GRACII - Unrestricted

Unrestricted - GRACII (R&B) In her latest track, GRACII is “Unrestricted” for us, delivering a 00s era R&B bop reminiscent of the heydays of Keri Hilson, Nivea, Ashanti and Ciara. It’s a sexy and spare production, which allows GRACII to sit in the driver’s seat, her pure tone building from a Janet-esque sultry whisper into a soulful belt as the song progresses. The instrumental backing is moody, a swirling turmoil of synths cut with a crisp percussion arrangement cutting through. What we appreciated the most about this cut was the true bridge—modern tracks seem to minimize the importance of this—giving us a nice modulation before pushing into the final chorus accented with some Mariah-esque whistle tones.

Best Lyric: “Tired of the tears that I’ve been tasting.“

Mishell Ivon - Wild

Wild - Mishell Ivon (Pop/Funk) Mishell Ivon is feeling herself in her latest track, “Wild”, which feels like an homage to the great pop R&B crossover hits of the late 80s and early 90s. We’re definitely hearing a bevy of influences here, think a combination of the Jacksons, all those female Prince proteges, Lisa Lisa and The Cult Jam, Jodie Watley and Gloria Estefan. From the punchy retro drums to the driving funk guitar, soaring strings, blazing horns and tight harmonies, this song will take you both back to the days of cassette tapes as well as out onto the dance floor. So if you miss those 80s/90s crossover R&B pop numbers, and are looking for a track with all the appeal of “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” you should get “Wild” with Mishell.

Best Lyric: “Nobody else is gonna love me the way that I do.“

Under Delusion - Burning Under Water

Burning Under Water - Under Delusion (Pop Rock) Under Delusion conjures a 90s alt brit rock flare with their latest track, “Burning Under Water”, a track inspired by a near-death experience occurring out in the Pacific Ocean. Sonically, this is a live band sound, driven mostly by guitar and live percussion, although there’s a distorted synth percussion element bouncing in the background as well, which ultimately gives a distinct identity to this retro affair. What stands out to us the most, however, is the catchiness of the melody—the chorus itself is very singalongable and quite the earworm—and distinctive warmth and maturity of the lead vocalist. This is one you’ll want to sing along to on your commute.

CARΔAMO - ANDROGENISE

ANDROGENISE (LP) - CARΔAMO (Techno Pop) With “ANDROGENISE”, CARΔAMO steps into the music scene with the freshest, most innovative and distinctive studio album we’ve heard this year. A triumph of musicality, uniqueness, independent thought, provocation and stylistic cohesiveness, we do not hesitate in saying that CARΔAMO is a talent to watch. It’s also mind boggling weird af—but like in a great way. We’ll go track by track, but let’s start with the bigger picture.

The 13-track LP (including 1 cover and 1 remix) is a sonic melting pot of styles, infused with distinctive flare while maintaining stylistic cohesion throughout the project. This is not a collection of songs, it is a holistic piece of musical art. It is also strange AF, and we love it for that, as the bizarre and often nostalgic lyrical content make for a memorable, impactful and engaging experience that certainly brought a few smiles to our faces during our listen.

The main genre here is techno pop, with EDM flair and the occasional R&B/Hiphop sensibility, all linked by theatrical and avant garde overtones. The production is impeccable, and relies heavily on vocal modulation and distortion, as well as an 8bit retro videogame soundscape that ties, but does not weigh down, the album. It’s thoughtfully infused throughout without making the tracks feel too similar. In fact, quite the opposite—each track feels very unique and distinguishable, and despite an overall eccentricity and unabashed explicitness, several tracks feel prime for Top 40, which we’ll note as we go along.

Title track “ANDRONGENISE” gives us “Born This Way” era Lady Gaga with a “Body Talk” Robyn infusion in not only sound, but also thoughtful content. CARΔAMO discusses body modification from many angles, not only its dangers and underlying insecurities but also its role as artistic expression and identity. But far from preachy, the track is a Top 40 anthem and undeniable club banger. The theme pivots slightly to gender expression—quite timely of a topic we do say—in “NBNBNBN”, which keeps a similar sonic soundscape (a little “Music” era Madonna here too) while making for the nonbinary anthem the world has been waiting for.

To us, “SCREAM ABOUT” pivots into later Britney territory—like if Will.I.Am had worked with her on “Toxic”—and is driven by a catchy chant. We should point out here that there is no production trick CARΔAMO will not play with. While each track feels fresh, there is definitely some homage being paid to the great pop influences.

