New Music Monday: 8/21/23

Emotional by The Front Bottoms

Opening their first album since 2020, “Emotional” by The Front Bottoms starts off with quick strumming and autotuned vocals, reminiscent of early 2010’s pop-punk sounds. The track includes expected acoustic elements similar to their old releases but also showcases their growth and change of production over the decade. The bold songwriting paired with the auto-tune shows success in the experimental aspects of the creation of the album. As the first verse is ending the instrumentals build up with bright piano keys, punchy drums, and an outburst of guitar strokes and cries, “You got hope tattooed on your throat / And I got respect, the side of my neck”

waiting alonE by Riovaz & Kanii

An invigorating electro-pop song that is as lively as it is groovy. Riovaz collaborates with Kanii to create a melody that is unique, exciting, and easy to vibe to. Mid-song the track begins to slow down with Riovaz’s voice overtaking and then continuing into a musical production that is bass-heavy and with magical synths. The song itself feels mysterious and alluring while simultaneously being a fun track to dance to.

So You Are Tired by Sufjan Stevens

Another delicate song released by Sufjan Stevens along with his heartwrenching lyricism. The track begins with soft piano keys and his humming vocals transcending the listener to a magical place. As the song continues more instrumentals take over paired with vocal harmonies that of a choir, creating a beautiful harmony. Sweet guitar strums pick up with light percussion which gets heavy as his breathy storytelling continues, “I was a man still in love with you / When I already knew it was done”.

bogus operandi by The Hives

With a powerful start to a song, The Hives have made their comeback known loudly and with pride. Beginning with an intense guitar riff and overpowering drums, it evokes head nods and catchy lyrics to scream along to. This is yet another opening track to an album that excites the listener and prepares them for the rest of the album. From start to finish the track is exciting and upbeat with fascinating songwriting, “My personality is rotten all the way”.

Henrietta Hudson by MegaGoneFree

If there’s any artist you are searching for with a knack for creating art with a sense of individuality and talent look no further than MegaGoneFree. “Henrietta Hudson” is a seductive, confident, and bold track containing vocals with inspiration from R&B, but has an outro that adds a nice twist. There is an instrumental breakdown that almost feels alternative with a mesmerizing guitar solo and strong beats transitioning into a raunchy, whisper-like monologue. Overall the lyrics are clever and the melody ties the whole song together, perfect for the confident baddies.

Losing You by Del Water Gap

Brooklyn-based indie-alt artist, Del Water Gap (S. Holden Jaffe) has released three singles that are on his upcoming album I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet. While every drop from DWG is exciting on its own, “Losing You” amps up the anticipation for the album by a landslide. With an upbeat melody contrasting the self-reflecting lyrics, the track combines everything that makes an alt-song good. A unique production and fun instrumentals, his use of sincere songwriting creates a comforting atmosphere, “Don’t wanna be right if it means losing you”.

Forever by Ciara & Lil Baby

As part of Ciara’s newly released EP CiCi, she collaborates with one of the biggest names in hip-hop today, Lil Baby, to create a devotional love song. Ciara talks about the importance of sticking to R&B roots in her music, and with this track her intentions are clear. With the repeating catchy chorus and Baby’s feature adding onto the outspoken love for a significant other, this song encapsulates faithfulness to one, “I don’t want it if it isn’t forever”.

REALFICTION: Out Of Town #1

How did you come up with your group's name?

“REALFICTION” emerged from a fusion of creativity and chaos during a quarantine session. Jason and I were isolated together, allowing us to produce our first EP in a state of fevered inspiration having just been diagnosed. The name 'REALFICTION' encapsulated our ethos, our creative mantra. We explored other possibilities, but nothing resonated quite like REALFICTION.

Does it mean anything?

The term REALFICTION became a philosophical exploration for us, a medium through which we could create soundscapes that defied the conventional boundaries between fact and fiction. A space where we could write about more than just our own experiences. A space where we can dream, yell, kick, scream, cry, love, curse, dance, process, and play. That’s REALFICTION.

How did the band come together?

The formation of our band was almost serendipitous. Jason's move to Nashville and into Joey's life was a cosmic alignment that neither of us could have planned. We became fast friends, and when the pandemic struck, our shared ambition and passion for music transformed our living space into a creative hothouse.

