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Tennis - Matrimony II
Tennis - Matrimony II

Tennis - Matrimony II


Indie-pop duo Tennis released their fifth album, Swimmer, on Friday, and it’s a glitzy, atmospheric fever dream you’ll never want to wake from. Full of vibrant, emotional tracks that emphasize the deep musical synergy between husband and wife Patrick and Alaina Moore, all nine songs are rich with explorative arrangements, groovy hooks and inquisitive lyrics. The most impressive song on the album though, and perhaps of Tennis's entire career to date, is “Matrimony II,” a grand, sweeping ode to love and the ten-year musical journey that Patrick and Alaina have shared together. “Matrimony II” highlights all of Tennis’s strengths while weaving in sonic elements the two haven’t previously experimented with: Patrick’s cool guitar riffs over Alaina’s classical piano meet lush strings and a harpsichord; tight, full drums and groovy bass make you feel like you’re swaying on a beach in 1972; and Alaina’s voice, gorgeous and ephemeral at the top of her register, sounds like a hypnotic and cozy lullaby. The arrangement makes for a unique ballad with production that’s crisp and shimmering, like the evening sun hitting the ocean, and the lyrics are just as warm and wondrous: “I could never find something better / I even changed my name / By my side in every kind of weather / I'll never be the same.” Honest and vast, “Matrimony II” is bewitching, and it will make you believe in the power of love.

Britnee Meiser on February 19, 2020
Harmony Byrne - Good Idea

Harmony Byrne - Good Idea


Australian singer-songwriter Harmony Byrne has kicked off her 2020 in a big way. This year brings a new single release and the announcement of her first Australian headlining tour, which opens February 20th. After releasing four singles in 2019, the 2020 release of "Good Idea" is surely just that—a good idea. The crooning of the slide guitar and the echoing of Byrne’s image-evoking voice create a sound reminiscent of Eagles and Joni Mitchell mixed with Faye Webster. While the sound of this song is cohesive to the rest of her discography, it tells a story that is entirely new. "Good Idea" reflects upon the longing to escape and describes feelings associated with loss. The chorus leaves the listener haunted as it discusses the impact our own recklessness can have upon others, “Running a red with your headlights down / Seemed like a good idea at the time / But others are following along your road / And some aren’t as lucky as your first line.” An album release is surely right around the corner.

Beck on February 12, 2020
Half Waif - Ordinary Talk

Half Waif - Ordinary Talk


As Half Waif, Nandi Rose-Plunkett crafts jolting, whirring, emotionally adept sonic sketches of day to day life. Her latest offering is “Ordinary Talk,” a finely crafted window into the creative process. Over a distinctly Half Waif-ian wave of synth pads so lush they feel colored with a dark shade of purple, Plunkett delivers a deeply intuitive assertion, “I’ve got places in my mind that I’ll never find / if you’re holding my hand like you always do,” a sentiment that shape-shifts into another striking phrase just a few moments later—“I know myself well / when I’m in this hell / it’s part of the process / it doesn’t scare me.” Once you’ve caught your breath, Plunkett draws a narrative of small moments that cumulatively become watershed over a sparkling wash of static and warmth—“walking to the lake / getting in my car / folding up the laundry / taking it too hard,” then noting how loud and exhilarating small joys can be “singing at the stars / fumbling for my light / laughing at the TV / doing alright.” It’s hard to measure progress as one navigates the complexities of one’s inner world, but on “Ordinary Talk,” Plunkett has asserted herself as a quietly confident, empathic, and intuitive creative with an extraordinary capacity to take it all in stride and turn both the shadow and dappled sunlight into something breathtakingly cathartic. Her new record, The Caretaker, is out March 27.

Emma Bowers on February 11, 2020
Okay Kaya - Asexual Wellbeing

Okay Kaya - Asexual Wellbeing


Okay Kaya's fresh release, Watch This Liquid Pour Itself, is a breath of cold air. "Asexual Wellbeing," the second to last single off the project, feels like every tear you've dropped on the dance floor. Kaya Wilkins' lyrics tell a story of a push and pull relationship while narrating all the non-sexual ways that relationship becomes intimate. The visuals for the song were directed by Wilkins herself and recorded in Denmark. They strengthen the meaning of the song by representing growth and transformation, deepened by routine, rituals and the magic of connection. Watch This Liquid Pour Itself is Wilkin's second full-length album under the name Okay Kaya, following her 2018 debut, Both. The Norwegian-born, BK-based singer is set to play several shows in the US and Europe for the next few months.

Giulia Santana on February 11, 2020
​Diet Cig - Night Terrors

​Diet Cig - Night Terrors


Diet Cig turns nightmares into a sonic dream with their newest single, “Night Terrors.” Born out of lead singer and guitarist Alex Luciano’s real struggle with night terrors, the track harnesses the driving beat of Noah Bowman’s drums to reclaim some power lost to sleepless nights. “I’m doing my best to keep it in check but it’s out of my control,” could very easily apply to many situations in life. The powerlessness of nightmares is akin to being a bystander in one’s own life—hoping and praying that our decisions won’t hurt us or the ones we love the most. The song perfectly displays the cohesion Diet Cig is known for while amplifying the punk duo’s ability to have fun with just about any subject matter. “Night Terrors” is the band’s first new release since 2017 and came alongside an announcement of a North American and European Spring tour.

