Ruby Tingle - Fountainia

Fountainia - Ruby Tingle (Avant Garde/Jazz) Ruby Tingle’s EP “Fountainia” is an aquatic themed trip down the rabbit hole, infusing live instrumentation with electronica to create a gothic jazz journey worthy of a Tim Burton film. The EP is less a collection of songs, and more an immersive art experience, and one we suggest you dive into.

Using natural sound processes and celestial vocals on a jazz template, Ruby’s sound is as unique as it is engaging. Worthy of Danny Elfman comparisons, the mix of cavernous reverbs and haunting operatic backgrounds aids Ruby’s excellent storytelling—we only read her intent with the project after listening to it and boy we were right on the money. Her soundscapes are also not bound by form, with the tracks often spinning into instrumental jam sessions that convince us “Fountainia” might be best consumed live in concert.

As sequenced, the EP feels like a journey through a strange world, equal parts haunting and beautiful, which draws the listener deeper and deeper with each new tributary. Ending in almost a funeral march, the project is cohesive and begs full immersion in order to experience the breadth of the artistic vision at play.

“Through the Canal”, the opener, is thoughtfully placed as it is the most approachable of the set. There’s a mystical introduction with the undertones of darkness that will permeate the project. The vocals are theatrical, curious and lilting, eventually accompanied by a soaring violin. It certainly sets the mood for what is to come.

“Birdland,” which may also be a reference to the noteworthy jazz club in NYC, is a study in musical tension, and begins to build the uncertainty in the project. At this point in the journey, the listener understands that it should leave any expectations behind and allow the stream to carry you where Ruby wants you to go. We particularly enjoyed the percussion in this piece, clearly evocative of raindrops from both the hats to the seductive patter of the bongos. Atmospheric and poetic, “Birdland” serves to solidify the atmosphere.

“Swimming Song” is where we really start moving. While prior tracks seemed playful and whimsical, there is much more drive to this one—we wrote down “the train is leaving the station.” Ruby has a knack for blending herself as a co-equal to the instrumentation rather than stand front and center, this time sharing the spotlight with a surprising guitar solo.

“Oyster” begins to pull away from the live instrumentation-centric tracks to center around a buzzy, urgent synth. Next to the closer, this is the darkest area of the pool, even nightmarish at times, with Ruby delivering her punchiest vocal which at times evoked Natalie Merchant.

“Journey to the Pool” felt like a tour of an otherworldly bizarre, surveying strange merchants and foreign wares. Ruby returns to her signature siren call and silky vocals, pulling us back to the cathedral.

Our favorite, however, is the closer “Gargoyle Mouth” which feels like a cinematic funeral procession. Broody and grim, the song takes on the vibe of an incantation, before finally spinning off into a swirling miasma that leaves the listener to ponder the journey now concluded.

In sum, “Fountainia” is an aural experience we suggest you wade into.

Henka - Caught Up

Caught Up - Henka (Dark Pop) Well this one is full of surprises. When Henka’s latest track “Caught Up” starts, it was clear that we had a cinematic feeling record on our hands with a Top 40 sensibility. It’s a hard hitting EDM production with crisp snaps and trap snares, booming with a distorted lead bass accompanied by a strong, layered lead vocal cutting nicely through the heavy production. And then, we were knocked out of our seats when suddenly Henka’s alter ego seems to take over before each chorus to deliver a heavy metal lead vocalist performance going from pop diva to Insane Clown Posse, delivering our favorite line “why am I hating myself when I should be hating you?” in a very “I hate you so much right now” Kelis kind of moment. There was also a really interesting FX choice later in the production further layering on the darkness that sounded…well…like the demogorgon from Stranger Things. With a hard hitting production, strong pop vocal and several haunting surprises, “Caught Up” stands out from the pop pack.

Best Lyric: “Why am I hating myself when I should be hating you?”

trouble bunny - M.D.L.

M.D.L. - trouble bunny (Avant Garde) Delightfully strange is probably the best way we can describe trouble bunny’s latest track, “M.D.L.” With a tight instrumental production that makes us think of MIA, we get a sort of spoken word/rap performed with all the lethargy and vocal fry of a Kardashian. We don’t mean this critically in the slightest as the quirkiness reads as entirely intentional, which makes the song incredibly engaging and extremely fresh, feeling more like performance art than a run of the mill single. This is also one of those tracks where it is extremely difficult to choose our favorite lyric as they were so unique that we kept rewinding because we couldn’t believe what she just said—we haven’t heard anything like this since LFO days of “chinese food makes me sick.” Maybe would could say trouble bunny is like if Bjork was a social media influencer? We are confounded, and that makes “M.D.L.” a MUST listen. trouble bunny is surely in a lane of her own.

Best Lyric: “Called out today, told my boss I felt sick. Turned around and took a booty pic.”

