Cliffs + Caves - Eso Si Que Es

Eso Si Que Es - Cliffs + Caves (Folk) What a gorgeous song. With “Eso Si Que Es”, Cliffs + Caves delivers a heartstring tugging folk ballad that is as captivating as it is mesmerizing. The vocals are pure heaven, balancing strength with intimacy, delivering superb lyrics that stick with you long after listening, giving us a very Sara Bareilles vibe from the storytelling. The song seems primed for media placement—an indie romantic drama or a TV melodrama—we could certainly here it playing over a heart wrenching scene. This is one of those records someone clings to when going through a trying time, and hearing it will always bringing them back to a particular moment in time when they worked through something difficult. This track is truly, truly magical.

Best Lyrics: “Life is full of magic things mixed between tragedies.”

De Antiquis Et Novis - Falling Stars

Falling Stars - De Antiquis Et Novis (Dance) “Falling Stars” wastes no time getting started, with the classic house keys and driving bass immediately letting you know that you’re about to get spun around the dance floor. It’s a robust production complete with crisp 90s house percussion elements, but centered with a modern kick that thuds right in the chest. Vocals are sparse on this dance record, a lilting female vocal occasionally popping in and out, leaving it up to the constantly building instrumental to keep the listener dancing. Catchy, driving and full of constant forward momentum, with “Falling Stars” De Antiquis Et Novis delivers a club track perfect for any summer party, surely to be a favorite among DJs to keep bodies moving on the floor.

Sandra Bouza - The City

The City - Sandra Bouza (Folk) There’s a real Sarah McLachlan vibe to Sandra Bouza’s “The City”. A driving piano ballad with vocal tonality reminiscent of the aforementioned on her track “Adia”, “The City” also gives us the storytelling strength of a Sara Bareilles or Adele song. This broody record laments innocence lost, told through the tale of a young woman who thought she knew more about the world—the city—than she did. Sung passionately from the perspective of a woman matured and grown wiser with time, presumably to her past herself, the simple production of piano and voice really lets Sandra’s incredible voice and talented delivery stand squarely in the spotlight. Hey musical theater actresses, put this one in your callback repertoire.

Best Lyric: “Never unseen by the sunrise.”

Marion Hall - I'm Doing Better

I’m Doing Better - Marion Hall (HipHop) While the theme of doing fine without a recent ex and finding someone better is certainly a well explored topic in music, certainly in pop and hiphop, I’m not sure we’ve ever heard such a big 808 bumping reggae infused hiphop track carrying this message where the new better man is THE man himself, the man upstairs—Jesus. With a tonality that strikes as as a reggae-infused Lil Kim, Marion Hall lets her ex know what should be obvious—he cannot compare with the Lord. The song is a straight banger, certainly with great sing-along-ability and the urge to put on repeat to learn all of Marion’s boasts about Gucci suits. Tune into the video above, where the son of God has also blessed Marion and her gal pals with a yacht for all her prior relationship troubles. The Lord certainly works in mysterious ways.

Wotts - Blue

Blue - Wotts (Indie Pop) Wotts’ latest track “Blue” is hazy summertime personified. Dreamy, funky and retro, the track bumps as if it is spinning on vinyl as you listen, with a driving bass line that carries the song through its lush production. As the record continues, permeated with warm analog fuzz throughout, it constantly elevates by adding more and more to an already full arrangement, without ever feeling overcrowded—our favorite moment being a shining guitar solo right before the final chorus. The vocal production is understated, a husky baritone that is baked into the track as if it is just another instrument in the orchestration. This song is just good vibes and a bask in summer sun.

Nikolay Cranner - Times EP

Times EP - Nikolay Cranner (Dance/Funk) Alright, so there’s no reason Nikolay Cranner’s two track EP shouldn’t be on the playlists of this summer’s dance DJs. A multi-talented musician—giving you both a strong vocal performance and soaring sax solos—Nikolay’s Times EP is a neo funk/EDM bop melding an impressive amount of eras into a sharp, cohesive package. “Sunshine Living” gives us Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat” with its late 90s R&B/Funk vibes, also boasting a late 80s Herbie Hancock style horn solo. Add to that the 90s house snares and hats with a modern EDM kick and you get quite a melting pot of goodness ready for a summer dance party. Moving to “Times”, this track centers on late 2010s EDM vibes (think “Take Me Home” by Cash Cash or “Clarity” by Zedd) with another sax line that really soars—Lady Gaga “Edge of Glory” territory. Catchy, dancy and impeccably produced, Nikolay Cranner should be a staple of every outdoor dance party this summer.

