Proust once said, “Love is a striking example of how little reality means to us.” When we care about someone, the desire to know the intricacies of their world—what book is on their nightstand, what chips they buy at their favorite grocery store—becomes the driving force behind our affections. The possibilities cloud our rational thoughts and judgements. All we really want to know is: what’s it like to be in this person’s life? That’s the question Sure Sure asks on their newest single, “What’s It Like?” Inspired by the novel on his own nightstand, vocalist and guitarist Charlie Glick ruminates on the possibilities in the lyrics: “What’s it like / To handle your vacuum?... What’s it like / To get too drunk with you?” The melody is fun and upbeat, and like the arrangement, has an infectious sense of optimism at its core. Opening with some singalong-friendly uh uhs, a light, sunshiny synth, and tight, thrashing drums, the track immediately invites you to participate with your entire body. It never once loses its momentum; the crescendoing arrangement only gets brighter as it goes on, culminating in a cool electric guitar riff followed by one big, vibey party of sounds in the last chorus. Simply put, “What’s It Like?” is a euphoric, sun-soaked jam. It’s the last single before the release of Sure Sure’s 8-track album of the same name, out June 27th, and is one of our most anticipated releases of the summer.

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.