And now we get to the Bjork of it all with the interlude-esque “sonic heroes is the basis of my moral compass.” Read that again. Yes, with samples from the Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay, CARΔAMO gives us a Nikki flow and…honestly we can’t even describe this one, but we guarantee you’ll repeat it to learn all the words because it’s bonkers in the best way possible.

Sensitive readers skip this paragraph. “DADDY TECHNO DREAM PUNK” is the soundtrack to a pornhub hypnosis video. It’s sexy, dirty and dangerous. Is a musical dungeon orgy.

“YAKUZA” and “BOP IT!” delve into some nostalgia, with the former delivering an 80s synth haze while evoking images of Kill Bill, as the latter tips a hat to the iconic child’s toy with a radio-firendly jam in the vein of Cardi B’s “I Like It.” That hiphop radio-friendly flare continues in “GIVE IT THE JOOS” which boasts a remarkable depth of production.

We’re back on bath salts in “frogs are more precious than diamonds” where CARΔAMO wishes they had a pet frog in a Robyn/Royksopp feeling track which is giving an Adult Swim TikTok vibe.

All the more strange is the final pivot from an ode to frogs to pure radio pop with “I COULD NEVR” and Owl City cover “FIREFLIES”. The latter takes CARΔAMO’s 8bit sensibility and gorgeous vocals of guest Kat Welch to give a slight twist to a well known track, while the former shows that CARΔAMO can write big pop hits all on their own with an incredibly catchy chorus and the heavenly lilt of guest 98 Poly. We consider the cover, and album closing remix to the title track—a sort of “sped up” mix—as bonus tracks with “I COULD NEVR” being the true finale of the project.

All in all, this LP is hyper modern, fresh, and does a great service as an introduction to what CARΔAMO has to offer as an artist. CARΔAMO delivers what many new artists do not—a specific and focused point of view—and that will constantly distinguish them from their peers. We will certainly be watching CARΔAMO’s ascent.

Dax - The Abyss

The Abyss - Dax (Rap)  Dax returns for the third time to the blog with yet another epic and well produced music video to accompany an equally impressive track, “The Abyss.” In every song we’ve heard from Dax (each one better than the last, by the way) we are impressed with the level of vulnerability on display. The songs are diary entries, and Dax brings his whole heart to every vocal performance. With “The Abyss”, Dax takes us on a walk through his darkness, and expresses a unique and mature analysis of his relationship with it—it’s a mound of pain and despair but it also fuels his art. It’s a double edged sword for Dax, who even expresses anger that it’s his pain that brings him attention through his music—that he needs to hurt to be lauded, that it’s what the world wants from him. It’s incredibly deep and personal, with a fiery Kanye-esque flow to match, and that moment in the second verse when you hear him almost choke up—damn.

Best Lyric: “I’m making music that you cannot just define by the numbers on my Spotify.”

The Greatest Entertainer - Synergy

Synergy - The Greatest Entertainer (Pop)  Anthemic is the word that best describes The Greatest Entertainer’s latest track, “Synergy.” From the moment the drumline kicks off the track—which never seems to stop building throughout by the way—we started getting fired up, which is exactly what the record is about. The verses are lead by a raspy and authoritative bass which leads us to a soaring chorus that has some serious singalongability. Part dance track, part chant, part mantra, Synergy boasts an epic production that we think makes the song full of commercial licensing potential—think energy drink, think sporting event, think Olympic games. You want to rally? Get Synergy on your playlist.

Best Lyric: “We came with fire, we fight to win.“

Marc Rangel - Closure

Closure- Marc Rangel (R&B) We are treated to Marc’s third appearance on our blog with the sultry and mature track “Closure.” The song tackles a universal and relatable subject matter of needing to bookend a relationship with a unique specificity and vulnerability in the lyrics that lets the listener know this story is a personal one. The sound is quite mature, a sun drenched guitar and verby horn evoking a hazy summer night. Marc’s vocals are, as always, on point—a raspy and seductive alto for most of the number until Marc reaches Mariah Carey level whistle tones that truly shocked us. Listening to “Closure”, you’d think Marc was an R&B veteran considering just how polished this track is. If you’re looking for peer musicians, we’d put this one in the Jazmine Sullivan category. Fans of of R&B—this is right up your alley.

