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Chloe Berry - Bitter Melon
Chloe Berry - Bitter Melon

Chloe Berry - Bitter Melon


“I promise that somehow things will be okay” Chloe Berry offers, cutting through calamity with her new single “Bitter Melon.” This Brooklyn-based artist is stepping onto the music scene with a vengeance, especially with her background in writing music since the age of seven. When asked about the intentionality of the track, Chloe expressed that it was written with the sentiment in mind that “everything passes eventually." This high energy assemblage of sound is filled with the whimsical nostalgia of a coming-of-age film end-credit montage. Easing into the track, Chloe sings softly over a zig-zag of electric guitar until the percussion comes in and the track erupts into a vibrant invitation into her own escape from hopelessness. “Bitter Melon” is a precursor to promising future work to come from Chloe Berry, so get comfy and stick around.

Laney Esper on May 29, 2020
 Ellie Williams - Partly

Ellie Williams - Partly


Quadio is a new streaming service revolutionizing how we find up-and-coming new artists in the college sphere and we are pleased to be partnering with them during the next week to introduce you to the newest in indie. This week we've been streaming "Partly" by Ellie Williams. Anyone who's bumped into an ex at a party unexpectedly will feel seen and understood listening to this track. Lyrics, "I'm partly overwhelmed and partly confused / Forget to inhale at the sight of you / I don't understand why I react this way / I'm wishing this were just another party, partly" ring out over the dull and all-too-familiar roar of a get-together as Williams explores the flood of emotions of an unexpected encounter with an ex-lover. In her own words, "Being both shocked and slightly pleased to see them, it follows the internal conversation you have when coping with the fact that someone you once loved deeply has now seemingly become a stranger." We are more than partly in love with this single from Williams, and hers is one of hundreds of hits from emerging college artists found on Quadio.

Jazzmyne Pearson on April 30, 2020
Onyx Collective - Blue Moon feat. Ian Isiah

Onyx Collective - Blue Moon feat. Ian Isiah


Occasionally, when a piece of music pervades or impacts the culture it arose from so profoundly that it gains universal acclaim, it is afforded the descriptor of “timeless”—as clear a sign as any that the piece will be covered by new musicians well into the future. Onyx Collective, the New York-based experimental jazz group that have taken on a somewhat mythical quality in the city for their high-energy and technically impressive live shows, have taken it upon themselves to reimagine a bevy of classics that emerged from the mind of Richard Rodgers—one half of the iconic duos of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Rodgers & Hart on their new album Manhattan Special. The single and album closer “Blue Moon” features frequent Blood Orange collaborator and R&B powerhouse Ian Isiah, whose strong soprano is perfectly suited to tackle the melody that forms the emotional center of the track. The instrumental backing is unusually subdued when compared to Onyx Collective’s other work, but that in-and-of-itself is the mark of talented artists. Great covers don’t necessarily have to be flashy or purposefully different; sometimes, it’s just about paying homage and lending your talents in order to keep the song alive in the collective conscious. The sheer technical ability possessed by both the band and singer result in a delightfully refined rendition of a ballad that has stood the test of time for 85 years—and with the Onyx Collective’s help, it will surely continue to do so.

Alec Bollard on April 30, 2020
Bon Iver - ​PDLIF

Bon Iver - ​PDLIF


PDLIF- "Please Don't Live in Fear" feels like a convoluted request right now. Much like Bon Iver's music, there is something quietly anxious and hopeful about the time we're living in. Each day seems like a Russian roulette of outcomes and emotions. But really good music is a highlight and a reminder of our humanity. Bon Iver's "PDLIF," released on April 17, has that ruminating quality that makes his artistry so excellent. After the first listen, the track feels somber and unassuming, but it's still loaded with immense depth and feeling. "PDLIF" is an internal wrestling of despair and optimism. It's a scale weighing options and opinions. A verse cries "I'd be good to fall back / I think we're on the wrong track somehow," all while balancing the delicate decry of the chorus: please don't live in fear. This song is far from a looming contradiction. It's a descriptor of an uncertain time, a moment in our hearts where hope's fleeting cries win over the primordial temptation to give up. This track was specifically made in support of the medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Bon Iver has vowed to donate 100% of the song's proceeds to benefit those protecting the lives of the public from this disease (through the organization Direct Relief). This is Bon Iver's first studio release since Grammy-nominated i,i (outside of Blood Bank's 10th-anniversary edition release). Listen to "PDLIF" wherever you stream your tunes.

