The Official 4PM - What Can I Say

PHOTO: TRISOGRAPHY FLIX & ART DESIGNS

What Can I Say - The Official 4PM (R&B/Pop)  We stan an island jam. The steel drum and reggae influence is palpable on this track, making it really stand out among other R&B/Pop tracks. Cross-genre influences really highlight The Official 4PMs artistry, and their voice shines on throughout the song—giving lush layering in the choruses and just the right amount of vocal FX in the accenting. This genre-blending feels quite unique as the reggae influence is also quite dreamy, and serves more as a backdrop for a more traditional R&B flavor. It’s nothing like I’ve heard recently. The spoken word at the top also feels like the quiet storm jams of the 90s which instantly pulls the listener into the song. It’s clear The Official 4PM has a deep knowledge of the last 30 years of R&B/pop, and pulls all the best references therefrom. Respect.

Best Lyric: “I know I messed up, but I regret it. I know I hurt you girl and you won’t forget it.”

Super Femmes - Love & War

Photo: Anna Vinterfall

Love & War - Super Femmes (Pop)  Good lord is this a catchy track. The Super Femmes are giving me straight Sugababes with a bop sure to get clubgoers dancing. With a crisp and thumping production, the Super Femmes sing in tight unison leading to a rap feature that begs you to learn every word to impress your friends when it comes on at a party. The cadence and delivery of the rap is taking me back to Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, which I didn’t realize how much I missed until hearing this Love & War. The song’s construction is also pop perfection and ready for radio (save a few f-bombs)—it catches you immediately with the intro but doesn’t waste time getting to the meat of the song. After that it’s a steady build that carries you through the song. Put this one on repeat.

Best Lyric: “You’re the sweet forbidden apple on the tree.”

Hiroki - Tell Me (When You're Gone)

Tell Me (When You’re Gone) - Hiroki (R&B/Pop)  What a song for Valentine’s day! My top holiday pick, Hiroki’s infectious new track is an ode for the heartbroken hoping to finally get over an on again, off again, love. The song is production HEAVEN—the top of the track features an EQ cut that pulls the listener in before hitting you hard with the extremely catchy melody and hook. Tell Me then segues into two different guitar features—the first a dreamy sequence with a healthy dose of retro, and the final being a duet with the sparkling vocals of the lead singer. This is a song I really want to hear live—it’s such an earworm I bet it gets audiences singing along instantly, especially at the track’s final chorus where Hiroki hits you over and over with countermelody, harmony and ear candy, continuously ringing new life out of his catchy hook. I found myself listening on repeat to discover every little treat baked into this Valentine’s Day gem of a song.

Best Lyric: “How do I forget this feeling when you’re gone?”

Anna Orbison - Slipping

Slipping - Anna Orbison (LoFi Pop)  The key to Anna’s song Slipping is her incredibly strong vocal performance, which the song is smart to center. The 80s infused instrumental has a constant build, lead by a tight drum delay that helps sit the song comfortably in retro. But overall the instrumental is sparse, allowing Anna’s vocals to carry the track, and that they do. Her voice is rich and soulful, and importantly distinct among the crowded field of whispy breathy female vocals that permeate today’s music scene. This is a woman’s voice—weighty and focused, flowing like honey. When it comes to the lyrics, the song is a haunting ode to the demise of a relationship that is “slipping away.” Someone going through a similar circumstance needs this song as their mantra right now.

Best Lyric: “Giving him the best of me, and I’m tearing apart at the seams.”

Ben Orlin - Isolation

Isolation - Ben Orlin (LoFi Hiphop)  The lofi vibes that kick off Isolation had me instantly. Warm and chill, Ben Orlin’s Isolation is definitely a groove. At times, his voice gives a John Legend type of tonality—a warm baritone that rides the flow of the instrumental effortlessly. It pairs nicely with the lush organ that moves the track along, which itself is blending with some ear-catching jazz vocal harmonies. Ben also shows his versatility in his vocal delivery—he’s a singer for sure but there’s at times his deliver borders on rap, giving you a 360 hiphop experience. In sum, Isolation is a head nodding type of cut that is just the right bit of mellow you may need in your playlist.

Best Lyric: “Skip the bitch that be trippin over you tryna reach your goals.”