Best Lyric: “You know what you did but maybe you’ll find a way to make it right.“

MUNGMUNG - Internet Friends

Internet Friends - MUNGMUNG (Rap)  What would happen if Eminem and Nikki Minaj had a bad ass kid raised by Missy Elliot? Well, that’d be MUNGMUNG, as evidenced by the killer flow, creative lyrics and bananas music video for latest release, “Internet Friends.” The track takes the point of view of self criticism to conduct a clever analysis of social media culture, the chase of follows and likes, the toxicity underpinning that behavior and the motivations and emptiness behind internet clout chasing. MUNGMUNG takes no prisoners in the track, calling each platform out by name and skewering each for their specific flavors of bile. In your face, hyper fresh and uniquely avant garde, MUNGMUNG is a talent to watch.

Best Lyric: “They pop up and ask if we could be friends and should hang out on all the weekends and I say that depends.”

Katie Belle - Symptoms

Symptoms - Katie Belle (Pop) Oh this is catchy. In Katie Belle’s latest track “Symptoms” she is…well, feelin it. An emotive, breathy and sultry vocal performance, Katie croons that the object of her affection is giving her the fever. The track is pure pop, a midtempo bop with some R&B flare—think Ariana Grande. The dry guitar intro is a misdirect as to the lushness of the rest of the track, which is quite groovy, not to mention catchy af. That chorus is a real earworm and will definitely be running around any listener’s mind for hours after hearing it. This one will surely make you move, and we have to warn you that Katie might be contagious, because this track is now giving US some symptoms. Go off.

Best Lyrics: “When you get so close you breathe my air.”

Rob Roth - Awol

Awol - Rob Roth (Pop) Rob Roth is getting ready to trek off the beaten track in his latest track, “Awol.” The song is prime for Top 40 radio—from production, to lyrics, to performance, there’s no reason “Awol” can’t sit among today’s top hits. The melody is catchy af, cutting beautifully through an expertly mixed instrumental production. It’s a midtempo—a good head bopper that trots along patiently—and yet has that dance sensibility that primes it for club remixes and incorporation into DJ sets. The vocal is pure pop, and the entire vibe feels like “first single after I grew out of my boy band”. Down to brass tacks—it’s a hit. We challenge you to not hit repeat on Awol.

Best Lyric: “They just tryna keep me on the payroll. Livin’ in the same old same old.“

July - Salone

Salone - July (R&B) July is bringing some real Weeknd vibes with “Salone,” a modern R&B track that pays respect to the history of the genre. Salone captures the listener immediately with that retro analog fuzz before the crisp trap drums enter to let you know this ain’t no throwback track. The production is lush af—an immediate vibe. July’s voice is heaven, a strong tenor with all the R&B warmth you want. There’s some Jackson family sensibility in there, there’s some Babyface, there’s some Tevin Campbell…July certainly fits right in the canon of great R&B crooners. And just like those artists, boy does July have an ear for a catchy melody. Our only complaint is the 2:22 runtime—we want more! This track is gold.

Best Lyric: “I’m a lonely boy in a lonely world.”

XY Gala - True Story (Full of Lies)

True Story (Full of Lies) - XY Gala (Rap) XY Gala’s latest single, the sonically engaging “True Story (Full of Lies)” rolls in like a foreboding storm cloud, reminiscent of the old school Eminem sound, specifically his darker material. XY’s voice is front and center, sharp with a mature rasp that gives him a unique and easily identifiable sound, cutting through a clean and crisp instrumental production lead by a droning bass lead and a snappy trap percussion. But that style is soon juxtaposed with, and complemented by, a sung punk/emo rock chorus and a choral outro that put XY’s versatility as a musician on full display. Overall, with its menace and danger, this is one to vibe to when you are in your feelings.

Best Lyric: “Independent artist, independent music, don’t label me.“

Ossico & Carl Kammeyer - One

One - Ossico & Carl Kammeyer (Pop) Ossico and Carl Kammeyer are here to add to your summer playlist with sunny mid tempo “One.” It’s a kick and snap forward track with a two step dance feel, complemented by a bevy of modern production tricks and wide ranging instrumentation that help keep the track fresh. The production itself is impeccable and quite varied. However, the star of the track is certainly the soaring vocals. When that chorus hits…wow. Not just the belting up in the rafters, but also the warm harmonies, all ushering in a collection of different instrumental breaks that help give the track a unique identity among its peers. We can clearly hear “One” popping up in summer DJ sets.

