Eddz - Low

Low - Eddz (Dark Pop) Eddz serves an extremely unique track with Low, a spoken word piece paired with a resounding chorus that reminds us of Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” in terms of the general sound of the track. In Low, Eddz paints a dark, cloudy, overcast atmosphere with an invitation to witness what feels like a depressive episode. The song begins with a vast orchestral soundscape that does much to set the mood of the track, before a grungy guitar and distorted drum kit inject drive and passion into the song to compliment Eddz’s spoken word verses. We also really appreciate the dissonant keys that push some tension throughout the track. We recommend this song for those days you just want to sit in your feelings and let this song help you pour out the darkness so there can be room for light.

Best Lyric: “The clouds are forming a face that no one can recognize anymore.”

Taylor Jules - 19

19 - Taylor Jules (Pop) - There is SO MUCH to love about this gem of a track. First, the song centers entirely around a glorious vocal from Taylor, which gave us a lot of moments of modern day JoJo with the occasional Ariana. From the powerful leads to the glistening backgrounds, you can’t tell us you don’t get chills when you play this one, no matter how many times you have it on repeat. Style wise, this beautiful pop midtempo seems to sit mostly in indie pop but we can’t help but hear some country influence in the melody—just a touch, never veering into twang. Mood wise, this is a wistful one, reminding the listener of a time when they thought they knew everything and the world was at their fingertips. With a song like this, we certainly think the world is at Taylor’s.

Best Lyric: “Just a wink and a smile and the world will open wide.”

Carter Ray - Dear Victoria

Dear Victoria - Carter Ray (Pop) Equal parts endearing and dance-able, before even knowing the meaning behind Carter Ray’s Dear Victoria, you can tell it’s a deeply personal track, which the artist’s sweet, focused vocal conveys with a breezy easiness about it. From the distorted synth lead to the vocal effects of pen on paper, there’s a bittersweetness to this bop in line with, say, Janet’s “Together Again.” The overall feel of the track is a modern pop 2-step, though we also feel a touch of retro in some of the instrumentation—an occasional bass lead moment comes to mind—that could land this in the heyday of DJ Mustard. If you’re looking for a home for this track in your library, we suggest putting Dear Victoria on any Justin Bieber styled playlist.

Without diving deeper, you may think the song is about a lost loved one, and on that level completely works as a mainstream bop. However, the song becomes so much richer when you realize the artist is a trans man and that Victoria was their prior identity pre-transition (dead name). Being able to take a specific queer experience, fit it in a modern mainstream style without losing any of its meaning and YET being universal and easily accessible to the masses—-now that is masterful. Hats off to Carter.

Best Lyric: “They’ll say I did this to you, but you did this for me.”

PolSky - Song for the Silver Surfer (Aphrodite Remix)

Song for the Silver Surfer (Aphrodite Remix) - PolSky (Pop) PolSky’s latest remix of track Song for the Silver Surfer takes an EDM/Dubstep approach to the original release, lead first and foremost by the sharp kick set front and center. The mix couldn’t be anymore different than the original, which plays much more like a sweeping ballad—in fact, you could have told us this was an entirely new original track and we’d be none the wiser. However, what we appreciate the most about this remix is that while expanding the song with additional instrumental breaks and nearly overhauling the vocals, it does not abandon those vocals in favor of dance club production, and thus maintains the song’s sing-along-ability while still extending the mix at the same time. The remix has a real “jump up and down” or “mosh pit” feel to it—you envision a crowd of people all flinging into each other as they jam out to this track. Personally, we think calling this track a remix is a disservice—it’s a reinvention.

Mac Summer - Suddenly The Rain

Suddenly The Rain - Mac Summer (EDM) Mac Summer’s new track, Suddenly The Rain, is a a big one. It takes a good breath at the top to set the stage with sweeping synths and lilting keys in order to create a vast soundscape, but as soon as the percussion hits, it’s a freight train right out of the gate. The song plays it pretty straight with traditional EDM elements, but we get a bit of left field with the appearance of operatic vocals that compliment the Ellie Goulding-esque female leads. We also have a sprinkling of male vocals at the intro and bridge, helping to keep things interesting as the EDM beat pulses along. But what stands out to us the most about Suddenly The Rain is the undeniable earworm that is the chorus. We defy you to not have the title of this track replaying over and over in your mind after hearing it. Due to its drive and catchy melody, we think this one goes best on your commute playlist (not to mention on your pregame soundtrack).

Best Lyric: “I gave you my trust but you treated me like I couldn't see.”

Perry Ripley - Sinner

Sinner - Perry Ripley (Indie Rock/Pop) Perry’s haunting baritone is the perfect delivery method for the well crafted lyrics of Sinner. Smartly playing on the theme, Sinner’s midtempo belt makes it an obvious choice for anyone’s karaoke night. The song plays like a dance—we envision a gothic waltz—that could easily feature on a show like New Adventures of Sabrina or any of those gothic supernatural shows currently in vogue on all the streaming sites. On the technical side, the first thing we noticed was how well this tracked is mixed and balanced, avoiding the common choice of making the vocal significantly louder than the instrumental. Instead, Sinner is well baked. We also really enjoyed the the addition of a distortion on the vocals and guitar to separate the chorus from the verses to really make it a moment. Blast this one in your car and don’t mind the onlookers as you belt along with Perry.

