Antaraxie - KAAI (Pop/R&B) KAAI’s latest track starts off with a broody piano playing a haunting descending chord progression, immediately setting the vibe of this melancholy affair. When the vocal enters, it is strong yet vulnerable, pleading inside a cavernous reverb. It switches up quickly, however, as the percussion hits hard with some trap snares and hats, the vocal escalating into an impassioned plea. It’s an extremely tight production, with thoughtful uses of auto-tune to really punch certain words in a way that does not get overwrought. We particularly love the crescendo half way through the song where the vocal makes way for a sorrowful guitar. The track also makes a strong artistic choice to let the song play out solely with the instrumental, which allows the listener to really sit in the feelings and vibes emoted so beautifully by the singer. This one hits you in the chest.
Jon Henri - Gravity
Gravity - Jon Henri (Funk) Gravity, produced by Daniel Hickman, certainly makes you move. This 80s funk retro sound feels inspired by acts like The Time or Sly and the Family Stone—particularly that distorted guitar for the latter comparison. The whole affair kicks off with some Billie Jean-esque drums before Jon’s husky, emotive voice takes center stage, bringing some real grit to this funk affair. As much as we dig the record, we think we’d love it even more live—we bet this one is a real crowd pleaser. Catchy, sing-along-able and a smile-inducing throwback sound, we think Gravity goes on your every day, taking care of stuff around the house playlist.
Best Lyric: “Give me back my sanity, these walls are closing in on me.”
Aphire - Rise
Rise - Aphire (EDM) When Aphire’s new track, Rise, begins, we get an ambient soundscape with some delightfully retro synths. But that’s not for long, as the song quickly elevates into a driving club track that gives us similar feels to retro records like La Bouche’s “Be My Lover“. The song is kick-forward, which is what puts it in overdrive, contrasting with a more muted, swirling alto vocal from our female lead. The vocal production, as well as the rest of the track, is top notch, with some beautiful adlibs and harmonies that feel quite anthemic. But our favorite part of the track is certainly the chord production in the chorus—it really fills up the chest. Get your butt on the dance floor to this one.
Best Lyric: “See the walls are caving in, when I’m not ready to fly.”
Mina - Lucky
Lucky - Mina (Soul/Cover) A BRITNEY COVER!?!?! Oh boy are we in love with this extremely unique reinvention of the Britney Spears classic, Lucky. Mina takes what was a very teeny-bopper track and elevates it with an R&B/soul take that really shakes up the song by taking some creative melody and harmony liberties. We get some Joss Stone feels from the overall vibe. It’s a beautifully warm production, with twinking rhodes and super tight, crisp drums that makes the soundscape candy to the ears. But the star of the track is Mina’s extremely strong vocals—full and round, adding a maturity to the song’s lyrics. We might actually like this take better than the original! This is truly something special.
Sky Olson - Lock & Key
PHOTO: Molly McCoy
Lock & Key - Sky Olson (Indie Pop) There’s so much to love about Sky Olson’s latest track, Lock & Key. It’s a chill vibe with an interesting melodic progression that in a few spots takes an unexpected descent that will definitely keep you engaged. The instrumental production is also quite unique, with some a haunting string swimming among the tight delayed or tight verbed percussion, and of course the melancholy is in overdrive with that sorrowful guitar solo. The song itself itself is full of angst and woe, matched by the beautiful instrumentation, as Sky’s raspy husk cuts through the track to tell a story of being wrapped around another’s finger, always coming back despite being mistreated. At times, we hear just a touch (very minor) of Adam Levine in some of the vocals. It’s a restrained approach overall, with backgrounds hitting the sweet spot at just the right moment, adding a swell of ear candy. This has the feel of a travelling song, the beat rides along like it’s on horseback, and it’s heartfelt emotion sticks with you long after listening.
Best Lyric: “Cuz when you say my name, I just melt away. You’re a part of me that I can’t replace.”
