Underwater - Alec Rose (Pop/Folk)  The song hooks you the moment it starts, with a lilting guitar arpeggio pulling you immediately into this dreamy, ephemeral ballad, and keeps you engaged as the production incorporates an unexpected distressed percussion and a subtle driving bass. Alec’s vocal delivery is intimate and vulnerable, finding increased strength in the bridge, where he takes a surprising octave shift that beautifully highlights his range as a singer. We can see this song placed in an indie flick—someone looking out the car window as they reminisce about a lover. Or a montage just before the final act showing intimate moments of a love lost—wrapped in bedsheets, kissing in the rain…a soundtrack for every melancholy heartstring pulling trope we love so much. We also deeply appreciate the lyrical prowess of this track with parallelism in the verses giving way to beautiful simplicity in the choruses mostly driven by the instrumental. Sparkling with its beauty and well crafted in its structure, this is one you put on repeat.

Best Lyric: “If I could dream underwater, would you keep me awake if I sink?”