Now Listening: This Week's Tracks

 

Oscar Lang – “Yeah!”

Oscar Lang’s “Yeah!” is the latest offering from London’s indie-pop prodigy. It’s a masterclass in playing games, and transports  listeners back to the days of  Nintendo 64 consoles with its unique soundbites. The trippy music video tracks Oscar and his girlfriend Eliana as they morph into the virtual world and back into reality,  capturing the detachment detailed in the lyrics. The singer is cutthroat in a bizarrely romantic way as he frustrates over being played by his love interest. Detailing her nonchalance, there is a coolness in his response. The melody is trip-rock, whimsical and an ode to the 90s.  

Lang’s stretched out vocals are boastful and bold as the singer embodies elements of Britpop that reminisce early Blur. “Yeah!” is full of playful irony in posing as an unbothered love song that ends up being deeply impassioned.

Oscar Lang’s talent is vast as a singer/ songwriter and producer, and yet he still exudes an effortless presence. To hear more songs like “Yeah!”, check out Oscar's debut record Chew The Scenery, out now.

NONEWFRIENDS - “Not Your Girl”

A smooth and velvety voice that wraps you up in warmth and love. “Not Your Girl,” is everything we are looking for. The kind of song you can dwell in at any time of the day but feel comforted in. NONEWFRIENDS venture out into a new vibe, mixing smooth R&B with hints of pop and rap. Sounding like soul R&B meets Mac Miller, “Not Your Girl,” is one song you have to get on. With it as an introduction, we’re excited to see what NONEWFRIENDS has in store for us as they master many sonic elements in their music.  

Wilter - “haven’t been”

LA-based songwriter and producer Will Durkee’s musical project wilter has released his latest double-single, “haven’t been”. Consisting of the title track and “solo/solong”, this single is an example of wilter’s command of thoughtful and cogent lyricism. The production weaves earthy acoustic melodies, ethereal vocal layering, and ambient sonics to create wilter’s eclectic sound. 

“‘haven’t been’ was a musical breakthrough… [it] jumps around the insecurity in impermanence when things seem to be going too well” states Durkee and this is evident even in the arresting initial bars of “haven’t been”. A soothing and vivid double single, “haven’t been” showcases a promising and multifaceted artist who you will want to keep an eye out for. 

carwash - “racetrack”

“Racetrack” is the latest single from Indie-Folk, emo-tinged carwash. Created by 20-year-old multi-instrumentalist and multi-disciplinary artist Garrett Seamans, the track comes with an announcement of the release of his debut EP, soapwater, coming September 17th. At its core, “racetrack” is a lush acoustic track in which Seamans’s voice drifts solemnly throughout. Ultimately about connection and time spent with that special someone, it pulls on the strings of nostalgia and the banality of everyday life. It compares to the ideas laid within Lorde’s album Pure Heroine, where conversations lingered through drives around the neighborhood, laps and laps around the same streets, becoming the most tender of moments shared amongst friends. It is a heartfelt, vulnerable track, and we cannot wait to see what Seamans continues to have in store.

Jump & Turner - “Steppin”

“Make the art you wish existed” - that is what we were told in regards to the newest track by Jump & Turner. The indie-pop duo are seeking out to create the music they wish existed, breaking the mold of the traditional means in which pop music stands by. Within “Stepping,” the duo created a hazy, lo-fi, indie track that tinges with an understated sexiness - one that helps you get into the mood on those warm summer nights. Overall, the track is a three-minute chill, dreamwave like song that compares to an 80’s indie-rock band. With smooth synth lines and an even funkier vocal, you’ll be bopping to this all summer long.

Cam Maclean - “See How I Missed You”

Montreal based singer/ songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Cam Maclean, shares his latest song “See How I Miss You”, a delicate and emotionally charged yacht rock ballad. The intro is instantly gripping with Maclean’s atmospheric guitar riff. As this melody plays throughout,  there is a breezy quality to the layered instrumentation and the singer’s elusive vocals. Cam’s singing tone is delicate and simultaneously compelling. “See How I Missed You” is seductive and innocent as it paints a picture of deep yearning.  The song embodies elements of soft-rock and west coast sounds that feels both relaxing and light. 

The track is released as the second single from his forthcoming solo LP. 

Moonwalker - “Distorted Suburbia”

LA two-piece, Moonwalker, are creating music that fill us up with the right amount of excitement and groove. Many bands are trying to secure a good rock sound, similar to old rock bands but that’s a tough place to achieve. However, Moonwalker just hit it right in the nail. Their sound takes you back to classic rock elements yet with more modern indie rock elements being blended in. The vocals overall tie their music together, it’s both rough but smooth. A duo you should be paying attention to because if “Distorted Suburbia” is a peak into what new stuff they’re making, it’s something to be highly anticipated of. 

The Shivas - “Undone”

Perfectly straddling the line between a solid-head bopping track and an introspective deep cut, The Shivas’ “Undone” is a rock & roll gem. The track sounds straight out of the late 60s and fits seamlessly in the Portland band’s electrifying catalog. Their latest single since the start of the pandemic, “Undone” is ode loneliness and embracing it and was written and sung by the band’s drummer Kristin Leonard. This is a single from their upcoming LP, Feel So Good // Feel So Bad, which will be their 7th full-length project. With the complications caused by COVID-19 on a global scale, maintaining a musical career has been quite challenging for many, and the band’s outlook was to “adapt or just quit” according to Jared Molyneux. Thankfully opting for the former, the group has returned with an unforgettable and energetic single. Set for release on the 24th of September, Feel So Good // Feel So Bad is said to be an album about “acceptance” by the band, and it is definitely one to pre-add to your library. 

Chloe Berry - “Pocket Full of Daises”

Pocket Full of Daisies,” is a tongue-and-cheek, indie track from singer-songwriter Chole Berry. In discussing the track with Berry, she said, “I wrote this song about a romantic relationship that is burdened by one's own insecurities and baggage. It can be hard to move on from past hurt even when you are given all the flowers in the world.” On the surface, the song is rather happy and charming, with dreamy and lush instrumentals the pair with her sweet-sounding vocals. While the lyrics compare differently, being much more vulnerable and heartbreaking, the song acts as a message of being able to allow yourself to fully grow and heal. In doing so, can you then see the beauty and wonder that surrounds you. 

The rising New York-based indie-popstress has graced us with a glimpse into her world of love, insecurities, and a bit of baggage. Berry puts a sweet, melancholic twist to the track that identifies the beauty of love, yet unaware of how special it could be until you fully let go of the past. It’s a bittersweet tale for anyone who’s ever faced the duality of a healthy romance while not knowing how to accept it in the first place.

Addezine - “Stairs”

Evocative and sentimental are the best words to describe Addezine’s endearing debut. The solo project of UK-native Tom Edden, Addezine has arrived with the single “Stairs”. An easy-going and immediately affecting track that makes use of Addezine’s background as a drummer. It attempts not to be far too intricate so as to deter from the nostalgic and sweet-toned chords, however simultaneously showing off his chops as a skilled drummer. If that isn’t impressive enough, “Stairs” is wholly produced, recorded, and mixed by the self-taught Edden. Combining indie-pop, alt-RnB with a touch of folk, Edden is clearly defining his career as undefinable. “Stairs” is a promising and touching inaugural single, and will definitely have you wanting more.

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