April George and Matthew Thompson, the creative duo behind April + VISTA, have released You Are Here, a soul ridden indie R&B album that delivers, song after song. Each of the artists are active in the burgeoning D.C. music scene, with George having credits on GoldLink’s critically-acclaimed 2017 album At What Cost and on Ciscero’s new single, “Function.”Emerging out of an alternative R&B scene, April + Vista offers something that feels deeper. George’s soulful earthy tone paired with Thompson’s instrumental and addictive beats cultivates into a tranquil sound that we can’t help but sink into, finding new pockets of genius on each listen.

“Own2” is an amazing example of the duo’s collaborative chemistry. George comes at the song with a buoyant and sweeping soulfulness, with rich and vibrant harmonies, melodies and ad libs at every turn. This paired with Thompson’s nimble percussion, rich strings and resonating synths create an easiness within the song. The sonic palette is sturdy enough to support George's growls on lines such as, “Oh, you know I ain’t giving up / I’m in it for greatness, that’s the way I am / Just let me break it up / I know I can make it.” Whether this song is about breaking up with someone to find your true self, choosing to work with independent labels or a mixture of the both, the lyrics are just ambiguous enough to be relatable yet intriguing. It is only a matter of time before April + VISTA are no longer residing in the underbelly of alternative R&B, but at the forefront of a movement we have all been holding our breath for.

Indie folk rocker Elijah Wolf's first single “Tell ‘Em” off of his upcoming album On The Mtn Laurel Rd, is a deeply personal and honest track that represents a specific moment in Wolf’s life. The vivid scene he paints with his richly detailed lyrics and emotional vocal delivery brings listeners into his world and gives us a glimpse into the heartache he feels towards leaving home and the loss of a loved one. Although the track is sonically upbeat, lyrics like, “Yesterday came and went / am I dreaming of a place / that I’m leaving / All I know is gone,” reveal Wolf clearly expressing nostalgia for a different time in his life and how much the place and people in this time period meant to him. "Tell 'Em" comes to a close with the singer expressing “Tell ‘em I’ll be alright / tell ‘em what you need from me / for you,” before closing in a mellow cycle of the line “for you” and slow guitar strums.

After recently hearing Hope Tala’s track “Blue,” which was released earlier this summer, we were instantly hooked on her dynamic rhythms, sultry melodies, and compelling lyricism. All of these elements continue to be present in her newest single, “Moontime,” where she combines soulful sounds that were born in bossa nova and jazz. Pulling in subtle synth waves and a sparse yet purposeful piano, the West London artist strings together a track with a heavy groove wrapped around her emotional narrative as if to distract from what Tala describes as the “painful nostalgia about lost love.”

Reminiscent of the great female-led bands of the 90s such as Sixpence None the Richer and The Cranberries, "Good to You" by Kate Teague keeps it light while getting introspective. Already garnering immense praise, Teague proves that she's an artist to keep on your radar with the release of this single off of her debut album. In a comparison game that many of us know all too well, Teague finds herself wanting to be a better partner than she currently is, maybe one that resembles someone that she's seen in couples around her. With love in her heart and a desire to be better, we are strung along feeling the sweetness of this song in every lift of her airy and delicate falsetto. Still, the best part of the song comes at the end, with the entrance of a juxtaposing voice coloring the chorus with flare and charm. Taking you back in time, "Good to You" will make you hopeful about the direction of the music, and more specifically where Kate Teague is heading. 

New York based, electro pop duo Satellite Mode recently released their latest dark and dreamy single, “Terrified,” which serves as their follow-up to their previous single “Gave It All.” The track is a catchy and major-key bop that showcases lead singer Jessica Carvo’s haunting vocals and Alex Marko’s creative chord progressions and beats. The song uses its upbeat energy to touch on topics like the fear of love and the love of fear with poignant lyrics like, “Tell me / why do / I love being terrified. / What kind of fool / feeds on their own hurt/ to kill the time?" As the song reaches its dissonant climax the distortion becomes even more prominent, leading listeners further down the rabbit hole of a rhythmic pattern of hand claps and a listless marching beat with a surprising end.

