New Music Monday: 8/28/23

Road Trip by West 22nd

Of course, this was done intentionally, but I can’t get over how perfect this song is for a long road trip with your best friends. Everything from the vocals to the instrumentals encapsulates the feeling of being young and exploring what’s out there. A steady guitar riff starts the song off with the lead vocals raspy voice making the song as great as it is. With inspiration from The Backseat Lovers, this track takes its route down the indie road with descriptive imagery in the songwriting. A song you know will be fun to hear live with “Oooo’s” and “Da da da’s” throughout for the audience to sing. Then, there’s an exciting build-up of drums and strong drums finishing the song off strong!

Paradise Calling by Birdy

Birdy’s expertise in expressing her inner emotions through her voice and songwriting has always been something that blows me away. Straying away from her usual singer-songwriter sound, Birdy’s new album feels like an ascension to someplace far away. “Paradise Calling” is a danceable track with catchy lyrics that almost mimics a pop song from the 80s playing during the climax of a movie. Mesmerizing synths, echoing vocals, and a punchy bass make it shine as an exciting opening song to the rest of the album, “You don’t know the ways of the heart / This could be the start”.

Moment of Your Life (feat. Coco Jones) by Brent Faiyaz

A smooth slow beat starts this song off with Faiyaz’s anticipated seductive vocals and a feature from the talented Coco Jones. The track itself is simple in its story of a mutual attraction between two lovers, however, the collaboration of the two singers’ voices makes it all the more special. “Moment of Your Life” is reminiscent of old R&B classics with the ad-libs being harmonized stacked vocals from Faiyaz throughout the song. The consistent back and forth between the two complete the sensual lyricism, “If you don’t mind, you should try to stay the night”.

Uneasy (feat. Lil Wayne) by Jon Batiste

Some call his sound “genre-bending” some say “unique” or “bold” and while all those are true, it is difficult to describe Batiste’s idiosyncrasies in creating music. “Uneasy” has a production that will take your breath away including a plethora of instrumentals used throughout. A haunting start to the track, the beat is strong and only continues with scream-like backing vocals. As Lil Wayne joins in the instrumentals transition into clean and bright piano keys that sound like they are trying to catch up to his flow. The track lasts just over five minutes but it truly is an experience worth listening to as the remaining minute and some seconds are of a sick electric guitar and the continuing piano solo.

Pretty Girls by Reneé Rapp

The highly anticipated album, Snow Angel by Reneé Rapp has been a big talk since its release, and there’s good reason for it. This song is catchy and shiny with her songwriting skills and has a fun synth-pop chorus. In an interview, she explains how “Pretty Girls” is a perspective many, or most, gay girls experience. Her high-pitched/whisper-like singing during the chorus creates a unique sound to a not-so-unique situation of being an experiment for straight girls, “I like a straight jacket / But it feels like it’s a little tight”.

Blood Moon (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) by Mike WiLL Made-It

With an evocative beat, persistent lyrics, eerie vocals, and peculiar adlibs, Uzi and Mike WiLL Made-It teamed up to release a haunting song co-produced by J. Cole. The track itself has mixed reviews based on the repetitiveness of the lyrics, but when did we get so picky about how many times a line was repeated in a song? The track has an addictive beat, head-nod worthy, and anything with Uzi’s iconic flow included is a win for me. Within the frequent phrases, the lyricism is clever and witty, “I’m a star at the top of the tree // Speakin’ on trees, can’t fall, no leaves”

IYKYK by New West

A track that feels like a fairytale land is awaiting my arrival somewhere. New West has a songwriting ability that creates a feeling of yearning and love combined with soothing vocals. It begins with quick guitar strums and slight keys in the back, creating a melody that feels tranquil and beautiful. The lyricism is written from the point of view of being lovesick, it’s tender, sweet, and vulnerable, “If you know, then you know I’m with you / Does the look in my eyes say, “I’m with you?” Altogether a gorgeous love song that makes you feel more than words ever could.

Isabel Pless: Out Of Town #2

How long have you been making music? What led you to want to be a performer?

I started taking guitar lessons when I was 10, and I started writing music at 12. I didn’t actually

think that a career as a performer was possible for me– it always sort of felt like a pipe dream.

So I wrote music just for myself for a long time and would perform at open mics and cabarets, I didn’t start pursuing music as a career until I started posting on Tiktok, and started releasing music in late 2020.

What have been some of your favorite/ memorable performances?

I recently did a couple of headline shows (one in Boston and one in London) that blew

my expectations out of the water. I’ve never had audiences sing all of my songs so loudly

before– it was emotional for me. I also really enjoyed opening up for Donovan

Woods and Henry Jamison were on tour this past spring.

What are your favorite songs to perform?

I love when I’m able to perform stripped-back versions of my songs live– so people can hear

how the songs sounded when I wrote them. I love playing “Spam Calls”, “Keeping Score,” and

“Bechdel Test” especially.

Who are some of your influences?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Gregory Alan Isakov’s new stuff lately, as well as The Japanese House’s new album. I feel really inspired by Dijon’s record. Ryan Beatty’s new album is insane. And I get a lot of inspiration from my very talented real-life and internet friends also like Margot Liotta, Casey Dubie, Sophia Blake, Ash Tuesday, and Kevin Atwater.

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”.