Hannah Lupas on April 29, 2020
Ali Holder - Reborn

Ali Holder - Reborn


When an artist sounds like where you come from, it can be an immediate, visceral kind of connection, and such is the connection I’ve found with Ali Holder’s track, “Reborn.” The pillowy organ, slow rhythm guitar, and ever-so-slight drawl on this track had already transported my heart to my hometown of Austin, TX before my mind had time to recognize the nostalgia. Growing up in Austin, I always assumed that no matter where you went in the world, you’d find singer-songwriters on every street and in every restaurant, every day of the week. I thought it was a basic part of shared human experience, like fending off grackles or getting unlimited free refills of unsweet iced tea. And from the ubiquitous, strumming masses of my youth, I have come to recognize there is absolutely an “Austin sound.” To me, it's a sound that I will never be able to shake as long as I live; to many, it’s inextricably linked to the strong, warm breezes of July evenings; and if you want to know what it can mean to you, well—I’d start here with Ali Holder.

Karl Snyder on April 29, 2020
Heather Chelan - Cherry Pick

Heather Chelan - Cherry Pick


Calming chords swell as gentle keys bring the song to life. Adding in clock-like drums, time seems to be expanding with each new note of Heather Chelan’s heartfelt vocals. Vocals which start as an intimate conversation, quickly growing into so much more. We hear them gaining confidence and strength as the narrative builds. Finding new rhythms to deliver the lyrics, Chelan shifts into a new gear. It is perfect for the moment, proving their prowess in building an impressive song. Angelic background vocals flourish with each note, creating a moving chorus. The energy throughout the song feels like the clouds parting—Chelan coming to terms, finding clarity with the song’s story, while the arrangement finds new ways to shine with every turn. A perfect moment sees a soaring Chelan slide effortlessly from a dreamy bridge to the most powerful chorus yet. An irresistible performance, and Heather Chelan’s first release since 2018. There are only good things to come.

Max Himelhoch on April 29, 2020
Cisco Swank - Home

Cisco Swank - Home


We just announced a partnership with Quadio, a social music streaming platform for college students, and are excited to be taking over their Artists of the Week section this week and next. First up we have Berklee student Francisco Haye (aka Cisco Swank), who pays homage to several of his jazz, soul, and R&B ancestors on his new track, “Home.” With chord progressions and vocal runs that evoke a young Stevie Wonder, bare and buttery production in the style of Frank Ocean, and the full live jazz band appeal of Anderson .Paak The Free Nationals. Haye demonstrates not only that he’s been doing his literal homework, but also that he is capable of synthesizing these royal influences to make something fresh and uniquely Cisco Swank. At times, the beat is so syncopated that it feels like time is going backwards—in a good way. And though the lyrics may at first seem simple and repetitive, by the end lines like, “I know you been searching for way too long” have a mantric, centering effect. So if you have been looking for a new self-produced soul artist who is just getting started but already knows what he’s doing, you may have “finally found the answer” here.

Karl Snyder on April 28, 2020
Faye Webster - In A Good Way

Faye Webster - In A Good Way


Atlanta singer-songwriter Faye Webster returns to the scene with a love song that is unapologetically sweet as honey. Lulling strings, staccato guitar and interjecting keyboard fuse together to create a track that touches an array of genres ranging from folk to pop all the way to R&B. I’ve always appreciated Webster’s way of expressing the most nuanced emotions with such few words—“In A Good Way” is no exception. The track explores the feeling of finding a love that is overwhelming in the most beautiful way, so beautiful in fact, that it makes you cry. The song opens with the line, “I didn’t know I was capable of being happy right now, but you showed me how,” and accurately depicts, how even in the midst of the unknown, love has the ability to poke through the cracks. All too often we look at crying as a negative expression of emotion and "In A Good Way" helps to remind us that it’s okay to cry and that sometimes, it’s even a good thing.

