The overdriven, jangling nature of “No Light” immediately evokes nostalgia for a cramped performance at Trans Pecos or Babys All Right, yet the breakbeat energy Gawn bring to their performance keeps things forward focused. “Don’t sit around and find out, just get out and go,” sings bandleader and erstwhile touring musician Zach Koenig, an apt sentiment for a period plagued by constant inertia, though the track’s amp-straining guitar and condensed vox a la King Khan and the BBQ show make it difficult to sit still while listening. Sunny dispositions and slight discord make this single just the right amount of rough-hewn, and recommended listening for Friday nights indoors — watch the video below.

 New York experimental indie pop artist Zaliza reemerges on the scene with new single “Below,” a chilled, somewhat hushed recollection of intimacy. A track centered around the experience of “wanting vultnerability with someone, and knowing neither of us could give that to the other,” Zaliza explores thematic and sonic dualities, melding warm, centered vox with dark, tactile instrumentals texturally reminiscent of jungle and dub electronic music. Such qualities play well into this exploration of separation and togetherness, creating a pervasive sense of familiarity and alienation — the perfect soundtrack for emotional turbulence and the fear of truly being known by another. Give it a listen below, and keep an eye out for companion single “Little Raptures” out next month. Photo by Alexx Duvall

It’s not uncommon during periods of stress or uncertainty to regress, or at the very least, imagine some sort of hypothetical bygone age viewed through rose-tinted goggles. Such feverish daydreams are the center of Local Nomad’s new single “Summertime,” a sweltering electro-pop jam that recalls the childlike joys of playing baseball during the warmer months. With synth leads evocative of 80s new wave paired with contemporary, progressive songwriting, multi-instrumentalist Michael Desmond is certainly looking towards the past — though the groove is never overwhelmed by a perverse sense of nostalgia. Rather, Local Nomad’s recollections stay grounded and realistic, letting the track’s vivid memories play off its colorful keys and dynamic vocal performances, in the end crafting a misty, escapist banger for what feels like a ‘lost’ summer — give it a listen below, and be sure to stream the project’s self-titled EP, out tomorrow.
 

While partially rooted in past trauma, “Horrible Person” by Brooklyn-based avant-pop performer Caitlin Pasko resonates as a step onto new ground — a “reconfiguration [of an] internal compass” in the artist’s own words, wherein from a minimalist soundscape and untethered vox she constructs a path forward. Building from an abiding minimalist vibration that underlies the track’s nearly six minute runtime, Pasko (in collaboration with ex-Zula polymath Henry Grant) draws in sharp filtered strings, crafting tense synthetic elements which counteract a dulcet-yet-raw vocal line, one that with steely resolve serves as a lyrical takedown of psychological abuse. Such an approach serves as the foundation of Pasko’s forthcoming LP Greenhouse — the idea that such pain can serve as a centerpiece around which a musical safe space is created, one that fosters healing, regrowth, and personal transformation. Give it a listen below, and be sure to keep an eye out for the full album out August 28th on Whatever’s Clever.

A pleasant mix of folk’s old and new trajectories, Brooklyn seven piece Dirty Bird’s new single “Eventide” seems tailor-made for periods wherein time surreptitiously passes. “Behind the shadow of the day’s final thoughts, I walk, still I’m endlessly searching for dawn,” echo the track’s vibrant refrain, a mix of soft percussive fills and an interwoven tapestry of guitars, banjo, and baroque-like vocal accents. Lush and inviting, it’s ironic that “Eventide” would make prime listening for a walk through an idyllic meadow during a period wherein we should all (still) be staying inside — for the time being it provides an acoustic reprieve that’s perfect for fans of bands like San Fermin or the Decemberists. Download it below (all proceeds go to the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund). Photo by Anthony Mulcahy

Emergent experimental electronic duo Glass Salt bill themselves as “the product of friendship, musical chemistry, and unmediated collaboration,” which well explains the delightful characteristics of debut single “what would you say.”Johann Diedrick’s soft twinkling synth waltzes upwards as Caylie Staples vocalizes seemingly three rooms away, endowing the project’s soundwith a distant yet accommodating atmosphere, something akin to the disorientation you might feel waking up from a pleasant afternoon nap. Furthermore, it’s easy to imagine Staples and Diedrick noodling about when listening to this effort; their relationship really shines, coloring this track in a warm, fuzzy glow. Give it a listen below and preorder their forthcoming release greetings ahead of its drop July 3rd.

There’s a bubbling defiance at the center of “The Fighter,” the new single by NYC-based art punk outfit Rich Girls. Against a forward-facing, march-inducing beat and heavy reverb electric guitar, bandleader Luisa Black’s vox maintains a steely defiance, embedding the track with an energy that’s both haunting and invigorating for the listener. Regarding the song, Black stated her inspiration came from the continued intolerance that preoccupied her thoughts throughout 2020: “Fuck bigots, it’s all I thought about this year. If it’s about anything, it’s about that.” As such, consider adding “The Fighter” to your direct action playlist, and purchasing a digital copy on Bandcamp — all proceeds of the track’s sales will be donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center — and give it a listen below.
 

 For those finding themselves feeling adrift amidst the various, simultaneous historical epochs we’re currently living through, the indie pop of Miserable Chillers might provide some necessary respite. New chilled bop “La nave del olvido” draws inspiration from a deep sea voyage that revealed plastic bags and trash among previously undiscovered marine life. In this sense, the track, which borrows its name from Jose Jose song that bandleader Miguel Gallego’s mother used to play frequently in his youth, feels like an oasis hidden from the outside world’s prying eyes; dulcet baroque pop meets the relaxed attitude of 80s yacht rock, congealing to a final product that feels both dreamy and present, music perfect for poolside listening and internal reflection. Stream or download it below — all proceeds from digital Bandcamp purchases of any Miserable chillers release today will be donated to Bed-Stuy Strong — and keep an eye out for Miserable Chiller’s debut LP Audience of Summer out August 7th (via Baby Blue).

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.

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.

It seems like as businesses and restaurants reopen in many American cities that the last three months have been rendered a blur — just time in-between stopping and starting that’s quick to be forgotten. “Home,” the latest video by New York songwriter Mae Krell, helps render some of these post- and inter-pandemic moments visually and musically, recalling the hopelessness of March’s last weeks. “I walk the streets with nobody besides me,” Krell croons, their voice floating above somber reverting piano and minimalist beat, as lofi snapshots of city life pass lazily before our eyes. While we’re in no way out of the woods yet, “Home” acts as a contemporary time capsule reminding us of collective despair and uncertainty, simultaneously serving as a reminder of the people who may have helped us weather the storm (emotionally). Watch it below, and maybe send it along to your quarantine buddy.

The psych-surf sound of “Mind Reading,” the new single by Long Beach-based outfit THESE PEOPLE, evokes memories of strange summers of years past, wherein tall tales become so exaggerated that you can’t tell where the facts end and the fiction begins. Swelling heatstroke guitar lines in tandem with an echoed-out vocal performance add to the track’s distant and foggy nature, and its quick transitions between major and minor modes prevent the track from ever finding solid footing. These elements combined make for an engaging listening experience, one that evokes a bit of Surfer Blood, a bit of Grateful Dead circa Blues for Allah, and a whole lot of Timothy Leary. Dip out for a bit and stream it below.