Best Lyric: “I cut off my wings for you.”

Aldred - The Centre of the Downward Spiral

The Centre of the Downward Spiral (EP) - Aldred (Experimental) So before you dive into aldred’s The Center of the Downward Spiral, you’re going to want to turn down (or off) the lights and make sure you’re hooked up to a surround sound stereo system.  aldred’s masterful EP is a carefully crafted soundscape in which you should sit in the center, and let this broody collection of choral lushness swirl around you.

The EP delivers four unique tracks in a cohesive package, both in tone and production.  This is a broody affair, with aldred’s baritone delivered in a multi-layered chorus, typically soft spoken with occasional moments of piercing through the miasma of synths and reverbs to make a point.  It is clear from the lyrics to the delivery that this album is deeply personal to the artist, which always elevates music in our view.  From the first few moments of the EP you realize you’re in for something special.

Red Light Energy sets the tone on what will prove to be an impeccably sequenced EP.  We love aldred’s commitment to style—the mark of a true artist with a project-mentality over hit chasing.  It’s a unique one at that, marked by lush synths, warbly backgrounds and boy does he like to weave around with panning that almost makes these tracks an ASMR experience.  The EP also makes great use of amelodic sound effects–with this track introducing us to some haunting screams and breaking glass.  Red Light Energy is what tucks us into aldred’s universe.

The next track, Every Angle, shows that aldred is conscious of making sure his style does not blend the songs to the point of them losing their individual identity.  Every Angle’s unique feature is in the percussion-a tom that cuts through the dreamy synths before a techno inspired percussion that pulls us up tempo, starting to veer away from Red Light Energy’s abstract construction into a slightly more structured affair.

We slow back down with Pink Glass, but gain more structure.  This track interestingly uses a hiphop-inspired percussion to the fuzzy synths to make what we think is probably the most radio-friendly track.  The vocals are heavily layered here, and now three songs in, we start to wonder if aldred comes from a choral background considering the complexity of the arrangement.

End of days concludes the EP’s melancholy tone with a thudding kick and a nintendo-reminsicent synth, and is far and above our favorite track on the project.  What stands out to us the most is the interesting choices made in the melodic progression—inspired in our point of view, making each segue a surprise.  The carefulness with which the song was created is evident in its incredibly diverse instrumentation as well—lots of switch-ups here that constantly keep you guessing.  We also count Aldred’s brooding voice among the instrumentation, perfectly baked into the production.

aldred is certainly an artist with a vision, and among all their referenced inspirations, we think this work fits neatly into the bjork universe.  Well produced and cohesive, aldred’s The Centre of the Downward Spiral is an extremely engaging listen and a feat of both artistry and vision.

Luch Stefano - I Like It on You

I Like It on You - Luch Stefano (Indie Pop) Luch Stefano’s silky vocals are the star of this tub-thumping guitar heavy track, which we could see placed in the third act of a rom com or behind some couple’s wedding video. There’s certainly a cinematic quality to the song—this is what a music licensor wants for their montage, we feel confident in that. The kick pulses like a heartbeat as Luc and his guitar duet among a minimalist, but not small, production. The remaining percussion, keys and strings are delightfully restrained, serving only to lightly push the song along or introduce a dash of tension. Close your eyes and listen to this one, it feels like you’re being swept up by a stream. Because of that momentum, we recommend you let Luc serenade you on your commute playlist.

Best Lyric: “Oh I hate that bloody accent but I suppose I like it on you.”

Libby Johnston - Right Person, Wrong Time

Right Person, Wrong Time - Libby Johnston (Pop) Libby Johnston’s anthemic new track is a perfect example of how to craft a build to both keep the listener engaged and carry them through to the end of the song. The instrumentation feels unique and at times completely unexpected—while the pulsing, moody synths permeate the entire track, there are so many unique percussion switchups and new synths weaving in and out that just when you think you know where you’re going, there’s a delightful diversion into something new. Vocals wise, Libby is a strong storyteller with a real authority to her voice—we sense a theatrical background here due to how she delivers her lyrics. Sonically, we catch little glimpses of Alanis Morissette’s later work here and there. In sum, Libby’s new track is a journey—one we recommend you take.

Best Lyric: “Defending behavior and romanticizing lies.”

Rogue FX - American Dream

American Dream - Rogue FX (Pop/Synthwave) First off, the second the song kicks off we get a real Sweet Dreams vibe which we think occasionally veers into Blinded Me With Science inspirations. This retro 80s synthwave sound carries through the entire track, from the synths and percussion to the vocal production. Vocals wise, the layering is smooth and ear pleasing, reminding on us of some early George Michael in the diction and intonation. But what sets this song apart—and marries it to its retro theme—is the third-person storytelling. It’s rare these days we get a song narrating the lives and emotions of characters and we really appreciate the return to form in American Dream.