Beck on April 28, 2020
​Serena Isioma - Cookout

​Serena Isioma - Cookout


Serena Isioma’s new EP Sensitive showcases the artist in all their genre-defying glory. It’s an extremely well-rounded release, led by the brilliant "Cookout." A sunny song, the bass and drums kick it off, bringing the energy of a surfy garage band. Isioma’s smooth vocals recontextualize the entire track. While the melody in the verses stays simple, the flow feels completely fresh. Sprinkled with background vocals bouncing about underneath to add even more texture. The chorus is so catchy, instantly memorable and begging to be sung along to. Isioma comes out firing in the second verse, amping up the intensity, finding new ways to shine on the now-familiar groove. The songwriting, in the context of this production, brings heavy themes to life in a bright and surprisingly fun fashion. A balance made effortless by Isioma. The entire EP is a smash, but "Cookout" feels completely unique, something only Isioma could pull off. And they certainly have.

Max Himelhoch on April 28, 2020
Geographer - When Will I Belong

Geographer - When Will I Belong


Before even listening to “When Will I Belong," the newest release under Mike Deni’s moniker of Geographer, it’s worth noting that this track was never supposed to be a single. The plan was to make it a bonus track to the forthcoming album—the song was initially created for placement on NBC’s New Amsterdam, and Deni presumably thought the episode would come and go without many noticing his work. Thankfully, the artist couldn’t have been more wrong. The praise for the track was so effusive that Deni decided that the once-bonus track would serve as the first single despite its lengthy runtime, and we are all better for it. On a casual first listen, you would be forgiven for thinking the start of the nearly-seven-minute “When Will I Belong” was from a hymnal; Deni’s plaintive ruminations in his beautiful, almost ethereal soprano take on an air of reverence in the track’s opening minutes, as he backs his singing with only a plucky synth loop and occasional brief interjections of strings. As the track crescendos and instrumentation build, the urgency in Deni’s questioning refrain from which the song gets its title becomes palpable, but there’s no answer to be found at its conclusion. Instead, “When Will I Belong” does a remarkable job creating a soundtrack to the ennui that can sometimes overcome us at our darker moments—a sentimental testament to human’s capability to face the uncertainty of the unknown and press on regardless.

Alec Bollard on April 28, 2020
girl in red - midnight love

girl in red - midnight love


“Midnight love” is the first single from girl in red since her second EP chapter 2 was released in September. The 21-year-old Norwegian, indie-pop singer-songwriter broke ground in the summer of 2018 when, from her bedroom, she managed to create the DIY queer anthem we all needed with “girls.” Her music delves into the intricacies of love and longing, the gray areas of relationships, and the questions and doubts that creep in when we are alone, and it does so with soothing sound and poetic precision. In this way, “midnight love” is no different. A one-woman show by the name of Marie Ulven, girl in red ordinarily writes, records, and produces all of her own music, though for “midnight love” she brought in fellow Norwegian artist Matias Tellez for co-production. The song’s cinematic intro sets the scene for Ulven’s reverberating vocals to take hold as she describes the complex emotions that come with being someone’s “second best.” Her echoing voice engages in a delicate and tumultuous dance with the instrumentals throughout—the layers of sound ebbing and flowing, pushing and pulling, creating a tension that builds as it mirrors the inner turmoil expressed in the lyrics. “Midnight love” addresses the struggle to find inner strength and clarity in the face of unrequited love, and ultimately to find the power to walk away, or at least leave that late-night text on read.

Maya Bouvier-Lyons on April 27, 2020

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