These are the songs that inspire us. They cover a wide range of sounds which is telling of the music we create. Just like our music, this playlist covers the electric guitar sounds of the 60’s all the way to modern artists such as Twenty One Pilots and John Mayer.
Keep up with The Dragon Berries here.
This playlist is all about sounds that make you want to walk with some pep in your step. We love syncopation, funky bass and powerful drums and try to capture that same energy in our own music. Many of these songs are from artists that have influenced us throughout our lives.
Keep up with Trace of Lime here.
Did you happen to know that Spiders Make Great Poets? That’s the truth, at least, that Blake English will stick to when asked, since that also happens to be the title of his new 5-track EP. Beginning with an otherworldly soundscape, “Sad Girls Dance Party” bursts into an honest yet fun, high energy space worthy of Warped Tour. Maintaining a similar pace doesn’t seem to be difficult for English, as second track “This Is the End” builds to quite an impressive and catchy chorus as well.
It is only with “The Neighbors” that the release slows down, back to the power punk ballad life we will absolutely come to expect from English. But it’s only the first few seconds that allow this sonic reprieve, as everything revs up before we even hit the 45 second mark. If ever there were a physical representation of the Energizer bunny – especially mid-pandemic – we would go ahead and give that honor to English. But don’t mind that assessment, as we are speaking of tourniquets very early on in “A Ghost I Knew from Yesterday,” a track that comes in to remind us that we are hanging out in the emo genre. This, this is the ballad we thought we were getting previously. This is the song we needed to prepare for post-pandemic karaoke nights.
But let’s not get ruffled, thinking the EP will end with no attitude. We jump right into “United States of Depression,” a very sharp commentary on current times. A very open and vulnerable song might lean to the dark a little more than anticipated, but it’s honest. And honesty is what we’ve all been craving.
So revel in it. Then do it again. And let us know which track is your favorite!
Keep up with Blake English here.
In the lead up to his new 4 track EP, Michael Vickers is releasing his new music slowly, tragically slowly, if you ask us. With new track “Dead and Buried,” there is an energy we haven’t felt in a few weeks, and the track leaves us wanting more. With Vickers’ accent-laced vocals, there isn’t a bit of this track that we can imagine anyone not loving. Fall into its quirky, beautiful soundscape below!
Have you been taking your time with the silence lately? Really analyzing every aspect of a sense? We suggest trying on all of this gorgeous, new music for size from this month of social distancing, perhaps in a way that allows you no distractions. (Amidst the bevy of new plants you’ve acquired during quarantine?) We have some stunners this month, and we’re not ashamed of the fact that we’ve gotten lost in this playlist all month.
Enjoy!
French songstress Jessie Hyde brings a certain sense of charm to her work. This rings true for her latest track “Charity,” a smooth as honey track, quirkily specific and wonderfully darling. Lyrics like “look at the sign on the wall / this ain’t a fuckin’ charity” make us laugh when we remember that she is just now dipping her toe into the music world. Her past life in tech and biochemistry definitely doesn’t feed her creative ability, so learning about such an incredible facet of her personality in addition to her sheer genius is pretty impressive.
We’re smitten with this track. Check it out below, and there’s a 77% chance you will be too!
Keep up with Jessie Hyde here.
We’ve been craving a pop gem to play on repeat during our weekends. Why? Because the weekends are feeling less like weekends… we need to reinstate the party mentality so that we can transition back into our post-apocalyptic every day eventually. (Very far down the road.)
While we wait ever-so-impatiently to change our landscape, we should dance it out to ili. Her new track “Breath” is an absolute banger, something we are definitely going to prep to dance to when the clubs open back up. But until then, we might just be bumping this while we dance in our rooms, craft in the dining room, or drink copious amounts of water to stay hydrated and sane!
Keep up with ili here.
If you’re looking for a song to absolutely lose your shit to, “Breaking Down” by Merritt Gibson is going to be the tearjerker of the week, if not the entire month. We’re hoping spring showers happen for us to be able to enjoy this one in its most raw form, but either way “Breaking Down” provides a soundscape to get lost inside.
Check it out below, and let us know what you think over on Facebook!
Broken Bells are tugging at our heartstrings in the new video for “Good Luck”, which is enveloped in passing glances at the mood of current times. As we contemplate the depth of the world’s collective depression, we consider “sunrise” and movement toward something bigger. Somehow, Broken Bells have been able to vocalize an emotion most of us can’t quite put our finger on. The visual does its best to emphasize those feelings, a contemplative child calling light to an examination of our deepest selves.
Who knew we would be doing that with music videos right now? This song and its accompanying music video are art in its highest form.
Keep up with Broken Bells here.