The most striking thing you might notice about Huh’s music is how it blends its meticulousness with its witty and relatively catchy songwriting. Many of the songs found on the Whatever You Want EP deal with being fed up with the bullshit of the world and forging whatever path they want: men sharing poetry they think is darker than anything you could understand; being with any man they want without worrying about what others think; condemning their youth if it means usurping their own privilege… The four songs, while brief, say a lot about what’s on this four-piece’s mind. But the band never becomes entirely weighed down by their own messages; the precise and mechanical drumming from Ryann Slauson pushes each song forward while Tia Vincent-Clark’s distinctly rebellious vocals punctuate every song’s message with cathartic triumph. You can catch Huh performing at Alphaville on June 14. -Tucker Pennington

Opening with strings that instantly hook listeners is a bold move for a band’s lead single. But everything about Champagne Superchillin’ screams boldness, from the sensual and soothing vocals sung entirely in French to the title of their newest single which translates into “love of fate”. “Amor Fati” is a cool, cinematic song and the first single of the band’s upcoming album Beach Deep. It utilizes the sum of the band’s parts to create something that is effortless in its charisma; the bass line instantly finds a swaying groove as a psychedelic mist coats the guitars. The single is evocative and instills old-school pop styles without relying on nostalgia to create a brilliant introduction to the band. However, the track also blends darker tones to create something that is simultaneously mesmeric and uneasy. The strings cut back in twice, transforming the song into a bewitching soundtrack for nocturnal creatures. You can watch the music video for “Amor Fati” below and catch Champagne Superchillin’ performing at Alphaville on June 23. -Tucker Pennington

New York native, queer singer-songwriter Kat Cunning is no stranger to the stage. After earning a BFA in dance, performing on Broadway with Cirque du Soleil, and recently landing a recurring role on HBO, Kat has transitioned to the third aspect of the triple threat, and found a home in singing. In her new single, “Wild Poppies,” loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, she explores the idea of “a version of The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy doesn’t come home.” Cunning’s sultry, velvet voice perfectly intensifies the tragic lyrics “The courage to / See through you’d have kept me blind / We’re face to face / And I’ve pulled the curtain wide.” The passion of Lorde mixed with the pop feel of Billie Eilish results in a caramel-smooth stripped-down pop ballad of love, pain, and coming to terms with the truth of a relationship. She returned to her home of New York after finishing a sold-out national tour with singer-songwriter LP, and you can catch her live at House of Yes tonight (June 13th). – Lily Crandall, photo by Ben Trivett