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Channel 1 - The Breaks
Channel 1 - The Breaks

Channel 1 - The Breaks


Cute. Charming. A bit whimsical. Saturday morning cartoons and eating cereal. All of these associations come to mind when listening to Channel 1’s upbeat key groove “The Breaks.” The track opens with a quick flitting drum machine rimshot and quickly launches itself into earworm territory. Grooving bass conjures memories of being ten years old and absolutely having a ball digging ambient online game music as deep into the psyche of your parents as your own. Densely layered with sparkly synth timbres and vocal effects that sound like teleporting through a tunnel, it’s an adventure complete with its own sound effects. It’s so infused with humor and catchy riffs that the lyric center of the song remains somewhat elusive. Until, that is, you do some mild internet detective work and pull up the lyrics on Bandcamp. Despite the somewhat goofy exoskeleton, the core of the song is about being alone, and the juxtaposition of extreme discomfort and extreme relief that comes with it. Through our lives, we’re constantly constructing and reconstructing our self-concept. Who we are and what we do are critical pillars of that self-definition. It’s generally a good thing, and relatively accurate. However, it’s also easy to get wrapped into a cloak of definitions of who you are in relation to other people. Who you’re trying to be like, who you’re not trying to be like, who you’re in a relationship with, who you’re related to on your father’s side. What you do for living, what you do for fun, what your favorite kind of music is. It goes on and on. It can be pretty comfortable and easy to spit out to strangers at parties. However, when one of those things goes missing or changes? It’s an unwelcome dose of exposure that leaves you feeling vulnerable. But a break like that also allows you the opportunity to remake yourself in the image of a fresh canvas, ready to create something new.

Allison Hill on October 6, 2020
Justy - Cool

Justy - Cool


With unassuming confidence, Brooklyn-born Staten Island-raised R&B artist Justy advocates for self-acceptance on the smooth jazz-hop single "Cool." While the production channels golden age hip-hop, Justy's vocals waft smoothly over the beat as she quips, "Money in the air, money in the air / I don't really care, I don't fucking care." She has this way of sounding both laid-back and indulgent in herself with these nonchalant lyrics. They're simple truths I wish I knew when I was eighteen, constantly remolding myself into what I thought people wanted. I'm taken with Justy's choice to sample Eartha Kitt, not in song, but rather in the form of a 1982 interview in which she scoffed at the thought of having to compromise who she is for a man. 

Nothing matters, when you really think about it; what time of day is best to post on Instagram, what people will say about my next quarantine hair color (I've been through four already), whether I'm too much of this or not enough of that. "If I gave you the world, no it still wouldn't matter," Justy sings, a reminder that you can't please everyone, and that approval you think you need isn't the answer. Take it from both me and Justy: there's nothing sexier than knowing and loving yourself.

Ysabella Monton on October 1, 2020
Jesse Kivel - William

Jesse Kivel - William


As the fresh air of autumn circulates amongst us, so the delicacies of artists like Jesse Kivel circulate softly within and around us. “William” is Kivel’s first released track from what will be his very first solo LP, Infinite Jess, coming out in full on November 13. This track is similar in quality to the work of The War on Drugs in its timeless sound. It is the type of song that evokes the chill of an autumnal bike ride through suburban streets, feeling and fantasizing all the while. Through the ricochet of warm synth, the clearness of Kivel’s voice intones in honesty. Photo by David Kitz.

Laney Esper on October 1, 2020
Perfume Genius - Nothing At All

Perfume Genius - Nothing At All


This [Perfume Genius] record came out during the hottest week of the year for us, in the middle of lockdown, and I was aching to be anywhere other than in my house. It was perfect timing because this whole record and particularly this song transports me. It’s enormous and close at the same time, and that line "I’ve got what you need, son, nothing at all" breaks my heart. I’m probably misinterpreting it, I hope I am, because the way I understand it is painful. — Fenne Lily

Fenne Lily first emerged within the indie spotlight in 2018 after her self-released album On Hold was discovered via online music platforms. Since then, she has amassed over a million monthly listeners on Spotify and toured with indie superstar Lucy Dacus. Photo by Camille Vivier.

Lilly Rothman on September 30, 2020
Fleet Foxes - Sunblind

Fleet Foxes - Sunblind


September 21 welcomed the first day of autumn and a brand new album from the Seattle-based folkies, Fleet Foxes. “Sunblind,” the second cut off of Shore, is a bright and lush eulogy of influences and contemporaries. Throughout the track, frontman Robin Pecknold names off around nineteen artists that have both had an effect on Pecknold’s life and have passed away at a young age. Though the song deals with death, it never comes across as mournful, at least not in a traditional sense. Pecknold vows to carry on the legacy of Elliott Smith, Arthur Russell and a handful of others through his own music, celebrating and honoring by creating music under their influence. Instrumentally, “Sunblind” reflects the same idea, rising to a crescendo under sunny guitars and warm vocals. Fleet Foxes are a great band, and “Sunblind” finds the ensemble squinting to the heavens as they cite some of the sources of their success. Photo by Emily Johnston.

