Each month, we bring you an ever-evolving list of our favorite new tracks out. We reach into every genre, and to far corners of the earth for this talent. And we’re very pleased to see it all unfold over the course of the month — you’ll go from EDM to country rock to pop all in the course of a few songs. We DIG THAT. We LIKE TO INTERRUPT. Yes, the journey of an album in its entirety is important to us. But that’s up to the artist. We’re here to get you out of your comfort zone and help you discover new sounds you may not otherwise be privy to.
So set yourself up for some newness, and hit “PLAY.” Because it might be the only out-of-the-box thing you have any control over right now. And that’s okay.
July honestly passed in the blink of an eye, and I bet if you speak to anyone they would agree. This timeless vortex we are all in might not feel consistent, but it is keeping some of us empathic for each other in a heightened way. Why not continue in that vein, and share our favorite new tracks of August 2020? Goth Babe, The Happy Fits, Saya Gray, Manu Grace, Claire Frazier, Narrow Head, and more make an appearance, and we will be adding to this feature all month as submissions roll in!
They say good things come in threes and in this case it is true. Alt-pop trio, TWIN XL, is back with their latest single, “Problematic”. Cameron Walker-Wright, John Gomez and Stephen Gomez created a new pop anthem that fits in with today’s pop sounds. “Problematic” documents watching things turn wrong, but not being able to do much about it. The music video that accompanies the single cleverly conveys this idea, without saying it outright. In every scene the trio becomes more disheveled and injured, fitting perfectly to what they were trying to say with their lyrics.
The band follows the 2019 release of their debut EP, How To Talk To Strangers, with their third single of 2020 which will be a part of their upcoming debut album. A consistent beat behind Walker-Wright’s vocals makes for a match made in pop music heaven. After writing and producing for other artists like All Time Low and Lindsey Stirling, these three have the right skills to rise to the top themselves. The catchy chorus of the single will be stuck in your head all day.
There’s something about 6/8 time that can really amplify emotion in music. Sarah Barrios exploits the time signature and the passion it nurtures in her new single, aptly titled “Emotional.” The pop/indie/blues singer-songwriter has found great success in her musical career so far, including being a finalist in the Guitar Center’s National Singer Songwriter Competition. She has also won various musical awards, but she maintains that her music’s main purpose is to foster connections with her fans.
Her single, “Emotional”, is about the inner frustration that comes from being too sentimental, too emotional. This feeling manifests itself in the song in two ways. First, as the song begins, Barrios sings on top of soothing guitar and nothing else except hints of other instruments. This creates a wistful atmosphere, quiet and thoughtful. The song builds, however, and by the time it reaches the second verse it becomes stronger. Three pounds of a beat mark the first bar, and while they are subdued and fit the relaxed vibe of the song, they evoke– just for a moment– the image of someone pounding their fist on a surface in frustration. Barrios’ voice embodies the essence of “pop,” singing her varied vocal lines with an expert fluidity. For instance, “why am I so damn emotional” is a lovely, lilting melodic line. “Emotional” is a pop treasure that bonds with Barrios’ fans and first-time listeners alike. It’s now available to stream, as is her newly released EP Letters I Never Sent.
I don’t know how it happens, but every month I am more and more impressed by the talent that ends up in my inbox. In fact, since I’ve been largely holed up in the apartment since March, I look forward to diving into said inbox more often and even scrolling through Spotify to find new sounds. With the lack of chatter around me, less driving music, and experiencing new music by happenstance in everyday situations, it has been easier to really curate my environment and create an ambiance. And it feels like all of the new music coming out is insightful, artful, and speaks to my soul.
When L.A. born singer-songwriter NikiBlack wrote her new single “American Spirits” back in September of 2019, she had no idea how prophetic her words were. The track was originally supposed to be a contemplative look back at her American experience as she prepared to move to Paris to pursue a master’s in philosophy and art history. All throughout this past year, she has been releasing singles from her highly anticipated album LILITH, but she was saving “American Spirits.” After the recent events that transpired in the US, she decided to release this one-off single because, as Nina Simone once mused, “it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.” The result? A poignant commentary on American today which answers the questions “What does it mean to have American spirit?” and “Can I still connect with my American Spirits as the daughter of an Iranian immigrant mother?” by saying “Yes, I can and I will,” but not without confronting America’s “bloody conception and its chaotic, violent reality today.”
Although originally from L.A., Black’s father grew up in Chicago, and her mother in Iran, giving her an expansive range of influences to work with, from the blues to the sounds of Iranian pop legend Googoosh. The uniqueness of her “ahs” in “American Spirits” in particular points to this mixed heritage of hers, but reverberations of it are felt throughout. Otherworldliness and ambiance emanate from the transient song, which doesn’t seem to exist within the bounds of genre or time itself. The thing that gives Black an edge, however, is her voice, ringing out sweet but striking. Her words pack a punch of their own, too. “Useless conversations all across the nation,” “violence in our lungs, black as the paths we come from,” are more significant now than ever before. If you weren’t planning to already, I recommend listening to the track with headphones, to better experience the atmosphere and audio panning that fully immerse you within the song. Stream “American Spirits” here, and stay tuned for the official music video (watch the teaser here) which will be released later this month!
DC-based Soul and R&B project SummerDennis & Rhymesaddress some hard truths about the US in their recent single “Ghetto Rona.” Rhymes is a composition and performance powerhouse spearheaded by Bill Moore and SummerDennis. Moore brings with him a deep experience with performance in multiple genres. Together they produce powerful, independent songs interwoven with femininity. Rhymes has appeared on several media outlets, including EARMILK, Soulbounce, Celebmix, Great Day Washington, and Blog Talk Radio. “Ghetto Rona” is the product of the difficult lessons learned about America in the past year. It’s a soulful indictment of the country, and aims to redefine the idea of “ghetto.” About the underlying theme of the song, Rhymes says “For so long Black and impoverished communities have been referred to ‘the ghetto’ even though we live in a nation that can’t house its taxpayers, can’t feed its children, and imposes police brutality on its citizens. How can a society with so little to offer refer to anyone as ghetto? We all know where the ghetto really is now, and it’s not race-specific. We can see the truth as clearly as ever.”
The song itself begins with the spoken words “And now, this is America,” leaving no room to mistake what the track is going to be about. A funky bassline and drum beat and tensile surrounding harmonies provide the foundation for Dennis’ sleek vocals. Her soulful voice decorates the melody lines with deft runs that give us a taste of her wide range. However, the lyrics remain the focal point of the song, coming through clear and concise. Halfway through, harmonies join in, lifting Dennis’ voice and words up to augment their meaning.
SummerDennis & Rhymes are a mighty duo who say what they have to say using a mix of rock, R&B, Latin, pop, and reggae music to appeal to a wide demographic. Check out their most recent album Second Summer to hear more of this eclectic pair.
Here’s a little playlist of some of my favorite songs over the years. These are the type of songs I can listen over and over on repeat (and I have) and all of them just pull you in from the very beginning. They all evoke a certain strong emotion and are all driven by strong melodies and strong guitar parts. Each one of these songs have been an obsession of mine at some point during my career.
