Charlotta Perrier, under the alias Big Fox, returns with new single “Let Love In” off her sophomore album See How the Light Falls. Both were released the same day, and are ready for our listening pleasure.
When talking about her newest release, Perrier said, “I thought a lot about the unsaid. All the words that I constantly avoided, held back, and how they slowly created a wall between me and others … And I finally realized that I was the one stopping myself. So, I think I subconsciously wrote this song to push myself off that cliff, to let love in.”
“Let Love In” signifies that feeling of wanting to be more open with others and taking the steps to get there. Combining classic pop and melodic indie sounds, Perrier creates a sophisticated and mature sound.
When Ryan Lee of Santa Cruz, Cali was familiarizing himself with his new studio Paradise Garage came his own musical project, Magic Waters. After recording the songs that would make up his debut EP Pinky Swear, it became clear these songs needed to be heard. This 3-song EP showcases Lee’s writing abilities, skills as a producer, and him as a performer. Through his songwriting Lee is able to blend personal stories, and observations on real-world problems.
A big political inspiration of Pinky Swear is Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. The title of the EP and the single comes from Warren making pinky swears to young women to be a constant reminder that women can also be leaders.
The single “Pinky Swear” revolves heavily around politics. The chorus and outro shout out female political leaders like Senator Warren, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Katie Hill. Lee also makes reference to powerful women in his life, such as his wife, mother, and grandmother. While the verses tackle the NRA and Trump. This back and forth of female politicians that provide optimism, versus the current political climate showcases Lee’s view of the world today and where he hopes it can go.
Pinky Swear is out this Friday, and will be available on streaming platforms everywhere for your quarantine enjoyment. Keep up with Magic Waters here.
Indie all-star group Shasta – comprised of Micayla Grace (Albert Hammon Jr., Bleached), Jennifer Duardo, Jon Sortland (The Sins) and Cecilia Della Perruti (Gothic Tropic, Beck) – recently introduced listeners to their track “Roaming Hearts”. With dreamlike harmonies, and intensely personal lyrics, Shasta takes listeners out of the gloom of winter into the vibrance of spring. Shasta gives off a feeling of timelessness, a sensation of dreaming, and the overall state of feeling alive.
The music video is entrancing, a sense of nostalgia to the way it was shot that makes it feel unique when paired with gorgeous geometric animation. We are big fans of the song, and it’s actually keeping some pep in our step this week!
Electronic-production duo Kodacrome have just released their newest track “Play Dead.” The act – comprised of Elissa LeCoque (vocals/arrangements) and Ryan Casey (synthesizer/production) — combine their passions for music, screenwriting, visual arts, and filmmaking to create the authentic experience that is Kodacrome.
“Play Dead” fits right into their model. The track is synth heavy, with the main focus on the texture of the piece. Once the vocals are eventually introduced, LeCoque creates a light layer to the darkness of the production already present. Kodacrome’s music videos are art-heavy. “Play Dead” depicts an artist as he creates a pottery piece. The dark tone is shown in the lighting as the only feature visible by the light is the artist’s hands and the piece he is creating.
LA duo MARNEY, comprised of Crystal Douesnard (vocals) and Thomas Moore (guitar/bass/production) have just released their debut single “Conversations”. This is the first track to be released off their upcoming debut EP Feelings, set to drop in April.
MARNEY’s musical style is one full of nostalgia that explores dark emotions. The indie duo combine modern sounds with dark undertones to create their personal style. “Conversations” examines the idea of our own perception of self, and creating a face for others. The hook “nothing wrong with my mind” perfectly frames the idea that one believes they are one way but at the same time are saying this to invalidate the negative feeling of others’ poor view of them.
Singer-songwriter Sophie Allison, better known as Soccer Mommy, releases sophomore album color theory, an album heavily looking at internal worries and concerns of any person in their 20’s. Just like with her debut record Clean, Gabe Wax was the producer. Wax is credited for working on projects for indie artists such as the War on Drugs and Deerhunter.
Unlike her first release, color theory is a darker look inward at the human response to transformative transitions. The sound feels dimmer and the emotional weight stronger. From the opening lyrics of the first track “bloodstream” listeners know this record is taking a different direction. Regardless of the change in mood from the urgency of youth, found on Clean, to the overarching concerns of what happens when the light of adolescence fades, the music style of color theory is still authentically Allison.
Americana sibling duo me&you release their new single “S.O.L”– which stands for “shit outta luck”– and in the case of this song, it’s in reference to bad timing of a relationship. The track is a country-folk, shows the complexity of a relationship, when one person is in another place compared to the other. “S.O.L” is also a track with a slow burn. It starts off simply and slowly builds, where it seems to peak in the chorus.
Siblings Karlee and Connor Hormell have been playing music together since they were kids. me&you project came into place after a month-long trip traveling through the backcountry of New Zealand in a camper van. Karlee explains their band name comes from something the two would always tell each other, “All we have is me and you.”
Danish retro indie pop artist Favor releases new single “Soda”, which is a look at addiction through the eyes of the child. Under the name Favor, Jeppe Gande, shows off how he can create very own lyrical universe through his writing.
By addiction, Gande is referring to obsessions, like relationships, nights out, social media and work. “Soda” is his look back to the times of being a naive child – when the world was your playground and your life was not cluttered with responsibilities and commitments. Gande views childhood as a time ruled by innocence, and adulthood ruled with obsession.
“Soda” is off Favor’s upcoming album Crush out March 27.
Los Angeles based artist Suzy & the Lifeguard released their newest single “Take it Slow” off upcoming EP ANIMA out May 1. “Take it Slow” is a look at the dichotomy between longing for love and falling to lust. This contrast of love and lust is shown within the vocals and the musical arrangement. The vocals are sultry and flirty teasing at the dark corners of this split. The horns used in the composition bring visions of forbidden romance, something that is both infatuating and dangerous.
“Take it Slow” is composed of lyrics of seduction and regret. With words that emanate a desire for love, our hearts break. “We both we’ll take it slow / As I am taking you back home,” is soon followed by feelings of remorse, “Nobody wins when we play games.” This back and forth creates a look at that rocky line between love and lust, when it turns, and what happens because of it.