Jonah Minnihan on September 30, 2020
cehryl - Superbloom

cehryl - Superbloom


There’s a special kind of innocence tied to the tumultuous journey of an immature love. From the spirited beginnings that paint our worlds crimson red all the way through to the disillusioned end, an immature love is often one that we cannot forget. The Hong Kong native cehryl simulates these mercurial highs and lows in her charming release “superbloom.” The lo-fi bedroom pop track is minimal in nature yet speaks volumes of its own in such a short amount of time. Utilizing story-like lyricism to guide the song in a poetic fashion, and a youthful soundscape to maintain a sense of innocence, cehryl unfolds a good-natured love that is not quite yet able to bloom. In the words of the young creative, “['superbloom'] is about the death of immature love.” The song sees itself as the artist’s third 2020 release following "Hide n Seek / Moon Eyes” and a “Together Lonely” remix with Tim Atlas. Although “superbloom” is much shorter than the former tracks, it’s definitely one you’ll find yourself listening to on a loop!

Bianca Brown on September 30, 2020
Shannon Lauren Callihan - Love You Right

Shannon Lauren Callihan - Love You Right


Nashville-based R&B/soul singer-songwriter Shannon Lauren Callihan delivers a romantic groove that is sweet and sultry in its proclamations. “Love You Right” is a track that is full of sweet-somethings, one of my favorite lines being, “I don't need no shiny things / Just want the joy your smile brings / It's in the way you look at me.” Reminiscent of the modern sounds of Natalie Prass and Tom Misch, while infusing elements of classic soul, Callihan is an artist you can listen to and satisfy any mood. Smooth vocals mixed alongside funky bass and an air of vinyl crackle creates a sound that could be described as both modern and timeless. A multi-instrumentalist known for her guitar playing, Callihan started releasing singles in 2019 and shows no sign of slowing down. Working with Nashville producer Jude Smith, she is focused on putting out more music and solidifying her place in the world of neo soul. Photo by Sydney Conrad.

Beck on September 30, 2020
Belle and Sebastian - Sleep The Clock Around

Belle and Sebastian - Sleep The Clock Around


I was given Write About Love on CD when I was 12 and I listened non-stop for years, and then got to a point where I kind of disregarded music I’d loved and reinvented my taste for no reason. Like I was rebelling against myself. So there was a long period of time where I forgot about Belle and Sebastian and recently this track came on a discover playlist, something like that, and I felt so stupid for leaving them behind. A perfect melody — it’s so simple, I tried to play it myself and it sounds shit, too empty, it’s that constant harmony that makes it so addictive. Everything about the arrangement is essential, nothing goes to waste. I’m also getting more and more obsessed with finding The Perfect Snare Sound, which I know seems boring, but this one’s a really, really good snare. — Fenne Lily

Fenne Lily’s sophomore album, BREACH, is nothing short of a feminist masterpiece. Her song writing brims with confessional authenticity and poetic self-awareness. Many of the tracks from this album confront the intermediate space between love and loss, providing a soundtrack to the grey areas of our life.

Lilly Rothman on September 29, 2020
Jamila Woods - Sula (Hardcover)

Jamila Woods - Sula (Hardcover)


Jamila Woods’ Toni Morrison–inspired “SULA (Hardcover)” has a sensual groove, and revolves around what it means for her to be in her own body. She rejects the notion that women should be submissive when it comes to their sexuality, stating “I don’t wanna make no babies / I don’t need a man to save me” in a sharp, searing tone. “Freedom and triumph, they weren’t meant for me / Girls of my color find something else to be / I’m better / I’m better,” she then sings effortlessly over the rollicking beat. As an empowered Black woman, she reflects on the boxes Black women have been forced into for centuries, and in turn creates a sonic oasis where she can feel comfortable being herself without having to worry about society’s pressures closing in on her. A fascinating exploration of the erotic and the unique kind of intimacy that one can only have with themselves, “SULA (Hardcover)” is a moving anthem of self-love and bodily autonomy. Listen on Bandcamp or wherever you stream.

Paige Shannon on September 29, 2020
The Undercover Dream Lovers - Drive Thru

The Undercover Dream Lovers - Drive Thru


Out of isolation comes an abundance of passion and articulation of the inner landscape of the artist’s mind. This is true and evident in the release of “Drive Thru” from The Undercover Dream Lovers. Throughout the duration of isolation, Matt Koenig spent his time pouring into an album which was written in its entirety over the course of the ongoing quarantine. “Drive Thru” is a synth-infused structure with layers of Matt Koenig’s silk-like vocals rippling over a compelling groove of a beat. This track provides a sound that evokes the feelings of a night drive with someone, beholding an undeniably enticing energy; it is a melodious bubbling over of connection, care and depth.

Laney Esper on September 29, 2020
Juni Habel - Run Dry

Juni Habel - Run Dry


From Norwegian singer/songwriter Juni Habel comes “Run Dry,” a delivery, as if from nature, made of an honest emotional outpour through instrument and voice. On her second single, not only does she sing with ethereal character, but she uses her voice intuitively to welcome her listeners into a romantically trying experience. Over gorgeous guitar arpeggiation, she sings with confessional spirit that longs for a response greater than the one she has been given thus far. Habel’s storytelling abilities are governed by her ability to express corresponding feelings through melodic interpretation, and her images of human interaction are painfully accessible. It is clear that she is in touch with something beyond us—perhaps beneath us. Photo by Andrea Hovik.

Daphne Ellis on September 29, 2020

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