Gemïny - Nicotine

Gemïny - Sage Wesley (R&B) Gemïny’s newest record, “Nicotine” is a showcase of the artist’s vocals, around which all else in the track serves. It’s a relatively sparse and low key instrumental here, allowing Gemïny’s vocals to take center stage, where they soar. Passionate and emotive, exemplifying the yearning of the lyrics, Gemïny impresses with an escalation into his powerful falsetto. At first, we put this artist in a similar vein as that of Miguel, but there’s a fair amount of Prince flare and even a handful of Jacksonese gutterals that make us believe Gemïny is a true student of classic R&B. This becomes evident in the heavenly punches of background vocals. We are happy to put Gemïny among the bevy of artists bringing back that classic R&B sound.

Best Lyric: “Under your spell, can’t you tell that I’m yearning?”

Alex Krawczyk - Space Between Us

Space Between Us - Alex Krawczyk (Folk Pop) We’ve got a travelling song with Alex Krawczyk’s new record “Space Between Us”—a pleasant midtempo extolling the virtues of living in the present and enjoying life. It’s a "sunbeams streaming through foliage” kind of track that makes the listener yearn for the great outdoors. As to the production, “Space Between Us” has a timeless quality blending elements of folk, pop and even country. The vocalist is certainly a storyteller, her voice ringing with maturity and wisdom, bringing a sense of serenity to the track. Tonally, Alex makes us think of a blend of Joni Mitchell and Stevie Nicks—spiritual and centered. We feel like this track would definitely be a crowd pleaser at an outdoor festival.

Best Lyric: “You’re here, I feel it in my bones.”

Zenodro - Villain

Villain - Zenodro (Rap) Zenodro delivers a certified bop with his ode to his own ambition, “Villain.” As is often the case in songs on this topic, an artist’s drive is regularly used to paint them as the “bad guy” and Zenodro lets you know throughout “Villain” that he will not be deterred. The dark, broody production is credibly tight with a compelling instrumental that uses a trap percussion and 808s, complimented by a driving synth loop that keeps the momentum moving forward. Feeling very much like a Drake/Nikki kind of vibe, Zenodro brings his husky yet silky flow to the record that gives us the feel of a Kendrick vocal. Seemingly designed to put on blast in your car, the track begs you to become Zenodro’s hype man by giving him an encouraging syncopated stream of “ayes!”.

Best Lyric: “We all got agenda that we follow, but I offend yah cuz I put mine on full throttle.”

Ant Tarrant & Fantasy City - Locked In Your Eyes (Acoustic)

Locked In Your Eyes (Acoustic) - Ant Tarrant & Fantasy City (Indie Pop) A rousing and passionate love song, this acoustic version of Ant Tarrant’s “Locked In Your Eyes” manages to convey both the intimacy of a man professing his love and a constant build into an anthemic chant that we think would make for a great live sing-along in concert. The lyrics are poetic and grandiose—talks of eternity, auras and paradise—that also conjures elemental imagery of smoke, rain and fire, which together make the track just as much folklore as it is a love song. Closing our eyes, we see a man bearing his soul with guitar in hand, basked in the light of a roaring bonfire, telling a tale of a legendary love for the ages. Put this one on your tracks to sing along to in the privacy of your car or better yet, shower.

Best Lyric: “Through the rain your aura shows.”

Karmic Neighborhood - Song of Wonder

Song of Wonder - Karmic Neighborhood (Soft Rock) “Song of Wonder”, the latest from the Karmic Neighborhood, is quite the soft rock treat. The song has a musical theater vibe to it (think Hair or Godspell) due to its artistic storytelling and rousing vocals, the latter stealing the spotlight. The beautiful lead vocal is a crystal clear bell ringing throughout the track, which when paired with the lush choral backgrounds come together to make this track soar—we assume this is a great one to hear live. As the song progresses, it becomes a duet with a passionate guitar line, turning the track into a full on jam session. Overall, this easy listening vibe of a record gives a sense of mysticism, conjuring images of nature, and perfectly captures the sense of wonderment described in the lyrics.

Best Lyric: “We can be the tools of darkness or we can be instruments of light.”

Frank Joshua - Patent Leather Car

Patent Leather Car - Frank Joshua (Dream Pop) Wistful is probably the best word we can choose to describe Frank Joshua’s “Patent Leather Car.” The instrumentation on this reminiscing number is striking, with a tribal element to the percussion that when married with a swirling combination of synths and paired with the soft and bittersweet baritone lead vocal, come together to give some serious 80s vibes. It’s a smooth record for sure, a mid tempo with an ethereal quality creating an easy listening vibe. Within this somewhat mystical production are also a few surprising chord progressions that really catch the ear and make for a very engaging listen. This record is surely one to mellow out to.

Best Lyric: “The worst things that you said are now bouncing in my head.”

