New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Like Language recently two new single called "Used To Be Something" and "Somebody’s Gotta Go". This is the Indie Pop of Kristen Murray and Matthew Murray and the first new music from the husband and wife team since 2019’s Whatever You Want.
The duo recently appeared on the local music podcast Aux Populi for an extended interview with host Andy King.
Atmospheric rock group Varaha has released a trailer for their new single, "Reves", which will be released on June 26th. This track is a re-imagining of the track Severance from their 2019 album, A Passage For Lost Years.
While in quarantine, Flying Vipers, a group hailing from Waltham, MA, took the time to unearth a couple of old tapes that are now a double trouble remastered set of singles for all to enjoy. The instrumental reggae compositions are just what is prescribed, for the hot summer: with their relaxed-confident rhythms and cool embellishments of sparkling keys, they can cool down the body and mind. The additional production work on the singles is evident, with delays creating a more robust listening experience and an ambiance pleasant and intriguing. The trip may be a short one, but it is a good one, stream both singles below right now. – Rene Cobar
The Lagoons, consisting of brothers Ryan and Joey Selan, put out a peaceful new single “So Did I” on June 5th. The duo craft a romantic track that’s perfect for a relaxing summer day by the pool or an introspective walk in the park. The song floats in your ears like a breeze pushed by the comfort of a devoted lover
Airy synths and an acoustic guitar open the track as punchy drum samples and calming vocals begin to fill out the arrangement. Lead vocalist Joey sings “Your mama thinks that you’re so divine. So do I, so do I”, eventually concluding with “She knew the day would come when you were mine. I thought she’d cry, instead she smiled and so did I.” This comparison between maternal love and the love between significant others is both bold and heartwarming. After the first verse, the composition moves into full swing with lush synth pads, a soaring saxophone, detailed percussion, and a fully unravelled drumbeat.
Along with the track, The Lagoons put out a ‘making of’ video showing the intricacies of their production style. Their home studio is shown littered with guitars, synthesizers, samplers, and microphones, practically everything someone would need to professionally produce a track! It’s insightful seeing the brothers in their element as both multi-instrumentalists are able to show off their talents.
This song preludes The Lagoons’ debut LP Midnight Afternoon coming out on June 23rd. It will surely be as breezy and buoyant as “So Did I”. Also catch their virtual album release party on June 25th.
– Hayden Steckel
Half Gringa (aka Izzy Olive) has announced that here sophomore album, Force To Reckon, will be released on August 28th. This album is the follow-up to her highly acclaimed 2017 debut Gruñona, and will feature the 2019 single "Teggsas".
To coincide with the announced she has released the album’s opening track "1990".
Dehd has released a new single and video, “Flood,” from their sophomore album, Flower of Devotion, out July 17th on Fire Talk. This follows the album’s lead single, "Loner", and is accompanied by a great video directed by Andrew Miller & Emily Kempf.
Writer, filmmaker, and musician Rohil Aniruth penned his latest single “CITRUS” while “sitting on a fire escape in New York,” a backstory that immediately colors the single’s somber, wandering narrative in terms relatable. In between lyrics sporadically examining the artist’s precarious psyche (“I’m all alone again, this time don’t feel the same”), Rohil’s electric guitar stumbles forwards in a dissociative manner. Paired with a growling, soft-spoken baritone, it becomes easy to imagine Aniruth quietly noodling about on a lurid summer night, recounting details of past love in a bittersweet manner. Such qualities make“CITRUS” is a track for those up far later than they intended, turning over the people who’ve “stained [their] brain,” wishing well to those who’ve moved on while maintaining hope to do the same one day — stream it the next time you’re feeling ruminative after midnight.
The prolific Chris Crack is back with a new mixtape called "Cute Boys (The Rise of Lil Delicious)". The mixtape features contributions from fellow New Deal Crew member Cutta, and this is Crack’s second release this year coming close of the heel’s of "White People Love Algorithms".
Neo-Soul group Cordoba has released a new single called "Factory" featuring A.ADISA. This is the group’s second single since the released of their 2018 album, Break the Locks Off Everything New.
This is the work of Brianna Tong (vocals), Eric Novak (vocals and sax), Cam Cunningham (guitar), Zach Bain-Selbo (keys), Khalyle Hagood (bass), and Zach Upton-Davis (drums).
For the video for "Factory" the group reached out to some friends and asked that they record themselves working during quarantine. It features folks from @Jeraf, Blacker Face, Gilt Drip, Jovan Landry, Mermaid N.V.., DXTR Spits, Nexus J., Sex No Babies, and Cloudtone, in addition to Cordoba themselves.
Burlington-by-way-of-New York outfit J Bengoy pivot towards a more synth-forward sound on new single “Stick Up Kids.” Keeping the same anthemic approach to songwriting that characterized their 2018 LP Dogwood Winter, the new single finds the recently relocated Brooklyn group centering their sound around cool keys, though some nice syncopation between strings and synth lends some energy to the song’s wistful, somewhat dreamy chorus detailing bygone days of “dumb teenage fun.” Regardless of the pivot, J Bengoy retains their consummate approach to crafting earworm indie bops — stream it below ahead of their forthcoming sophomore album American Camp, out later this summer.
Boston’s The Macrotones are a quality group, and that shows in the band’s latest EP Bloody Hands, which delves into the mythos of R&B, soul, and funk to retrieve a sound that has all the grit and glamour of ‘70s underground afrobeat clubs. The title track is led by a robust bassline that slithers in sync with the serrated vocals and snappy beat that add flame to it. “Nighttime Persona” uses brass instrumentation and vibrant, lingering electric guitar work to embellish a song smooth and soulful. The Macrotones find in these tracks the blues edge that artists like Fantastic Negrito and Gary Clark Jr. so effortlessly have. “All Intentions Hidden” packs the full spirit of a group that does not fear to lose itself in the music it creates; For the right sort of trip stream the bluesy “Snakehunter” below. – Rene Cobar
theMIND has released a new single called "A Spike Lee Jawn". The track is produced by Cam O’bi and Renzell and contribution from Krystal Metcalfe. The single is being released on Bandcamp to coincide with their Juneteenth fundraiser for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
theMIND has released a series of singles since his acclaimed 2016 album Summer Camp, and is currently working on a sophomore album called Don’t Let It Go to Your Head.
