Kishi Bashi is nothing if not an optimist. Comparisons to Andrew Bird are unavoidable, completely warranted and just a little bit unfair. Both balance virtuosic violin playing with fantastical whimsy in their music, and neither allows the complexity of their loop pedals and classical influences to obscure the craft of pop songwriting. Both took a deeply political turn with their most recent albums, Bird singing that the current era “feels like 1936 in Catalonia,” and Kishi Bashi places himself squarely in that time with a concept album about Japanese internment. The list of similarities is indeed revealing, but it is Kishi Bashi’s optimism that separates him from Bird’s sometimes apocalyptic cynicism. Whereas Bird urges revolution (“bloodless, for now”), Kishi Bashi preaches compassion. The name of the album, Omoiyari, stems from the idea of empathy — “I gravitated towards themes of empathy, compassion, and understanding as a way to overcome fear and intolerance,” he wrote. Apart from the lyrics, it would be impossible to deduce the subject matter of “F Delano,” as the cheery la-la-la’s belie the depictions of harsh desert conditions at internment camps, unspeakable mistreatment of women and echoes of the failures of the modern day justice system — “innocence without a proper fight.” He urges understanding as a means to battle intolerance. Bashi chose FDR as the song’s namesake in order to illustrate the complexity of history—that a president often remembered for carrying the country through The Great Depression and World War II is also the clear villain in another story.

This ultra somber and haunting song co-written by Lukas Frank and Phoebe Bridgers and can be found on the fourth episode of the new Netflix show Godless. With the repeated line "Where is God now?" heard various times throughout it under the grimacing Western sounding guitar tones, it's the perfect fit for a show about outlaws in the Wild West or if you just like really sad music.

Belgian indie group Pale Grey’s single, “Seasons” off of their new album, Waves is the perfect complement to a quiet fall afternoon. It starts off with a simple beat and some garage-like synths that quickly fill up the track with a feeling of longing. Though it sits at just over two minutes, the song packs an emotional punch with minimal production. It asks the question of whether or not you can go on when the one you love passes away, and in that contemplation is where the song shines.

Indie favorites JR JR, formerly known as Dale Earnhardt JR JR, have returned to the scene with new music after their self-titled LP back in 2015. The new single, “Clean Up” offers a look at the mind of someone coming to terms with their addictions and indulgences. The duo uses a throbbing bass line, simple plucked guitar and harmonies to illustrate the conflict that happens when one willfully chooses something that is bad for them. “Clean Up” brings JR JR to a more provocative realm, and one that we are excited to see more of in the upcoming album.

Henry Jamison is a storyteller at heart. It may be in his blood — his father, a classical composer, and his mother, an English professor — but Jamison is a writer and artist in his own right, evidenced by his debut album The Wilds (released October 27th). Beyond writing, recording and arranging the album all on his own, Jamison has a special ability to bring each track to life. Take his song, “The Wilds”: it’s instrumentally rich without being overbearing, letting Jamison’s narrative whisk you away. “The Wilds” sounds like an old-time American love story - unassuming and familiar, but nevertheless, still surprising.

Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.