Best Lyric: “Can’t stop the wheels in motion.”

Ben Kelly - Senses

Senses - Ben Kelly (R&B) Instrumentation wise, this new track from Ben Kelly feels like something Jazmine Sullivan might hop on. It’s a unique vibe, pairing a driving guitar with distorted percussion and a retro synth pluck that really sticks in our head. Ben’s resonant baritone rides this beat perfectly, blending seamlessly into the mix, paired with some pleasant tight harmonies chiming in at just the right time. The entire track is a moody affair, Ben croons that he finally understands that love is indeed real, and that he’s in love with his lover. But the melancholy imbued by Ben’s vocal delivery suggests that it it might be too late for him, adding a layer of context outside of the lyrics that really elevates the artistry of the song. This one goes on your chill vibes playlist.

Best Lyric: “You can touch and feet, but you touched my heart.”

Sharod Virtuoso - Favorite

Favorite - Sharod Virtuoso (R&B) There’s something about this new Sharod Virtuoso track that reminds us of early John Legend in the vibe. The entire affair has a retro R&B feel, 00s we’d say, and we appreciate the time travel. The warbly keys paired with an impeccably tight production makes for quite the bop, but the star of the track is certainly Sharod’s honey vocals. His delivery is understated, focused and intimate, and he really chews his lyrics which shows his connection to the material. The track has a melancholy vibe as Sharod wonders if his love interest considers him their favorite amongst all the other guys they might have around. The standout of this track that makes us want to keep this on repeat is Sharod’s use of harmony punches throughout, which provides a bounty of ear candy that makes us smile everytime they make an appearance—certainly making Favorite one of ours.

Best Lyric: “Don’t wanna disagree and I don’t wanna fight, don’t know if it’s the truth or not but it’s alright.”

Mase J - Head//heart

PHOTO: Iyisha Rose Williams

Head//heart - Mase J (Rap) We really appreciate when a rap artist’s flow perfectly straddles than line between rap and sung melody. Mase J does just that, navigating between those two types of vocals seamlessly, with a focused reedy and resonant vocal that sits perfectly in the melancholy of the instrumental. The instrumental is paired down and set on a loop, which effectively sets the mood while taking a back seat to the lyrics, passing through an EQ filter throughout to give the necessary track movement and structure. Our only complaint is that we want it to be longer—there’s too much good in this track to not give us even more.

Best Lyric: “She said she loved me and I believed that.”

Clare Easdown - To The One's I Love

To The One’s I Love - Clare Easdown (Pop) Clare’s back with another poetic number paired with a fresh trap percussion. In our prior review of her track “Wrap Me Up,” we said her lyrics could easily double as an entry at a slam poetry reading, and we can confidently say the same about these haunting lyrics. With a quivering vulnerability, Clare calls to the ones she loves that she needs to be seen. It is a heart-wrenching plea that we think any family’s black sheep or misunderstood misfit can relate to. What’s special about Clare’s music is how deeply personal it appears to be—specific and yet still managing to be universal at the same time. Put this one on repeat, you’ll need to really unpack these lyrics to truly appreciate the depth of songwriting.

Best Lyric: “Your radio silence is violent."

The Magic Epic - Player 1

Player 1 - The Magic Epic (Pop) Player 1 is an anthem, to say the least. It’s big, epic even, with glistening keys around a steady kick and crisp top percussion, with an urgency added by the thrumming guitar. But where the song truly shines is in its vocals. There’s a Sting quality to the leads, taking us back to Fields of Gold days, with a dash of the Killers. And the man has quite a set of pipes on him, giving real power to the video game themed lyrics about saving the world. Not to mention a smooth as hell falsetto. Swirling in a haunting reverb, it melds perfectly into the track, sitting extremely well in the mix. Overall, we think Player 1 is a great one for your everyday commute playlist—it’s a driving song.

Best Lyric: “I’d go back for you. Use my extra life.”

AlanP - Ravers and Parties

Ravers and Parties - AlanP (EDM) So at first, we were getting a real Stranger Things feel with the initial chimes of the track, expecting a moody synth midtempo. But it’s a bait and switch with AlanP’s Ravers and Parties as the vibe immediately takes left turn into a pure EDM delight that we feel is destined for the clubs. The lead vocals are modern, strong and are the center of the track, giving us a “One Kiss” Dua Lipa style delivery. The track overall has a great momentum and feels like it would sit comfortably among all of Calvin Harris’ work. Our favorite part of the song by far is at the very end when the distorted vocal is chopped and screwed brilliantly, cutting the song off at just the moment you want more, forcing you to put the track on repeat for another fix. Brilliantly constructed with a hyper-fresh sound, this one goes on your pregame playlist before you hear it again later that night at the club.

Best Lyric: “The girls are looking for someone to explore, maybe it’s your day.”