Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
Jordy - “South Dakota”
While we are awaiting JORDY’S newest album- Mind Games, he is gifting us with the release of his newest song, “South Dakota” on November fifth. Within this nature-packed music video, we witness JORDY enjoying the outdoors while casually inspiring us viewers to do the same. Opening the song up with this first line, “Apparently the air quality in Southern California makes it harder to breathe”, we are quickly able to assume what this song is really about. We all need an escape of some sort, a place where we can clear our heads. For JORDY, and for many others, the fresh outdoor air is the perfect place to spend some alone time.
Carlie Hanson - “Snot” feat. Deb Never
Categorized as a Pop/Alternative Rock singer songwriter from Wisconsin, 21 year-old Carlie Hanson, is bringing back all of the early 2000’s punk rock vibes, with lyrics like “I like it when you piss me off,”. (avril lavigne style?!) With the music video for her new single “Snot”, which features Deb Never, Charlie is seen shaving her head while also getting new ink, all in honor of her mom. With nearly 69k followers on her instagram, (@carliehanson) she clearly is no stranger to a large fan base and we are sure that will only continue to grow as she keeps throwing us bangers!
Augustine - “Sweet Love”
With just a few notes, the groovy synths of “Sweet Love” with having you moving. Songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Augustine layers elements of chillwave with charming vocals for a warm, 70s like soundscape. “Sweet Love” serves as just a taste of his new debut album Weeks Above The Earth, a project that takes a peek into the vulnerable, love-sick side of Augustine. Paired with a dreamy visualizer that takes you on a journey. “Sweet Love” is a sweet start to the week to say the least.
Dad Bod - “Tenderness”
A twangy guitar and soft drums open the track; the sound of a plane flying away pulls the listener out. “Tenderness” by Dad Bod sounds and feels like a summer fling — and a nice beach vacation — coming to a close. The first lyrics try to undercut the lover in question, calling them a “skin-walker” and “soothsayer.” By the chorus, it’s clear that the singer is still in love. He sings “The same thing again/ Will be different next time.” Fighting his feelings won’t help, so instead he chooses to wait. The last chorus ends but the instruments continue for another minute — until the plane comes and it’s time to leave.
Callen - “What Could I Do”
Over gentle, finger plucked guitar, Callen reflects on childhood and letting go of the past on his new track, “What Could I Do”. A mixture of nostalgia and anxiety comes through in the tension of the melody. The song subtly builds with a steady kick drum that adds to the story as Callen spins himself in knots over unanswerable questions and past regrets.
Discussing the song, Callen says, “A good part of it is about wishing I didn’t take life so seriously growing up. Another part of it is a reflection on my letting go of previous relationships without really understanding any sort of closure. Together, those two reflections lead me to the chorus which is dealing with the anxiety that comes with retrospect and heartache aka shit that’s out of my control.”
An Hour A Minute - “Honeydew (Honey Don’t)”
Love and its many frustrations have never been more fun than on “Honeydew (Honey Don’t).”
With a clever play on words that the synth-pop duo An Hour a Minute was inspired by the summertime, the chorus literally teeters between “do” and “don’t” — being in a relationship versus wanting out. The lyrics describe an exhausting yet thrilling love, with lyrics like “I’ve been feeling idle in your head” and “Holding up my feet up to the fire,” respectively. The dreamy vocals and groovy guitars make for a danceable track that’s sure to land friends Darko and George more listeners.
Hunter - “Ur Bedroom”
While being a Chicago-based artist, producer and songwriter, Hunter- who is originally from Louisville KY, has just released his new single, “ur bedroom”. Giving us all the feels of a windows down summer road trip, we learned through the quote below that not only was his newest hit self produced and played completely by Hunter, himself, but that it was also written about a friendship-turned-romance
"When I first started working on this song, I had loads of complicated feelings after one of my best friendships inadvertently became more romantic. I wasn't really feeling it; the only thing I could think of was how nothing would really be the same anymore and I think we kinda scared each other off. I made this in my bedroom, it is self produced/engineered, and I played/sang every part aside from a single splice loop."
Wyona - “Real World”
Bedroom pop duo, Wyona, has returned with a brand new single to follow up their debut, “Get Back to Myself”. “Real World” offers glittering guitars and a questioning tone as the pair tries to find themselves amongst the uncertain chaos of defining yourself in adulthood. Peppered with lyrical gems like “I’m just a hopeful cynic,” the song showcases an aptitude for unique, thoughtful songwriting. In discussing the track, lead vocalist, Natalie, notes, “This song is for anyone who feels like they don’t fit into any perfect mould; it is okay to be anything, all things and nothing all at once.” The guitar driven pop of this new track offers a small taste of what’s to come from the slew of new music set to be released through the end of the year.