Ally Cribb - Bigger (JNGL94 Remix)

Bigger (JNGL94 Remix) - Ally Cribb (Dance) Ally Cribb’s latest, the JNGL94 remix to “Bigger”, straddles an interesting line. On one hand, it’s a very modern Top 40 track, especially in the lead vocal melody and production. A strong vocal lead carries the song on its own with conviction and very few distractions, and the instrumentation has plenty of twists and turns that keep the track fresh and surprising. On the other hand, the record also feels like a 90s throwback, with a rapid fire house percussion and bouncing synth lead (similar to the throwback bass that was used in “Truffle Butter” a few years ago), reminding us of Sonique’s “Feels So Good.” This combo of fresh dance and nostalgia makes for quite the dance floor anthem.

Best Lyric: “In the morning I woke up with nothing left to lose.”

Sleepy Loco - On My Mind

On My Mind - Sleepy Loco (Hip Hop) On his new track, “On My Mind”, Sleepy Loco lets his new love know that despite being primarily focused on his bank account, he is an upgrade from her prior relationship. The boastful and sexually explicit track has a sharp hiphop production that incorporates an R&B sensibility, reminding us of the crossover tracks of the 2000s. That in combination with Sleepy Loco’s flow gives us real Fabolous vibes—a resonant baritone paired with sparkling R&B complete with some background crooning to move the song along. Overall, “On My Mind” is a breezy midtempo that seems meant for summer sun and cruising down the highway.

Best Lyric: “Hop up in my spaceship, push the button now we activated.”

Katie Belle - The Best You'll Ever Have

The Best You’ll Ever Have - Katie Belle (Pop) With an incoming summer of dance parties sure to be ruled by Kylie’s new “Padam Padam”, Katie Belle’s latest track “The Best You’ll Ever Have” fits perfectly into those DJ mixes to come. An infectious record and a real earworm, Katie’s ASMR-like vocals are pure ear candy, aided by those delightful synth harmony layers and a thin whisper layer that turns an otherwise straightforward vocal into a delicious seven layer cake. The beat is silky, sexy and fresh, allowing Katie to slither seductively around the buzzy synths and thudding percussion. This is one of those tracks you hear out at a bar and actually use Shazam to grab it for your library. We expect like a million dance and club remixes to this one.

Best Lyric: “If they knew then your mother wouldn’t love you the same.”

Kindur - Coins

Coins - Kindur (Rap) Kindur’s “Coins” boasts a bevy of talent on an impeccably produced track. Taking a well worn subject matter of accumulating wealth, each artist on “Coins” is given their own distinct moment to shine, with numerous production switchups to ensure each artist is supported with their own unique soundscape. The female vocalist connects the rap artists throughout, rising above mere hook delivery by getting the opportunity to shine on the bridge. The flows of the various rappers are distinct yet collaborative, handing each section off to the next seamlessly. But we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the other star of this number—the epic instrumental production that is chock full of earcandy and delivers an ASMR experience with a meticulously plotted stereo spectrum.

Best Lyric: “Ya’ll makin money makes no sense. Everything you say is nonsense.”

Among The Masses - Utopia

Utopia - Among The Masses (Pop Rock) In their latest track, Among The Masses takes listeners to “Utopia” with a pop rock record that reminds us of early 2000s alternative rock. Haunting and anthemic, “Utopia” feels like it could appear on the soundtrack of a movie about a dystopian future—it’s very much giving The Matrix. The simple chorus makes quite an earworm and beckons the listener to sing along, similar to the way you can’t help yourself chanting “another brick in the wall” with Pink Floyd—we were not surprised when we found that iconic band among this band’s noted influences. While a great listen in its own right, we expect this song makes for a great live listening experience—this one would really fill up a room.

Best Lyric: “Trying to find the truth about who we really are.”

Sarah Rose - Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don’t Cry - Sarah Rose (Indie Rock) This record is quite timely with respect to modern day social commentary on the topic of toxic masculinity. In her indie rock midtempo jam “Boys Don’t Cry”, Sarah Rose serenades a man in her life by telling him it’s ok for him to connect with his feelings. Despite its modern message, there’s an 80s sensibility to this anthemic number, which gave us vibes similar to a Belinda Carlisle ballad—maybe a B-Side to “Heaven is a Place on Earth”. With passionate, soaring vocals, the track truly comes alive as the bridge leads into the outro, delivering a real ‘lighters up’ moment. We think this one would be great to hear live—we imagine it inevitably becomes an audience sing-along.

Best Lyric: “It’s ok to cry. Whoever said boys don’t cry?”

Georg Oskar - I'm A Failure

I’m A Failure - Georg Oskar (Electronic) There’s a delightful strangeness to Georg Oskar’s “I’m A Failure”, which plays like a diary entry that the artist has written during one of their darkest moments—marinating in self doubt. The creepiness of the track is helped by the distorted rhodes, which float in the air, paired with breakbeat percussion that cuts through the disturbing miasma. As the avant-garde track drives along, the distorted baritone confesses an innermost demon, brooding, as additional instrumentation makes the track increasingly erratic. More than a record, the track is an artistic expression worthy of dissection, and a perfect one to play when you are lost in your feelings.

Best Lyric: “I just want to say hello goodbye.”