Moruga Scorpio‘s debut EP, 1, is an unapologetic collection of sweet, groovy, pop tunes that even music snobs can get into. The tunes blend surfy, classic sounding pop reminiscent of The Beach Boys with darker, heavier, weirder, psychedelic elements that bring The Butthole Surfers to mind. The songs are self-proudced by Evan Donohue, the mastermind behind Moruga Scorpio and former Diarrhea Planet member. Upon listening, it seems he harbors a strong distate genre limitations. There really isn’t a single category you can definitively box these songs into, and that makes his music exciting. Morgua Scorpio is for anyone who simply likes great songs with great production. Give it a listen: 

-Andrew Strader

Miki Fiki is a new project started by singer/songwriting Ted Hartog. His debut self-titled EP is a brass-heavy collection of heartbreaky pop tunes that have an irresistably sweet blend of nostalgia, catharsis and melancholy. Clearly influenced by indie pop sensations like Whitney and Ben Folds, Hartog’s work is lyric-heavy, with triumphant melodies that stick like glue to memory. The EP’s three songs chronicle the chaos of the post breakup emotional state and painstakingly organize it. If this short work is any indication of what’s to come from Miki Fiki in the future, indie pop fans had better be on the lookout because, sonically, there’s nothing else like this happening in Nashville. 

-Andrew Strader

James Tillman‘s music is produced with the kind of artistry that makes him mysterious. His debut album, Silk Noise Reflex, is an electronic take on Jazz, Soul, and R&B much in the same style as Flying Lotus. Tillman’s songwriting and vocal talents, however, prove undeniably apparent on the record, setting him aside from purely electronic producers. His melodies feel relaxed and natural, as if he created the entire work just strolling through a park. There are some universal themes that run throughout this sonic hybrid album. The search for meaning, companionship, health, and happiness seem to weave their way throughout every song. More than feeling like a cheesy self-help book, however, Tillman’s songs are measured and sure. What’s being chronicled isn’t a denial of loss, loneliness, anxiety, and insecurity, but an embracing of these realities and an insistence that they’re necessary parts of life. In this way, Silk Noise Reflex is dualistic both with its blend of electronic production and real instrumentation and in its abstract content. If you’re a fan of psychedelic, jazzy, hip hop stylel production, this is an NYC artist you’d be doing yourself a disservice to ignore. 

-Andrew Strader