Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
By nancy soriano-villa, CHARLotte IsIdore, Astrid Ortega, & Kaylie Minogue
Naia Lika - “Gas Station Bouquet”
21-year-old Naia Lika makes waves with her debut single “Gas Station Bouquet.” With subtly sultry vocals and pop-inspired R&B production, Lika steps out as an artist to watch. Deriving from an eight-song project put together in August 2022, this song is a bubbly contemplation on gratitude. Lika explains, “Creating the song was an impactful moment for me. I had just experienced one of the toughest years of my life and it was such a valuable opportunity to actually sit down and write about something positive in my life amidst all the negativity swarming my mind.” Bursting with joy and soulful grooves, “Gas Station Bouquet,” is the perfect song to start your day with — it’s a reminder that there is beauty in everything, even the bouquet wilting on the shelves of a random gas station.
maxime. - “mint condition (good as new)”
DIY in every sense of the word, maxime. is a self-release/produced/engineered musician from Canada. After moving to Montreal from Ottawa to pursue music full-time, maxime. has meticulously developed his unique, left-of-center sound. His expansive debut album whatevernowiscalled comprised an impressive 18-track mix of various different genres blending together to create a captivating experience. With the release of his next EP coming up in March 2023, maxime. teases his listeners with four singles, one of those being “mint condition (good as new).” maxime. layers gritty Alternative rock and bubbly bedroom pop together to create a tantalizing instrumental. His hazy vocals add to the already textured sounds producing a very infectious song.
CON THE ARTIST - “ALL MY FRIENDS”
“All My Friends” by CON THE ARTIST is a lighthearted pop song exploring the feeling of drifting apart from people as you grow up. CON THE ARTIST explains, “It's a song about seeing your friends living a life without you on social media and the bittersweet feeling of realizing that the friendships you once cherished have slipped away, whether it's due to distance, growing apart, or simply the passage of time.” With clever, cheeky lyrics and simple production, the song has a very sentimental feeling and plays on the feel-good energy of 2000’s indie music. The revered vocals at the beginning of the song add to the nostalgic vibe already created by the simple, indie-pop melody reminiscent of catchy indie-pop like Two Door Cinema Club. Give it a listen! We at Luna can’t seem to get it out of our heads.
Sarvady - “Something New”
Sarvady is a musician with roots in many different cultural hubs: Atalanta, Los Angeles, Madrid, and Brooklyn. She translates the lessons she’s learned in each place into blissful melodies and witty lyrics. “Something New,” is a textured genre-blending song that highlights the diversity of inspiration Savardy pulls from. Sarvady’s sleepy, sultry vocals add to the cool girl vibe of the song — making it the perfect track to take an evening walk with. At the tail end of the song, a sassy set of horns boosts the already groovy energy of the track, set up by the bassline, creating a tantalizing effect that makes you want to move your body.
Letting Up Despite Great Faults - “Halfway Crooks”
“Halfway Crooks” is a track that knows you can’t do anything meaningful halfway. The track immediately opens with driving, in your face, fuzzy guitars. The vocals of Annah Fisette quietly creep in and keep the listener hooked for the remainder of the track. The band, Letting Up Despite Great Faults wants their message to be clear in their latest single. If you’re going to do anything, be it a crook or a relationship, you should do it all the way. The track plays with this idea of going halfway by cycling between clean guitars and gritty noise. It’s a beautiful example of mixing the best elements of punk rock and twinkly indie dream pop. Behind the strategically mapped out noise is the story of a partner in a relationship who always seems to have one foot out the door. Relatable and rock-able, Letting Up Despite Great Faults makes a solid statement with their newest single.
Barrett Staples - “Starseed”
Genre bending is no match for Barrett Staples. His latest track “Starseed” showcases his unique vibe and production style. “Starseed” offers a little bit of everything, smooth vocals, RnB vibes and warbly indie guitar licks that tie it all together. The idea of a starseed is someone that is in touch with a spiritual higher place or even simpler someone that’s an old soul. In this case, Staples knows a special person when he sees one and makes the listener feel like they’re in the spotlight throughout the track. If you’re having a rough day turning on Staples latest single can quickly turn it around. Staples is bringing good vibes and having fun with his music. And we can’t forget to mention that he’s the first musician to ever cook chicken live on stage.
PLEASEBENICE - “TO BE OKAY”
Harmony can be found in PLEASEBENICE’s new single, “TO BE OKAY.” The track captures the lightness of relief through instrumentals and layered vocals. The elements are only fitting to the title. Although upbeat, there’s still that melancholic hope lingering around. PLEASEBENICE uses that feeling and sound of indie pop, hip-hop and rock to show us the complicated nature of finding love as a trans person in which society has not been completely accepting. Even then, she takes us with her through these experiences via her music and that’s all we can ask for. “TO BE OKAY” is a single from her upcoming LP, which is her first funded project and expected to come out in March 2023. Take a listen and catch up on PLEASEBENICE in anticipation for her new project.
Frank Ivy - “New State of Mind”
According to the Bay area based indie artist Frank Ivy, “New State of Mind” encapsulates “moving on from the past, and not letting anything hold you back. This synthwave track makes the perfect hit to add to any of your seasonal playlists as it motivates you to put your growth into action. The catchy keys twinkle in the background as the driving tempo pushes you forward. It’s a great pick-me-up song for those days where not even retail therapy is enough! Frank Ivy’s first release of the year brings much anticipation for his future singles that are coming out on March 24th.
SASH - “ROSSI”
How would Valentino Rossi feel riding through New York City as if it’s a MotoGP course? SASH’s new track “ROSSI” pays homage to the former Italian professional motorcycle road racer. The track features an electrifying beat that adds a cinematic quality to the imagined drive. As a seventh generation New Yorker himself, SASH’s love for the city is showcased in the accompanying music video that imagines SASH as a motorcyclist. Larger than life, SASH is “bending corners, Valentino Rossi.” If you’re looking to add moodier music into your rotation, look out for SASH and his upcoming music in the months to come.