The Connecting Dots - In The Arms Of A Stranger

In The Arms of a Stranger - The Connecting Dots (Soft Rock) In “In The Arms of a Stranger”, The Connecting Dots deliver a moody ballad that feels straight out of the 80s. The retro cut has some Kate Bush vibes, with a unique and distinctive vocal that is very reminiscent of Cyndi Lauper. With a retro song structure, our favorite moment is certainly the key change of the bridge, leading right into a lovely guitar solo. Careful listeners will also notice that the instrumentation is incredibly lush—constantly building with new additions—including everything from the light touch of a few bongos to a bevy of retro synths, which elevate the song to anthem status. Definitely blast this one on your commute, it’s a good one to sing along to in the car.

Best Lyrics: “This is a broken arrow.”

The Labra Brothers - Be Cool (EP)

Be Cool (EP) - The Labra Brothers (Soft Rock) On The Labra Brothers’ three-song EP, “Be Cool”, we get quite a jam session, delivering chill vibes, musical versatility and a bilingual flair. The brother band, comprising Adrian Labra on vocals and guitar, Cristian Labra on vocals and bass, David Labra on vocals, guitar, and sax, Antonio Labra on percussion, Danny Svenson on keys, and Matt Hayes on drums, has developed a distinct sound for their latest project after some prior experimentation—predecessor LP “Colder Weather” from 2019 leaned more into classical rock & roll. What results is quite a cohesive project—chill, low key and easy breezy. It was difficult to peg a genre here as “Be Cool” is a melting pot of soft rock, latin, funk and R&B/Soul—so we think it’s best to call this “grown folks” or “crowd pleaser” music. Light on modern day production tricks and gimmicks, the EP relies on traditional live band musicality, which has convinced us that The Labra Brothers would give an audience one hell of a live show.

Perhaps it’s the family dynamic, but you can tell when listing to the EP that this bevy of musical talent really gels, delivering a product more than the sum of its constituent parts. The three-part sibling vocal harmonies are lush (we had to read the press release to realize this just wasn’t one person dubbing as they were that well blended), and guitars and horns are given plenty of room to show off—again, The Labra Brothers must really turn an audience.

So let’s dig in. The title track, “Be Cool”, is a great intro to the project, and we agree with their choice to make this the lead single. It’s a song about kindness and good vibes, which you get from feel of the instrumental alone. The vocal performance is very strong, and we love the choice of the tight reverb which we think heightens the song and gives it a unique identity amongst its peers (this effect will return in closer “Not Far From Home”). Overall, “Be Cool” introduces you immediately to the brothers’ style for the project—these are jam sessions featuring robust instrumentations and an R&B sensibility in the lead melodies (we specifically got some Bruno Mars in this track).

The brothers slow things down in “Los Dias” and dive into some latin island vibes that evoke the feeling of the beach at dusk—rolling waves and sunset. The production is particularly crisp with a tight, punchy percussion cutting through the otherwise dreamy track. While a guitar solo featured in “Be Cool”, this time the sax is given its due, once again turning a catchy, radio-friendly track into a jam session.

Finally, “Not Far From Home” feels almost like a meld of the two prior tracks in terms of style, making it the perfect closer. Here, it’s the lyrics that stand out to us most—certainly the most memorable of the collection—delivered with a lilting melody in this midtempo affair. “How are you supposed to get home when you can’t face yourself?” will stick with us for a while.

Overall, “Be Cool” is an all ages affair, perfect for a day on the beach, or better, a The Labras Brothers concert..

J Cru - You're A Dumbass Motherfucking Piece of Shit (feat Toddy Smith)

You’re A Dumbass Motherfucking Piece of Shit (ft Toddy Smith) - J Cru (Pop) Whelp, our favorite goofball kid brothers are back, and as always we’re thankful for it. Ever since J Cru served us some man cakes, we’ve been big fans of their 20 Fingers/LMFAO vibe of delivering hilarious lyrics in expertly crafted productions. This time, despite its vulgarity, what we have here is actually a very sweet love song to J Cru’s idiot best friend who, despite all their failings, is always there for them in tough times (particularly heartbreak). It’s extremely relatable subject matter, shockingly vulnerable and touching, while still giving us the chuckles we expect from a J Cru number. Add onto it, J Cru’s got a pretty great sung vocal here along with a catchy folky guitar riff—a departure from their past high octane club efforts which shows some great versatility—these are not one note musicians. They are idiots…and we fucking love them. (And they should be pop stars).

Best Lyrics: “You should’ve paid your loans instead of buying a boat.”

Chance The Closer - I'm N Luv Wit Da Reefer

I’m N Luv Wit Da Reefer - Chance The Closer (Pop) What a curiously intoxicating song Chance The Closer delivers with their latest track “I’m N Luv Wit Da Reefer” where we get, what we can only assume, is a whimsical duet between Chance and his reefer. Using vocal distortions and modulations to sell an undying and devoted love between a man and his weed, we get a sharp yet trippy production, occasionally giving us a T-Pain moment (did we hear an “i’m in luv with a stripper” reference?). The instrumentation is a modern dance affair, with elements of retro including that iconic 80s cowbell, and plenty of sound effects (most notably the sound of toking on a bong). All in all, it’s a hip winder with a sense of humor.