Corey Bates on February 10, 2020
Wolfjay - In Memory Of

Wolfjay - In Memory Of


Melbourne’s Wolfjay lets go of the past in their newest single “In Memory Of.” The new track blends synth-pop and alt-rock to create something that feels familiar yet new at the same time. Wolfjay is the project of non-binary musician and producer Jack Alexander. They create music caught in the middle of gender, genre, and time. Alexander wrote the song before coming out as queer. It commemorates the almost physical sense of loss you can feel as you grow up and out of your past self. While the loss can be painful, it is often for the best, "I left a long long time ago / I was sick of the neglect / cause now I’ve learned to think of myself.” Wolfjay harnesses a pop-punk rebellious spirit to push forward through a heavy distorted guitar and into their future—fully becoming the person and the artist they were always meant to be. Wolfjay will make their first visit to America this March at New Colossus in NYC.

Corey Bates on February 10, 2020
Havelock - LIBERTY

Havelock - LIBERTY


From the moment he appeared on streaming services seemingly out of thin air early last year, Kent-based singer-songwriter Havelock has been releasing a slow drip of genre-defying singles. His most recent, “LIBERTY," is his attempt at addressing his difficulties kicking an unwanted cigarette habit. While the topic is anything but lighthearted, you wouldn’t get that impression just listening to the instrumental. Hip-hop inspired 808s and a driving, funk-inflected bassline combine to make this the kind of track that you find yourself involuntarily bobbing your head to after a few listens. The groove drops out entirely during the chorus, and this is where Havelock’s clever lyricism and satiny voice really get the space to shine. His self-deprecating outro refrain—“Patched up lookin’ stupid, am I sure I wanna do this, girl?”—paints a vivid picture of a smoker on Nicorette, desperately conjuring a reason to pick up another pack instead of starting to kick the habit. With his debut EP, TRY B4U BUY, due in the coming months, Havelock is looking to close his first year as an artist in triumphant fashion.

Alec Bollard on February 10, 2020
Birthh - Parakeet

Birthh - Parakeet


Many musicians have plied their trade within the well-worn realm of sparsely-accompanied, heartfelt balladry. “Parakeet”, the recently released track by the Italian-born Birthh, is the latest proof that even the most frequently trodden paths can seem like an overgrown trail full of unseen delights in the right hands. Birthh sings forlornly about childhood memories over somewhat lo-fi guitar chords and fluttering, angelic piano notes, her melody perfectly exhibiting her vocal range and yearning delivery. Just when the song seems like it has settled into its soundscape, the final chorus is imbued with plucky strings, subdued horns and some surprisingly upbeat clapping, adding an almost exultant sheen to her words. When it all suddenly drops out at the track’s conclusion, it becomes difficult to coalesce the song’s bright ending with its slow, nostalgia-tinged first couple of minutes. It’s a little confusing when taken in its totality. The only way to ascertain your feelings on "Parakeet," really, is to spin it again—and therein lies its genius.

Alec Bollard on February 7, 2020
Real Estate feat. Sylvan Esso - Paper Cup

Real Estate feat. Sylvan Esso - Paper Cup


Embarking on the journey to their fifth full-length album, New Jersey band Real Estate shares a maturing sound with their recent single “Paper Cup,” featuring sweet vocals from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso. The song meanders away from their previously beachy and carefree tone into a more introspective look at seeing the people in your life grow and change while you stay in the same patterns you’ve always been in. The easy-listening flow of the production feels at home in singer Martin Courtney’s voice—soft on the ears, but now with lyrics that stretch deeper into self-awareness like, “You’re trying on new fits / I’m on the same old trip / But you know that I love it / And I can’t seem to quit.” “Paper Cup” is revealing, searching, and just what’s needed for Real Estate’s growing musical journey. Catch them on tour this spring following the release of The Main Thing which comes out on February 28.

Julie Gentile on February 7, 2020
Ellis - Fall Apart

Ellis - Fall Apart


From the outset of her debut EP in 2018, Ellis’ strengths as a purveyor of plaintive, perfectly-paced dream-pop tracks were evident. These strengths have been sharpened to a fine point on new track “Fall Apart," the first single from her forthcoming debut album via Fat Possum Records, Born Again. “Fall Apart” starts with a seemingly sweet story of Ellis listening to her favorite songs with a companion, but it becomes increasingly clear throughout the track that she’s in the midst of emotional turmoil. The strength of her songwriting is matched by her delivery—rather than adopt a self-deprecating tone, Ellis sounds apologetic and remorseful, mimicking the all-too-human compulsion to compound our misery with the thought that we’re being a burden to those we love. When the second chorus rolls around and the instrumentation builds to a crescendo, it’s natural to think her voice will follow suit. Instead, she stops the refrain of “I didn’t mean to fall apart” at the penultimate word, letting her voice slowly trail off as the instrumentation swallows the sound of her lamentations completely. This idea is brilliantly executed, and her delivery of that final line will stick with you long after the song has finished.

Alec Bollard on February 7, 2020
Porches - Do U Wanna

Porches - Do U Wanna


Aaron Maine, AKA Porches, is back with an emotional, swoon-worthy new track fit for late nights and the last dance. “Do U Wanna” is catchy and cool with a soft, sweeping melody that revels in the disparity between how people want to act and how they actually act. That disparity is mirrored in the arrangement, which combines intimate elements like atmospheric synths and Maine’s lovely vocal with grander, more distinct percussive sounds to exemplify the perception of joy. The instrumentation is easy-going and surprising, with a nostalgic, 90s-inspired bass and reverberating cowbell sound adding fun and whimsy to a song that, lyrically, veers in a much heavier direction, including the lines “I just wanna watch you live / But I never wanna do anything.” The clear, reverberating production gives the track a dreamy, weightless feel, and solidifies “Do U Wanna” as one of Porches’ best songs ever. Stay tuned for his new album, Ricky Music, due out in March from Domino Records.

Britnee Meiser on February 6, 2020

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