to compliment her musical soundscape.
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weekly tunes playlist has been updated! new tracks from @furtradeband, @pecqband, @garryfool & more! check it out! https://t.co/ToFU0R6YGo -
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RT @oliviaborch: new @LunaCollective out todayyy shot by @alltookev ✨ @P1H_official editorial design by me ! https://t.co/cvSCKsWB5D
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RT @rlyblonde: @AnnieDirusso for @LunaCollective shot by me #35mm #portra800 https://t.co/0UUJSCBGcH