Miles Mackenzie - West Coast Gold
Miles Mackenzie’s debut single, “West Coast Gold,” is a quarantine-released song for all the summers-that-could-be, or the ones that have been warmly tucked into memory; summers where we are safe and free to sprint, barefoot in the sand, toward towering teal waves. Sunshine emanates from the track within the first few seconds, luring in the listener with soft-sparkling chimes and visions of an ocean breeze as a 1970s-inspired bassline comes into frame. Bending surf-rock guitar riffs pair seamlessly with Mackenzie’s soaring falsetto and catchy background vocals that will have you singing “ba-ba-ba” after first listen. Entirely self-performed and mixed, Mackenzie’s debut could sit comfortably in the same indie-folk groove as artists like Dr. Dog, Fruit Bats, and Father John Misty. But on the bridge and drum breakdown, one can just as easily identify an undeniably classic influence, akin to legends like The Beatles and The Kinks. This golden formula tells us that, while the long days of summer may be fleeting, it’s clear that Mackenzie is just getting started. Photo by Alec Basse.
— Heddy Edwards on September 4, 2020
Henry Jamison - The Wilds
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.
— Natasha Cucullo on January 7, 2018
Moses Sumney - Plastic
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.
— Dara Bankole on October 22, 2017
