Now Listening: This Week's Tracks

 

By Rufaro chiswo, Charlotte isIdore, Kaylie Minogue, astrid ORTEGA

 
 

Sabrina Movitz - “Say My Name”

In her latest single “Say My Name,” Sabrina Movitz invites us into her inner space — contemplating the ways her actions led to a falling out with a partner. With striking vulnerability, this song seems to be an outward way for the artist to work through her role in the end of her relationship. The stacked vocal harmonies adds a haunting air to the song, pushing on the themes of self-loathing. Whether you’re going through a tough breakup or looking for a good cry, this song is for you. Listeners lucky enough to snag a ticket to Sabrina’s sold out release show on June 23 on in washington, DC will get to see this enchanting song live!

Matilda Mann - “In Plain Sight”

Matilda Mann’s new single “In Plain Sight,” is a breath of fresh air to ring in the warmer months. Transport into a tranquil state with her buttery vocals and plucky guitar sounds. The lyrics are the cherry on top of this delicate and beautiful track  — Matilda expands on the inspiration behind the track, stating ““I think it’s crazy, out of all the people in the world, you manage to find someone so perfect for you, hidden in plain sight.” With an EP coming out in the future, this song serves as a window into the wonderful world of Matilda Mann. 

CATBEAR - “I’ll Meet You at the End”

South London based indie duo CATBEAR brings joy and a sprinkle of existentialism to life with their new single, “I’ll Meet You at the End”. The track features big production that pulls you in right at the start and keeps you tapped in as the story unfolds. At the end of the day, it's is a “love song for the apocalypse”.  It inspires hope that two people that once loved each other can find one another again right at the end of the world. “I’ll Meet You at the End” is held together by driving drum machines and an explosion of sound at each chorus. The songs' epic subject matter mixes with sweet vocals and glittering synths creates a perfect balance that makes a stunning track. CATBEAR falls in lines with other alternative greats like CHVRCHES but adds their own flair to create something entirely unique to the indie scene. 

Commander Commander - “off-white glove”

Commander Commander is a bit tricky to pin down, but what we do know from Soundcloud is that they’re based  in NYC and are delivering high quality vibes through their sound. Their latest single “off-white glove” comes shrouded in mystery. The single starts off with a signature rhythm guitar pattern before expanding with an r&b inspired groove. “off-white glove” develops naturally from the get go, leaning in with a standout synth solo for the bridge. The track then takes up the addition of doubled vocals and subtle harmonies. We’re lead to the end of the song by a peacefully arpeggiated guitar solo. By the end, Commander Commander completely opens up the song, utilizing every musical element that floated through and culminating with a musically dense and intriguing conclusion. It's a track that invites you to come on a journey and if you except you're in for an incredible listening experience. 

Haawa - “say it”

With a unique take on hip-hop with hints of electronica coupled with her soulful and raspy tone, Haawa’s latest release, “say it” sees the artist allow listeners a glimpse into her inner life.  The track manages to seamlessly blend a wistful and instantly memorable bassline, acoustic guitar chords and elements of traditionally electronica sounds sprinkled throughout the song. This is only punctuated by the song’s bouncy flow which is accentuated by Haawa’s acute sense of rhythm which lends itself to catchy lyrical delivery that plays around with rap and vocals. Created with the intention of recreating the atmosphere of easy-going days spent strolling through Brooklyn with her partner, “say it” is a laid-back track that will quickly have you replaying it over and over - and it gets better with every listen. For fans of Kilo Kish, Aluna, and Santigold Saleh, this is definitely something you’d want to add to your library. 