Tape Deck Terrorist - One Step Stereo
One Step Stereo - Tape Deck Terrorist (HipHop/Rap) With the intro vocals and horns, we are immediately pulled into yesteryear, and the retro vibes continue as the track picks up steam with the record scratches and distorted percussion. When Tape Deck Terrorist enters the scene, we can’t help but hear the influences of NWA and Naughty by Nature—we specifically get Hip Hop Hooray and O.P.P. vibes on this one—while there’s a Q-Tip like vibe to some of his phrasing as well, which is killer. Ironically, while warning his competition and haters that he’s not to be f*cked with and holding nothing back while doing so, Tape Deck Terrorist at the same time writes a love letter to old school hiphop with this track, in a similar vein Missy’s approach on her Under Construction album. Bump this one in your car, so long as you have woofers.
Best Lyric: “I’m eating all your f*cking dinner.”
Anchen Ji - Wait It Out
Wait It Out - Anchen Ji (Pop) Anchen Ji delivers a well produced Top 40 bop perfectly crafted for mainstream radio, asking a love interest to just give it a little more time before making a decision. Other than a strong vocal performance that sits perfectly in the mix, we are particularly drawn to the sharp percussion and production in Wait It Out. Crisp tops with a bouncing 808 rarely goes wrong, and here it gives the track some really nice momentum while maintaining an easy-breezy feel. While technically a midtempo, the track is still very dancey, and more importantly the melody beckons you to sing along—it’s a real earworm. Overall we think Anchen Ji deserves a prime spot on your daily playlist with this one.
Best Lyric: “I know you feel like looking the other way.”
Joho - Black American Scumbag
Black American Scumbag - Joho (Pop/R&B) It was very difficult to figure out how to fill out the genre for Black American Scumbag—a 24 track opus by the incredibly versatile Joho. And that’s because it has nearly everything you can think of. When it starts, your pretty confident it’s a rap/hiphop album. But then it’s R&B. But then it’s pop. And then it’s rock. And then it’s R&B again. And then, and then, and then. So in the end all we can really categorize this master work as is an opus, and expression of artistry from someone who clearly loves music in all its forms.
Before digging into our favorites of the, again, TWENTY FOUR tracks, we want to talk about the project overall—and it certainly is a project. The word “scumbag” appears often, tying the songs together, which is apparently something Joho has been called, or been made to feel he was, by people throughout his life. The spoken word intro to the first track, aptly called Scumbag, speaks of finally deciding to become the villain those around him paint him as. It is a central theme through the album—rejection and misunderstanding—as Joho struggles with identity and loss. And it takes many different forms, from rejection in love to friendship to people not believing in him, and many different points of view. At times, Joho is hyper confident and will “show them all,” in other moments introspective and vulnerable.
And that is where the genre hopping really shows Joho’s artistry as he pairs specific soundscapes to the specific message and point of view of each song. This is so much more than a collection of songs, it is an artist baring his soul and finally showing the world who he is—every part of him—letting him define his identity rather than others. It’s music at its finest.
When it comes to the production, it’s extremely professional and, as mentioned above, always keeps you guessing as to what is coming next. We were constantly surprised as the album weaved from a 00s-style rap/hiphop into the recent contemporary spin on 80s (thanks Stranger Things), then a surprising turn into alt rock before moving into ballads and then back again to where we started. The collection of sounds are incredibly diverse and yet the sequencing of the tracks gives you one small changeup at a time, leading you carefully into the next soundscape and genre, which keeps things surprising, but not out of nowhere.
Vocally, the album shines, from Joho himself to his selection of exquisite guests. At first, he introduces himself as a rapper that is HEAVY on the early Kanye vibes. HEAVY. His delivery and flow feel right out of the College Dropout and Late Registration eras, and one in particular, “The Emotional Impact of Your Actions”, feeling right out of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The lyrics are raw and delivered with passion.