Looking for a chill, dreamy pop-bop to wipe away those end of summer blues? Then look no further than Manchester duo, Darcie’s new song, “Darling” off their latest, two-track EP. The song exhibits the striking, lo-fi soul sound that Zigi Porter and Tom Donaldson have been cultivating during the past year. A groovy beat filled with fizzy percussive elements and mild, wavy electric guitar carry Portner’s sweet, subtly powerful voice. Her brazenly sincere persona shines through as she sings, “Pack up your lungs professing your love it should just be sex.” Although echoes of Sylvan Esso, Rex Orange County, and Jorja Smith can be heard in “Darling,” the duo has managed to keep a loose leash tied to their influences, which has, in turn, allowed them to open up their own stirring, candy-coated feel. Whether you’re listening with your windows rolled down on your drive back home from work or pumping it through your headphones on an early evening jog, “Darling” is sure to have you feeling good.

Black Belt Eagle Scout is the soul project of Portland based, radical indigenous queer feminist, Katherine Paul. "Soft Stud" is the opening track off of her record, Mother Of My Children. The opening guitar is grungy and raw and identifies with the revolutionary woman not looking to back down. When Paul begins to sing there is a contrast that cuts like glass. Her voice is pure and emotive. The lyrics are simple but they ring out almost like a chant. It is impossible to not feel moved. 

"Write It On Your Heart" is the first single released off of Bad Bad Hats latest record, Lightning Round. The indie rock band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota is fueled by the break-ups, relationships, and longing love letters written by the effortlessly powerful front woman, Kerry Alexander. "Spare me your love / I don’t deserve anything / That’s how you made me feel / Traded me for a stranger, baby" the lyrics are sincere and hit straight at what it means to be young, in love and abandoned. The instrumentation is hyperbolically upbeat and welcoming with nods to 90s pop rock. Catch Bad Bad Hats in a city near you this fall!

Taylor Janzen is as honest as it gets. "Interpersonal" her debut EP out today, depicts a sojourner on a journey of self-exploration that diverges from the way life was approached during her religious childhood. In "Colourblind," Janzen sings of what it's like to live through the darkness of questioning God's intentions and even mental illness surrounded by people who don't seem to get it. Still with heart and unbridled power she sings, "I am bitter but just know this / I will not feel ashamed to exist." This noteworthy declaration reminds us that even if at the moment being alive in equivalent to being stuck, confused or mentally ill, no someone should be robbed of their human dignity. With artists like Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers paving the way, Janzen proves that this era of honest-to-God, women singer-songwriters is just getting started. Taylor Janzen's voices shines with quiet might and is not only to be heard but listened to. 

There must be something in the water in Brooklyn making our music scene better than ever.  Adler Hall, this five-piece from varying musical backgrounds, is no exception to this phenomenon. The band has restructured following their 2016 album Tourist, which plays around the edges of synth and experimentation while centered around the folk-like focus of storytelling. Coming together to write and record their unique take on modern chamber-folk  Adler Hall is back with their newest single "Teresa."

"Teresa," the lead single off their upcoming LP, Beware the Water, keeps much of the band's narrative foundation alive with lyrics like, “Tired of the fortunes you seem never to appear in / you smile at me, your teeth stained gray with the wine that I poured for you / though it’s nice you ask, it won’t change anything I see.” “Teresa” is clearly an important figure as these lyrics help portray a long and complex love story, one that has swung up and down and though the singer has run away from their love, she always seems to comes back. Wedding love ballad it might not be, but nonetheless, it is lyrically a beautiful song. Composer, Henry Hoagland builds upon the typical guitar-led folk song with a more strategic approach, incorporating electronic elements as well as fully utilizing the keyboard which they had only touched upon in their previous release. Beware the Water is expected to release this upcoming October and we're excited to see this continued development from the amalgam that is Adler Hall.

Most of us in NYC have been experiencing the woozy side effects of this scorching early-August weather, but for a moment let’s attempt to conjure the pleasant aspects of summertime (outside the city…). An ice-cold cherry red popsicle melting on your lips as you dip your toes in a perfectly chilled swimming pool while listening to Summer Like the Season’s latest track, “Wakey.” No other song by the electro-art rock quartet so fully personifies their name and general essence. The lead singer, Summer Krinsky has turned a tired name joke into a fresh sound, a dreamy sonic collage of floating synths, quivering bass, and warm, willowy vocals. The chorus’ lyrics, “It’s time to sleep / I’m wide awake in a daze,” remind us that we’re all living within the spinning wheel of our memories, and each day that passes is just another entry in our rotary index of diary entries. Like all of us, the Detroit-based group is trying to figure out how to get by and make some sense of the world in the best way they can.  Their aural patchwork of haunting melodies and nuanced harmonic textures is a testament to the creative capacity of sound. Sweater weather is still not in sight, so might as well embrace the heat and listen to Summer Like The Season’s “Wakey”.