Mick J. Clark - Born To Party

Born to Party - Mick J. Clark (Dance) Mick J. Clark’s latest track tells you exactly what it is—a party track. A dance floor affair meant for all ages affair, “Born To Party” feels like a staple track for a private party DJ meant to get folks of all persuasions moving. Lead by a 90s dance drumkit, Mick’s voice gives us a Tom Petty feel in its tone, bringing an easiness and gentleness. This mass appeal and unoffensiveness of the record—lacking from most modern dance tracks—means you won’t have any issues adding this to any playlist; it’s corporate friendly, it’s kid friendly, it’s everyone friendly. Catchy and upbeat, Mick’s latest tune is a no-brainer playlist add.

Best Lyric: “Raising the heat from hot to burning.“

Eva No - Bring Me Flowers

Bring Me Flowers - Eva No (Pop) We welcome Eva No to the blog with her latest track “Bring Me Flowers”—a jazzy affair with healthy dose of theatrical flair. Throughout the record, Eva requests her unrequited love to bring her flowers everyday, a metaphor for requiring a steady stream of affection in order to win her love. She does so to a catchy and sing-along-able melody that we imagine gets an audience going when Eva performs it live—it’s definitely a number begging for audience participation. The composition is a great combo of moods—at first glance, the song feels upbeat and dancey, but the descending melodic line in the lead vocal during the chorus adds a melancholy to it that perfectly encapsulates the bittersweetness of the song’s overall message. A message to the object of Eva’s affection—say YES to Eva No.

Clare Easdown - Not Ready To Die

Not Ready To Die - Clare Easdown (Dream Pop) Today we’re treated to the latest from Clare Easdown, an artist frequently featured on this blog, with her most avant-garde track we have reviewed to date. In “Not Ready To Die”, Clare brings her new wave sensibilities to a meditative chant that proclaims she is not ready to give up, yet still immersed in melancholy. Though we’ve said it before, the timbre and tone of Clare’s voice reminds us a lot of Mel C, and in this track Clare is at the peak of vulnerability—her voice a fragile soprano floating above the fray and swirling in the reverb. As with the other tracks from Clare we have had the fortune to review, “Not Ready To Die” is another track that is poetry to music.

Best Lyric: “Although the end is in sight, I’m holding on tight.”

KØASH - Somebody

Somebody - KØASH (Pop) In their latest track, "Somebody,” KØASH delivers an uptempo dance bop flush with 80s synth wave vibes. Overall, the sound reminds us a lot of the Weeknd’s recent work, and we think it would slide very easily into today’s Top 40. Centered by a strong vocal performance, the production is lush with glistening synth keys and a driving bass that kicks off from the first second—from the moment you hit play on “Somebody”, the train hass already left the station. The melody, showcasing a falsetto as clear and pure as a bell, is extremely sing-along-able (if you can hit those notes) and is ceratinly an earworm with staying power. We think this is the perfect jam for your happy hour or pre-game playlist, it’ll certainly get you moving.

Best Lyric: “It’s a cycle that we can’t break, but I wouldn’t say a mistake.”

Illuzions - Back & Forth

Back & Forth - Illuzions (House) Illuzions’ latest track, “Back & Forth” is simply a must for DJs gigging this summer. What we have here is a straight up dance floor track, full of all the rises and falls and the swirly melancholy of moody synths with a lilting vocal performance expected of today’s club tracks. It’s also one of those songs that would feel right at home on a chillwave playlist, and one that would grab your attention for a Shazaam when popping up on a daily music mix. The lead vocalist shines on this record, at times giving us some Dua Lipa vibes but with much, much more of an ethereal touch. The production really pumps—a crisp production with some brilliant FX touches that enhance, not distract, from the overall vibe of the track. There’s no reason to not hear this one everywhere while bar and club hopping this summer.

Elina Filice - Don't Let Me Fall

Don’t Let Me Fall - Elina Filice (Pop) Elina Filice’s “Don’t Let Me Fall” is a quite a bop, what more can we say. While maintaining a modern sensibility, the track has a retro appeal which gives it a timeless quality—there’s no expiration date on this record. Delivering emotive and passionate Top 40 worthy vocals, Elina reminds us a bit of Duffy’s “Mercy” complimented brilliantly by an instrumental that gives us that alt rock/pop feeling of the late 90s. Led by a driving kick and an infectious little psychedelic guitar lick, the compliment of 90s house snare hits help this crossover track slide into dance club territory—we could certainly envision a bevy of dance remixes to “Dont Let Me Fall.” Overall, this is a record you’d expect to find on any “Indie Artist Spotlight” list.

Best Lyric: “I swear I’ll jump if you don’t love me, promise I’ll die if you’re not here.”