But then Joho surprises to show that he is also an incredibly talented singer, with influences from Bruno Mars to the Jacksons. He has an incredible ear for melody and proves himself a true musician with his harmonies—standout track and closer “Fade” gives us a cathedral Brandy-esque vocal layering. And the biggest surprise—some of Joho’s best tracks are actually when he dives into alt rock, providing his most Top 40 friendly material.
We could write all day about each of these—again, if you didn’t hear us the first time—TWENTY FOUR TRACKS, we’ll stick to our personal favorites and standouts. “Scumbag” is a must for understanding the overall message of the album, feeling the Kanye influence and getting acquainted with Joho’s passion in performance, as well as his versatility in his layered background vocals. “Just Be Honest” and “Outside” are our first looks at real Top 40 potential, with the former being a real showcase of Joho as a singer while sticking to his Kanye vibes (we hear “Good Life” in this one). The latter is anthemic, showcasing a spectrum of sounds from the 80s (that cowbell) to present, with a really fun chord progression.
“Constant Spirals”, “Tides”, “Shoegaze Sally” and “Inside Your Mind” are Joho’s pop rock numbers, with the first two being standouts for us. Constant Spirals uses that great “Pumped Up Kicks” vocal effect accompanied by masterful harmonies showing impressive musicality—get this one on the radio. Tides shines for the duet with IIRIIS, whose sparkling soprano is a perfect pairing with Joho’s resonant baritone rasp. It’s extremely sing-along-able and catchy—this one should be a karaoke staple.
For a taste of Joho’s vulnerability, we recommend “Empty Streets”, “The Emotional Impact of Your Actions” and “Throne for Two”—the latter venturing into Bruno Mars territory. And finally, “We Left The Party” is a contemporary dance bop which has serious playlist potential.
Versatility, musicality and self expression are all on display on this, we say it again, TWENTY FOUR TRACK exhibition of Joho’s heart and soul. And while throughout the work he self proclaims that he is a scumbag, the only thing we hear is an impressively polished artist with vision.
Connor Kirk - Day By Day
Day By Day - Connor Kirk (Pop) There’s a real 90s Sheryl Crow sensibility to Connor Kirk’s newest track. From the lyrics to the vocal arrangement, Day By Day feels like it could be a cousin of Every Day Is A Winding Road, or anything from the Globe Sessions. That’s not to say that this track isn’t incredibly unique. We are particularly struck by the vocal production—moving from a dry spoken word to a doubled verse with a volume pump to lush harmonies and accents until finally letting Connor shine solo just before the final chorus, this is a meticulously plotted track. Day By Day is a road song, meant for your commute playlist.
Best Lyric: “You kill for a dime or you drown in a heap.”
Bubble Tea and Cigarettes - French Movie
French Movie - Bubble Tea and Cigarettes (Dream Pop) This is a special one kids, and we have to admit we are a bit mesmerized by this lush, gorgeous track. The track allows the instrumental to set the tone at the top—a dreamy miasma of synth with an understated drum that gives music box vibes. Immediately we were transported to the early 90s to the hits of Annie Lennox’s solo career—Why and No More I Love Yous in particular—but also a healthy dose of Lana Del Rey. It’s a haunting melody coming from an incredibly unique and distinct vocal performance. It’s a sung whisper, slinky and intimate that really pulled us in right from the top. French Movie evokes all the strange beauty of, say, a Tim Burton movie, and it’s a movie we want to see again.
Moonlight Jones - I Like The Way
I Like The Way - Moonlight Jones (Synthwave) If The Weeknd’s “Touch“ was ACTUALLY made in the 80s—that would be the instrumental to this new Moonlight Jones track. It’s not just 80s inspired, as is currently in vogue for modern music to reference. No “I Like The Way” is just straight up 80s, and could sit along any of your classic retro jams as just one of the gang. With I Like The Way, Moonlight Jones has made a very sing-along-able track, especially when we get to the choral “ohs” right after each chorus. We also notice a touch of another 80s classic as a reference, though not from synthwave—the spooky spoken word throughout and particularly at the ending is definitely giving us Thriller. So you can confidently slip this new Moonlight Jones track onto your retro playlist, none will be the wiser.