What have been some of your favorite/memorable performances?

Opening for Judah and the Lion on their Happy Again Tour, was a dream turned reality that expanded our horizons, and Playing Nashville's Bummeroo Festival with Arlie transcended performance—it was a celebration, a musical communion with friends and fans that echoed long into the night.

What songs are your favorites to perform?

Performing 'Blood In Your Car' and 'It's Not The End' is an electrifying experience that we and our audience collectively partake in. These songs have a life of their own, manifesting in tangible energy that spreads through the crowd, urging them to move, feel, and embrace the music. It's a symbiotic relationship that validates our existence as musicians. And as people.

Who are some of your influences in music?

Our musical influences are a rich tapestry of sounds and philosophies. We draw inspiration from the soulful storytelling of Frank Ocean, the sonic experimentation of Radiohead, the pop sensibilities of Taylor Swift, the bold defiance of Run the Jewels, the emotional rawness of The 1975, and the intricate harmonies of Pinegrove. This kaleidoscope of influences fuels our creative engine, pushing us to transcend genres and create something that reflects the complexity of human emotion.

New Music Monday 8/14/23

Destroyer by M.A.G.S.

A riveting song that takes you through a plethora of emotions. From the strong guitar, the quick beat of the drum, and the songwriting that cuts so deep it almost hurts, “The things you’re giving up are the dreams you only wish to forget”. The musical journey is consuming, exciting, and almost confusing. M.A.G.S., or Elliott Douglas, has beautifully combined sounds from alternative rock and ends the song with a punk rock twist with screaming vocals. Vivid and raw lyrics make this song what it is: honest and expressive.

Jesus In Tokyo by Libby Quinn

Listening to this track feels like going on a trip, you don’t really know where it’s going but you know you’re having a good time. With the repeating guitar riffs throughout, captivating lyrics along exciting vocals, and unapologetic drums, this song encapsulates post-punk rock. You get taken by surprise when a gorgeous instrumental solo takes place amidst the song but then suddenly transitions back into the earlier recurrent guitar riff.

balloons by Noname (feat. Jay Electronica & Eryn Allen Kane)

After five years since her last release, Noname has dropped an album, “Sundial” that is distinctive, true, and bold. In “balloons” an undertone of jazzy/r&b aspects is incorporated with a smooth beat and a light piano. Noname’s ability to be unapologetically honest and tackle serious topics in a poetic manner is a true talent. Her combination of lyricism with instrumentals that make you feel make this track, and her others, undeniably special.

Find Me Out by Peter McPoland

With the release of his new album, “Piggy” Peter has taken a new path from his typical music genre, leaving behind his folky alternative sounds and entering a more emo/punk/alternative route. In “Find Me Out” powerful drums and guitar solos pair with Peter’s angsty, gritty voice creating an atmosphere that’s out of this world. His alluring songwriting gives the song its own energy of yearning and agony, “Well, I have seen the fragile tears that hide in smiles / Beneath the cheeks of shells of men”.

Nobody Else Will Do by Anish Kumar

For an upbeat exciting electronic dance song turn to “Nobody Else Will Do” by Anish Kumar. The beat is impeccable and elicits immediate dancing and the outro transitions into an isolated drum beat. Throughout, the title of the track is repeated in an edited warped sense, all the while he stays eclectic in his production style. Mesmerizing synths and quick beats keep listeners on their toes while also slowing down for that repeated phrase “Nobody else will do”.

care about myself by N3WYRKLA

Heartbreakingly open and honest songwriting alongside beautiful vocals, “care about myself’ fuses r&b sounds with a bit of alt-rock in the chorus. The melody is steady and consistent, with instrumentals that quicken and slow with the lyrics, definitely a headbanger. The outro includes echoey vocals, this track is all about recognizing one’s wrong-doings and finally putting yourself first, “Poison that’s been wearing on my health, I / I just gotta care about myself.”

Number 9 by Miguel (feat. Lil Yachty)

In a unique and thrilling collaboration, Miguel and Lil Yachty worked together to create an eccentric track filled with interesting beats and lyrics. While it’s trippy in its musical sense, Lil Yachty does the ad-libs until he joins with whisper-like vocals and fascinating songwriting. Listening to this song invites an open mind and appreciation for the production, “And the sky came crawling out beneath the waves”.