Dang Clēts - “Indigo”

Blending elements of indie-rock and folk is the LA-based trio, Dang Clēats (they also go by dc) creates a naturalistic and wistful mood with the aptly named song “Indigo”. The track is from their first full-length record, Plans, or rather as they would put it “a compilation of reflections stemming from the absurdity of having thought you had a piece of life mapped out”. “Indigo” is a great example of how this record hits all of those notes with the song’s meandering tempo, gentle vocals and drowsy baseline, all the while maintaining a sense of brightness with the use of gleaming guitars. 

girlhouse - “gen x boyfriend”

The moment girlhouse’s latest EP, the fourth EP, begins, you know you’re in for a worthwhile listening. Opening with hard-hitting distorted drums and spiralling guitars then plunging you down into the introductory verse is “gen x boyfriend”. A euphoric, frenetic, and anthemic track, “gen x boyfriend” packs a punch within its 1:44 runtime. The biting and brash track is a rather different turn for girlhouse (Lauren Luiz) who has become known for dreamy bedroom pop sounds but she decided to experiment with shredding guitars and heart-stopping drums on “gen x boyfriend”. This showstopper was co-written with Jon Bryant with the goal of depicting a tumultuous relationship between a twenty-something and (as the title points out), her Gen X boyfriend. “I used to be super into older guys into my 20s and they were all obsessed with moulding me into the perfect partner and making me believe me back. It’s always about control,” says Luiz. This lively song tells the story of the complexity of this relationship and soundtracks what Luiz describes as “the survivalist dissociating and feeling like they’ve finally found ‘the one’”. 

Alex Siegel x THE CHARM PARK - “Fireflies”

Sugary sweetness is a recurring theme in Alex Siegel's music. An acoustic guitar riff and some soothing vocals set the tone for the track, drawing the listener in with its gentle melody. As the song progresses, layers of elements are added, creating a lush and dreamy atmosphere. Siegel's lyrics are often introspective and emotional, exploring themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. His voice is soft and comforting, adding to the overall sense of warmth that permeates his music. "Fireflies" features THE CHARM PARK, a Japan based artist and Berklee alumni, who inspired Siegel to create this track and collaboration. Siegel says, "The record I was listening to finished and other songs began to play, and suddenly a track came on that I'd never heard before, and it really caught my ears - it was 'ad meliora' by THE CHARM PARK. I thought to myself, we could make something beautiful together..." Thus, “Fireflies” was created and brought to us as a gift of warmth. 

Despite its saccharine quality, there is a depth to Siegel's work that sets it apart from other singer-songwriters in the genre. He has a gift for crafting melodies that stick with you long after the song has ended, leaving you humming along for hours afterwards. With each new release, Siegel continues to refine his sound and push himself creatively, cementing his place as one of the most promising young artists in indie folk today. 

Jackie Lipson - “Chemicals”

Jackie Lipson's latest single, "Chemicals," is bursting at the seams with optimistic drive and grandiose aspirations. The opening of the song is captivating and draws you in, before gradually enveloping you. Jackie can tell you countless stories about how the body's chemistry can blur the boundaries of control. The song's chorus opens up, as if the mixed emotions are finally being released, and the singer is pleading to be freed from the "mix of Chemicals." Jackie mentions, "I want the listener to understand and connect with the feeling of helplessness and the lack of control of untreated mental illness. The pre-chorus ‘call me the pharmacist, I’m making my own medicine. Or just a narcissist, stuck inside my head again’ describes imposter syndrome, a state where it becomes difficult to trust your own experience and, in this case, begin to believe that your anxiety and depression are in fact just narcissism in disguise."  The power of chemicals on the human body is undeniable. Jackie's experiences have shown them just how much our chemistry can affect our behavior and emotions. The way that chemicals can blur the lines of control is a fascinating and often terrifying phenomenon. Jackie's plea to be freed from the "mix of Chemicals" is a powerful statement about the hold that these substances can have on us.

 

Listen

We can’t wait for our upcoming NYC show with @arayaworld @fetchtiger & our new addition @gildedlily222 🎉 Get your tickets now - link in bio 🎫
Have you listened to our first episode of ‘Off The Record’ yet? We kick things off with @akidnamedrufus to talk everything from immigration to gender identity & boy is this a good chat 💛 Listen at the link in our bio 🎧
@cr1tter.n3t by @maloriekerouac for our 20th issue 🌱

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