Best Lyric: “She’s poetry in motion, and she’s the devil in disguise.”
Eli Ladon - Lighting My Way
Lighting My Way - Eli Ladon (Rap) Immediately upon turning on this track you are struck by its unique sound. While incorporating the tight trap snares and percussion you’d expect from the genre, the acid trip of synths, strings and flute make this track a standout. It’s truly ethereal. The flow of Eli’s conscious-rap is reminding us a lot of late 90s/early 00s acts. Specifically, we hear influences of Bone Thugs as well as Outkast. That vocal is baked perfectly into the track, giving us a real “cruise down the highway” feel to Lighting My Way. All in all, it’s a summertime jam, meant to be blared from your car’s speakers with the windows down.
Best Lyric: “Soaking up the sun as existence gives me what I need.”
Thomas Goforth LT - Intentions
Thomas Goforth LT - Intentions (Pop/R&B) Ok, so let’s travel back in time for a minute—the 90s boyband craze is winding down and the most ambitious/popular members of those groups decide to venture off on their solo efforts. At the time, the pop/R&B crossover genre is the way to go. And that’s EXACTLY what Thomas Goforth LT’s latest track is giving us—it’s some real JC Chasez vibes. But with its modern production—a crisp vocal set front and center—there’s no reason this track couldn’t hit the charts today. However, what’s most memorable about this track is it’s melody—it’s a perfect ear worm and has some real sing-along-ability. We hear you singing alone with Thomas to this one on your morning commute.
Best Lyric: “Don’t even ask me to stop, don’t try to tell me to leave, no, that’s not what I do.”
MedsE - Hounds
Hounds - MedsE (Rap) Would the real MedsE please stand up? This 90s-style rap is giving us Real Slim Shady from the jump, all contained in a deliciously doubled rap vocal dripping with wit and nostalgia. Right out of the gate you know this song is meant for the club, speeding down the highway or, may we recommend, karaoke. It’s a sharp and crisp retro club beat that reminds us a bit of Inaya Day’s remake of Nasty Girl—or honestly we could’ve even believed it was crafted for Britney around her “Til The World Ends” era. But wherever you want to place it, make sure you place it on your house party playlist. I mean, MedsE tells you themselves—this is house party sh*t.
Best Lyric: “I’m a 90s hit in this new rap scene.”
Banana Continuity - Anhedonia
Anhedonia - Banana Continuity (Rock/Pop) Banana Continuity’s newest track is taking us back to the Top 40 days of the mid-late 90s with a rock-pop alt rock jam that made us immediately think of the immediate post-Nirvana era. Listening to this gritty midtempo, we get flavors of The Offspring, as well as Folk Implosion’s “Natural One”—when it comes to the vocal specifically—and even a bit of The Wallflowers. It’s a well balanced track, with a muted and intentionally autotuned broody vocal centering the track in a bit of other-wordly-ness. The instrumental production is tight, all revolving around the lead guitar which is given a good amount of lead time to set the stage before the vocal announces itself. There’s something about this track that says it should have been on the original Matrix’s soundtrack.
Best Lyric: “With nothing there inside you, with no one in your sight, it’s time to pull the trigger until it hits just right.”
J Cru - Glonky
Glonky - J Cru (HipHop) Well, J Cru is back, and this time left their Man Cakes in the oven in favor of something a little more…Glonky. As we said in our review of their last track, this team gives serious LMFAO vibes and even in light of the masterful production, what remains the most captivating and memorable part of a J Cru track is the chemistry between the duo. Listening to a J Cru track is like an invitation into their collegial ridiculousness that can’t help but prompt a smile, and honestly an occasional head shake from the audacious lyrics. This time, we have a female guest on the track who is a welcome addition to the “cru”. Obviously a club/house party track, we think you might also want to get Glonky speeding down the highway—this track has DRIVE. While these boys aren’t serving cake this time, Glonky is still a treat.
Best Lyric: “Yes mother f*cker it’s glonky-time.”