Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
Margot Polo - βCan You Hear Me?β
In a dazzling and upbeat display of his emotions, David Provenzano, otherwise known as Margot Polo, releases a solo project he constructed during Quarantine. The sunny psychedelic and indie-pop-rock track βCan you hear me?β is blended with raw drums, hazy guitars, and vibrant electric bass.
While most people started picking up different hobbies during the Pandemic, Provenzano seized the opportunity to write, record, produce and mix this personal song about one of the most challenging years of his life: 2020. βCan you hear me?β is the essence of his thoughts and feelings swirling around in his head during the isolating time COVID-19 brought.
James Blake - βFamous Last Wordsβ
If you havenβt heard of James Blake, you are obviously living under a rock. The Grammy award winning artist releases his new single, βFamous Last Words.β One thing that always sticks out from his music is Blakeβs vocals. They are strong yet sensitive and we can definitely hear that in this new single. βFamous Last Wordsβ is his third track from his upcoming fifth studio album, Friends That Break Your Heart. With singles as treats, we only know James Blake will outdo himself. So go listen to βFamous Last Wordsβ and bring yourself into the atmosphere that is James Blake.
BOYO - βEscape Planβ
BOYO sound is unique from the start to the present. Itβs something that youβll often hear in others but it will never be quite the same as BOYO. Their new track βEscape Planβ is inspired by the early 2000s and we can totally hear it. It feels like a song youβd find in a 2000s movie soundtrack where the character is realizing a lot about themselves. The new track is accompanied by second single, βWe Never Turn Our Lights Off,β that has that same cinematic indie soundtrack feel. With some lo-fi mixed with inspiration from The Strokes, Interpol and The Walkman, βEscape Planβ is the song that will tie our fall together. Itβs both sweet and bitter but euphoric and energetic.
Plant Dad x N A E - β12 Roundsβ
β12 Roundsβ is the kind of song we need on these past gloomy warm days. The track flows so smoothly as the vocals move the song swiftly. Itβs a catchy song that youβll have stuck in your heard all day. Plant Dad and N A E wrote this song via FaceTime during quarantine. The song is about two toxic lovers wanting to be better for each other but being stuck in the toxic cycle. Slightly relatable in many areas, the 80s synth feel of this is what captivates you the most. They truly outdid themselves in this melody that youβll be dancing around in no time.
Jay Summer - βTarmacβ
Written and created out of pure honesty, describing hardships and convictionβ Jay Summer releases his brand new single βTarmacβ. The track mentions his experience taking off entirely leaving his old life behind in order to pursue his dream. In the song he speaks of βtickets on the dashβ, βnights sleeping parked downtownβ, and promising himself itβll only go up from here. Summerβs determination and drive for his dream is transparent with every heartfelt and real lyric in his track. At the end of October, Summer is set to release the rest of his project called Shade, which includes βTarmacβ as well as 9 other tracks!
Lena Minder - βStolen Loveβο»Ώ
βStolen Loveβ is a dreamscape to a fairy world of green. The slow and sweet song is moved by Lena Minderβs vocals that feel reminiscent of another era. She utilizes different vocal tones throughout the song to captivate the listener and take us on an adventure. This was my introduction to Lena Minder and I canβt help but loop the song over and over. Listen to βStolen Loveβ for a sweet introduction to her music.
Daulton Hopkins - βPretty Obsessionβο»Ώ
Curating a melody that youβll be humming for days, Daulton Hopkins released βPretty Obsessionβ on Sept. 15. Introducing a gentle but upbeat rhythm, the pleasant contrast from the lighter music beats to the lyrical undertone of the songβs message provides a glance inside Hopkinβs Mind. Reminiscing and analyzing his situation, βPretty Obsessionβ is about a relationship, taking him in every direction and getting carried away with love.
Airy and light, Hopkinβs vocals intermix with dreamy synths and drums throughout the track: perfect for fall nights and calming thoughts.
Greer - βHappy Peopleβ
Greer are back with a brand new cathartic single, βHappy Peopleβ! The Southern California band churn out yet another certified bop that proves they are a band beyond their years. Despite the global pandemic, Greer kept pushing and never stopped creating. When discussing βHappy Peopleβ, bassist Seth states, βa self-reflection on bitterness and resentment, and trying to become a better person out of it. Iβve struggled with feeling easily angered by a lot of things, especially given what we experienced in quarantine, so writing this song was a therapeutic experience.β A relatable song showcasing their abilities as a band to put together something with substance and still have people jumping around in their room singing along. With the single release, the band have also announced a date for their upcoming EP, Happy People EP, out November 5th!
Jackson Craig - βDisguiseβ ft. Lillimure
In this soothingly catchy track, βDisguiseβ by Jackson Craig ft. Lillimure, silky vocals blend with background horn and soft electric bass. Capturing that blissful and strange mix of feelings when you feel your happiest and yet know that moment can not last forever, the two harmonize with warm responses to each other.
Attempting to tell both sides to this happy yet gray story, Craig knew instantly that Lillimureβs sweet and gentle voice would fit perfectly with the atmosphere of this track. As his first single since July 2020, Listeners can excitedly hope for more music from him as the year pushes on.