Roxi Sound - There's No Fire

There’s No Fire - Roxi Sound  (Pop)  So the reason I chose this song to review is that it’s giving very strong HAIM vibes, which is absolutely a positive in my book. Roxi Sound’s track boasts a modern production which is lead by a very catchy hook, but contains within it a unique indie-folk vibe that helps There’s No Fire stand out from the pack. The song achieves a timelessness by becoming a hybrid between new and old. There’s a driving percussion that feels a touch retro, but then there are those very modern delicious ear candy in the vocal effects. There’s also some nice pumping in the instrumental at times which helps keep the song interesting and carries the listener through to the conclusion. Also, Roxi Sound’s lush harmonies are a big draw and make this anthemic song very sing-along-able. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this song on a film soundtrack to something like Booksmart or another modern coming of age story.

Best Lyric: “Stay in doors. Fight your wars. If you’ll fight for me.”

Live in Color - A Better Me

A Better Me - Live In Color  (Indie Pop)  Oh this one is an anthem, and boy does it MOVE. This song just builds and builds and builds and reminds us a lot of Phillip Phillips’ “Home” in both it’s production and how catchy it is. Live In Color’s crystal clear vocals shine, providing a resonant baritone at the top only to head into a strong belt from the first chorus. The production leaves Live In Color’s vocals mostly untouched, relying on the strength of the singer rather than production gimmicks. But what makes A Better Me particularly unique is the sort of “European countryside” folk instrumentation accents throughout. It is incredibly unique and caught our attention immediately. It’s like there’s this “barn jam session” baked within a modern pop production. I could see this song being the ending credits of a Disney film—like on the Brave soundtrack maybe.

Best Lyric: “Live my life like there are no boundaries, let me be a better me.”

Hannah Dorman - Wild

Wild - Hanna Dorman  (Pop)  So let’s call Hannah Dorman’s new track exactly what it is—a BOP. The subject matter is particularly fun as Hanna tells her suitor that she really likes how kind and respectful he is…but he should feel free to get a little “wild” from time to time. The production on the track is very crisp—the use of two different kicks helps keep the song interesting, and the guitar riffs throughout are pure earcandy. The bridge is also a TRUE BRIDGE (which I find often missing in new music) and really moves the song along in the first half, while giving you a break to further sink into the song. When it comes to Hannah’s vocals, I really enjoy the breathy accents to an overall strong presence. It’s giving very Kat Graham “Put Your Graffiti On Me” and that kind of mid-2000s track that in both sound and subject matter can particularly resonate with an LGBTQ audience. I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw your favorite local queen lip synching to this one. Tag Hannah if you do, I’m sure she’d love to see it!

Best Lyric: “You keep me on my tippy-toes, I really like that.”

OSP - Tun Up

Tun Up - OSP  (Rap)  It’s been a pleasant surprise over here at Necessary Outlet to get so many submissions in the rap genre that are uplifting and positive in their messages. OSP’s “Tun Up” is no different, offering an anthemic cut that will take you back to the mid-2000s of social conscious and mindfulness hiphop. I’d put this track on a playlist with, say, Common and City High. When it comes to production, it is wonderfully layered and percussion driven, an features what I’d call a unique hybrid of hip hop with almost a dubstep quality, particularly in the kick. OSP’s lyrics are thoughtful, and his resonant and husky baritone give him a particularly unique sound which will help him stand out from his peers in the genre. There are also some really beautiful harmonic vocal layering the background, filling in any gaps in the instrumental, which is a stylistic element that is always appreciated over at this blog. Finally, Tun Up’s hook is catchy and fitting to the message of the song, elevating it to earworm status.

Best Lyric: “I wanna pick fruit from the tree of life, cuz I’m the seed.”

BLOODLIN3 - Please Don't Bother Me

Please Don’t Bother Me - BLOODLIN3.  (Rap)  The reason I chose to review this track is because—and excuse me for revealing that I’m an old head—I can understand the lyrics, which is a rare thing to say about a lot of rap these days. This rhyme has quite the throwback vibe—maybe like a Nate Dogg song? Or Marshall Mathers LP from Eminem? I could definitely hear them on a remix of this. I also really like how BLOODLIN3 varies the vocal delivery—we’ve got our “in your face” section and then a raspy layered whisper later in the song to switch things up. It certainly keeps you engaged throughout the entire the song, because too much of the same thing can put an itchy trigger finger on the “next” button. This song belies that, carrying you all the way through to the end. And finally, we’ve got an incredibly catchy layered hook incorporating some dissonant ear candy, accompanied by a fun piano counterpoint that seems to taunt the listener right alongside our artist. The whole track screams “try me” and after hearing it…I wouldn’t.

