“Riot” is a dance club hit for the misfits who wouldn’t be caught dead in a dance club. Crunchy guitar riffs and rock solid drumming pin the track into one hell of a groove, while the vocal performance delivers equal parts “fairy princess” and “killer queen.” It’s a rebellious banger that will have you shaking…
Candi Carpenter – Nervous System
Candi Carpenter has dominated various social media platforms with their quirky, multifaceted talents and penchant for unforgettable pop melodies with dysphoric lyrics. “Nervous System” is a standout of their recent releases; it’s a powerfully relatable series of puns and quips about anxiety. Anyone who uses humor as a coping mechanism needs this song in their…
Rett Madison – Apocalyptic Folk Song
“Apocalyptic Folk Song” would be as at home on a front porch in Appalachia as it would a punk dive in Chicago. It’s got that indescribable, ethereal energy that could hush any audience into rapt attention. Rett Madison’s voice creaks like a haunted stair under the weight of the world, reciting poetry about its own…
Chroma – Girls Talk
“Girls Talk” is a banger of a dance rock track on the surface. Its message, however, is a battle cry amidst driving guitar riffs: this girl in particular is done taking your shit. Chroma brings an energy that would be as at home on an arena stage as it would in a punk rock club….
Madeleine Kelson – The Way I Do
Madeleine Kelson’s sweet sapphic ballad “The Way I Do” begs to be the soundtrack for a happy couple riding off into the sunset at the end of a long adventure. It’s a classic Nashville production utilizing a healthy dose of twang and punchy acoustic guitar, with a hook you won’t be able to shake. Kelson’s…
Soul Meets Body – Pills
Soul Meets Body makes cheerful garage punk on the surface, but don’t listen too closely or you might have to grapple with some serious feels. “Pills” is a head bobbing, sing-along-worthy track with a darker nod to escapism via substance abuse — see? Brutal. Don’t worry, you’ll get a breather from reliving your youthful indiscretions…
Amira Unplugged – Gunsmoke and Mirrors
“Gunsmoke and Mirrors” is a multicultural adventure in angst disguised as a pop song. Amira Unplugged captures a Southern U.S. hip hop motif in this track, while stretching the genre’s boundaries to its limits. The lyrical flow is effortless, the melodic vocals are both sultry and dominating at the same time, and a dark and…
Calva Louise – Under the Skin
Calva Louise spans continents as well as they span genres; this new release from the multinational, London-based rock outfit manages to pay homage to heavy metal, ’90s industrial, the Romantic Period, and Alt Z pop music. “Under the Skin” is both a masterclass in arrangement and an excuse for gratuitous headbanging. Find ’em in the…
Julie Lavery – Wild Child
“Wild Child” feels like a barefoot romp through a flower-filled expanse. Lavery’s delivery is as delicate as it is direct; she sings about her spiritual expansion with the tenderness of ’70s folk legends and the wisdom of a woman who has finally learned to indulge herself. “Wild Child” is a song for healing the wounds…
The Cancellations – Smile
The Cancellations is my own band so I’m not gonna write any flowery prose about how awesome our new song is. But I’m pretty proud of it, so go listen. Find ’em in the wild: Tiktok • Instagram • Youtube