Best Lyric: “My own mama thinks I need a brain scan…and I think I might too.”

Tha Building, Nate' the Soulsanger - TYBAH

TYBAH - Tha Building, Nate’ the Soulsanger.  (Funk/Soul)  Let me be upfront about something—personally, I don’t believe in reincarnation. But I feel like I now have to re-examine that belief after hearing TYBAH as it just might be that the very soul of the purple one himself—Prince—has been resurrected in this track. Before we even get to this funk jam, props the title—we stan an acronym. The song itself is driven by two things—a brilliant funk guitar that gets to shine in a pre-bridge solo (REMEMBER GUITAR SOLOS!?!?!?!) and Nate’s incredible voice. He sticks mostly to his mid-register, which is reedy and focused, piercing through the instrumental jam session going on all around him. It’s a great choice because it gets to punctuate that final note, when Nate’ goes up in to the rafters to say the song’s title, coming down this— N A T E’ D O N ‘ T W A N T N O S C R U B. Put this on your 90s Prince playlist, and maybe you’re “I just dumped a loser” playlist.

Best Lyric: “So won’t you take your broke ass home.”

Sara De Sanctis - Tardi adesso

Tardi adesso - Sara De Sanctis.  (Pop Ballad)  Let’s start with the central part of this song—Sara’s goregous voice. Haunting and as crystal clear as a bell, the production sits mostly in the bass, which makes room for Sara to really shine. There’s a Nelly Furtado-like quality to her vocals at times, which is something I particularly enjoy—placing Tardi adesso among the ballads from that artist’s Loose album. When it comes to the percussion, the crisp snare cuts through a miasma of lush piano and verb harmonies to create a perfectly balanced track. But in the end, it all comes down to Sara’s gorgeous vocals which drives the track, captivates the listener and pulls you into the beauty of this lush track.

CeCe - Problems

Problems - CeCe.  (Pop)  To talk to you about CeCe’s track Problems, I need to take you all to math class and solve a problem myself—the equation for a perfect pop song. Let’s start with the first variable, a clean and engaging production. On Problems, the production is crisp, well balanced and rich and accentuated by a well mixed guitar riff. Now add a catchy hook—CeCe’s anthemic sound is punctuated by quite the earworm, which I guarantee you will be singing in your head for days after hearing this track. When performing this track life, this is the one CeCe should point the mic out at the audience to have them sing along. Now we need to add the vocals overall, and on Problems you’ll find CeCe brilliantly playing with vocal intonation to make for an extremely engaging listen and showcasing that this artist definitely knows what to do in the booth. CeCe’s style and vibe is extremely current, and if I were to say “put this on a playlist with” I’d have to say…Charlie XCX?

Finally, the last piece of the equation, does the song take you on a journey? This is where Problems truly shines. Each verse is incredibly distinct both in terms of the vocal production and melody, which does a lot to keep you interested and engaged through the entire track. The bridge is a TRUE BRIDGE (don’t you miss real bridges?) that perfectly segues the song into the conclusion, adding a choir of background vocals.

So crunching the numbers, I think it’s safe to say that CeCe’s Problems would sit comfortably on Top 40 radio.

Best Lyric: “Somebody better call up your mama, tell’em come get your son.”

Bedroom DJ - Side A (EP)

Side A (EP) - Bedroom DJ (Pop/LoFi)  Let’s start with this—this is the best EP I’ve listened to this year and Bedroom DJ has gained a new fan.  The EP has a cohesive sound, a deep emotional resonance that connects with the listener, and even a well thought out design presentation to all the visual elements surrounding it.  And that’s because this artist does it all.

The 4-track EP shines with something that a lot of other indie artists struggle with—a cohesive project.  The songs are distinct, yet go together in a perfect package.  This is not a collection of songs, this is a PROJECT, and that is the sign of a true artist.  So let’s get into it.

This is a lofi synth project that for the first half of the EP feels very current, and then later pulls in more noticeable 80s vibes.  When listening (on repeat mind you) I kept thinking that these songs belong in films and TV shows.  My favorite, My Pills Don’t Work, belongs on Euphoria, while the last two tracks are perfect for Stranger Things.  I’m going to go song by song here but I cannot emphasize enough how this is a no-skip, listen in order, top to bottom EP that once concluded will have you waiting for a full LP.

Side A starts with Trouble Maker (Dark Side), premiering a sound that will permeate the entire project—wide kicks, tight verbed snares, lofi synths and a vocal effect akin to the leads in Pumped Up Kicks.  I was curious when listening to the first track whether the vocal modulation would continue, and it does, indicating a specific vocal presentation for Bedroom DJ.  I had worried I would get sick of it, but because of how well it fits the overall vibe of the EP, I was quickly sold.  I don’t know if Bedroom DJ has left the bedroom to perform for live audiences yet, but I could see him doing it in some kind of Daft Punk helmet as part of his stage persona.  Anyway, back to the music.

Troublemaker is a great intro, it’s a mid tempo groove that really sets the low-key, melancholy vibe.  “I am trouble maker, and there’s trouble in my head.”  This sets the listener up for the subject matter we’re about to explore—inner darkness, melancholy and depression.

We then get to a song that I will have on repeat for months, My Pills Don’t Work.  It feels deeply personal and revealing, it really hits you right in the chest.  It is the best production on an expertly produced EP, where the vocals shine in a lush soundscape with a beautifully sad melodic progression.  I’ve been singing this around the house since I first listened.  “I want I see you in my dreams, but I see you in my nightmares babe.”

We then start to feel a bit more retro, led by Bullying (I Never Leave You).  The vocals are particularly repressed here—another stylistic trait—causing you to listen carefully to catch the lyrics.  In doing so, Bedroom DJ pulls you deeper into the song, which feels like it’s happening all around you due to his production choices specifically with the percussion.

The EP concludes with my second favorite track, the anthemic Giselle that features a very Prince “Purple Rain” lead guitar sound—a strong line that is the highlight of the song, complimented by the panning percussion.  The chords are lush and beautiful.  This is a perfect outro—it screams finale and is the most radio-friendly track.

Wide, lush and beautifully sad, Bedroom DJ will soon have a cult following, and he can count me among them.  Listen now wherever you stream music.

Dax - The Devil's Calling

The Devil’s Calling - Dax (Rap)  Alright so I’ve got to talk about this video first. The production is on point—camera moves, coloring, FX—I mean I make my own videos and so I know how impressive this is. But let’s get to the song. Dax has presence. His voice is strong and emphatic, and is a clear example of someone who truly “spits” his rhymes—this is no mumble rap my friends. He chews his words which feel incredibly autobiographical and deeply personal. This is a man who comes with a warning from taking a dangerous road while delivering hope of possible redemption. The production is crisp and clean, and honestly makes me think of Eminem. But it’s truly the specific, personal message of defying temptation and resisting the devil combined with a heartfelt vocal delivery that makes this song stand out.

Jen Ash - Trouble

Trouble - Jen Ash.  (R&B)  The only trouble with Jen Ash’s Trouble is that you won’t be able to stop yourself from hitting replay. Jen’s voice is powerful, strong and has a certain husk to it that we think is giving early Pink. While there is certainly a flair of vocal processing tricks, it is thankfully not overdone as is the style these days. Rather, Trouble lets Jen’s natural vocal talent shine, leaving the effects for a few dashes of delicious ear candy. The track itself is pure R&B—maybe circa 2000s in sonic quality—with an extremely polished production and live instrumentation supplementation of keys and horns that feels very Alicia Keys. I’d put Jen in my playlist alongside Keyshia Cole, Alicia…oooo maybe some Blu Cantrell! Like most tracks we gravitate to in our reviews over here, it has a timeless feel—vocal stylings that put it in the present with an instrumentation not explicitly tied to modern trends. This song has longevity, specifically on our personal playlist. I look forward to exploring Jen’s catalogue, I suggest you do the same.