InDuna - Are You in Love

Are You in Love - InDuna (Pop) Boasting an impeccable production and a bevy of afrobeat, InDuna delivers a perfect pop summer bop that would feel right at home on Top 40 radio. It’s a mid tempo, but still dancy, with crisp afrobeat percussion and a wailing guitar overlaid with an incredibly catchy hook we still have in our heads after listening to the track. There’s a summertime vibe permeating the record, delivered through some island sensibilities in the beat and general dancehall vibes. It’s just that type of song that you would hear everywhere—every bar, every club, every passing car, every public space, when you turn on the radio... In sum, InDuna’s “Are You in Love” is destined for major playlists.

Gutsy J - Quiet Calamity

Quiet Calamity - Gutsy J (Hip Hop) There’s a epic feeling to the production of Gutsy J’s latest track, “Quiet Calamity”—an R&B/Hip Hop number harkening back to the 2010s. The track feels like it would sit among peers like T-Pain and The Dream, with its quiet storm R&B backings and use of hard tuning as an effect on the vocal. Gutsy J brings a melodic rap, with an easy breezy flow that feels West Coast 90s inspiration, to a track that hits you in your chest, and swells. But don’t be fooled by the mellow groove, the beat knocks, elevated by the tension delivered from the high strings throughout. This is one you play in your car while cruising around town with your crew. This is a vibe record.

Best Lyric: “Can’t see beauty cuz your colors can’t be sorted.“

Kid Lazuras - Utopia

Utopia (LP) - Kid Lazuras (Alt Rock) Bristol based duo Kid Lazuras stepped onto the scene in 2021 with debut LP, Utopia. As displayed by the album, the band has crafted a unique sound, infusing influences of electronica, new-wave, and post-punk scenes. A vocal duet of reedy baritone and lilting soprano, backed by electric live instrumentation, this team is greater than the sum of their parts, with the songs truly soaring when the two come together to just rock out.

The album starts on a somber note with “Fall For The Break”, preparing us for an introspective affair with a melancholy piano and organ. There’s a folk sensibility to the track, as it lets each singer have a moment to themselves before coming beautifully together, as if taking each other’s hands and readying themselves to dive into the depths of the album. Most ear catching about Fall For The Break are the lyrics. “My thoughts say I’m dead but I don’t trust my thoughts cuz I don’t trust my head.” Oof.

With “Men of God” we start to get our punk influence, with a thrum of energy that evokes that classic beginning of “9 to 5” before the two just…well, rock out. The vocals here are explarary and we would put our money on this track being the single. If “Fall For The Break” was the intro, this is our first big number.

The album continues to swerve, with “In The Ether” feeling like it’s coming right off of the soundtrack to “The Matrix” . Late 90s emo, in “Ether” our female vocalist transforms into a chorus of sirens. Tension abound and thrumming with danger, this track takes us to a dark cathedral. Title track “Utopia” continues the swirling miasma as our male vocalist takes the spotlight with his Johnny Cash level graveliness that cuts through the thick atmosphere of the instrumentation. We like these two as a “turn off the lights, lay in the dark and close your eyes” kinda listen.

“All Over Again” breaks the moodiness in favor of an upbeat little bop which is our personally favorite. We’ve got some retro R&B and funk on this one, where we hear guitar elements reminiscent of Prince’s “I Wanna Be Your Lover.” Much like “Men of God”, it has a real pop sensibility and escalates into a big jam session. We’d like to hear this one in concert.

The instrumental takes over in “You Find”, where the jam session infuses some reggae and funk, taking center stage over the vocals, which entirely disappear in “Run On Out”, which transports us into the back half of the album. It’s almost a post-intermission overture. What we realized later is that it was preparing us for a far more instrumental focused and abstract conclusion to the record.

“Refuge” follows, taking us to India with its far east instruments, cutting into a track that otherwise feels very 90s British rock, making for a unique combination. “Weaponised” picks up the pace with another instrumental, but stays in that rock lane, feeling like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, boasting an earworm of a melodic guitar riff.

“Capital” brings back our male vocal in an almost Pink Floyd style fever dream. Dark and broody, like other tracks on the album, this one feels the most dangerous, until “Immaterial” begins. Of all of the more abstract works on the album, this one is our favorite, and plays the most with song structure. It’s an incantation of a song. We’re not in Kansas anymore with this back half of the album.

Finally, we end as we begin, with piano ballad “Words Are Just Another Way To Hide” which is just so beautifully sad. It’s a narrative song, a character study of an man, which is a point of view we don’t hear much in pop anymore. It’s a perfect bookend to the experience that is “Utopia.”

Overall, with “Utopia”, Kid Lazuras serves up a perfect mix of abstract and pop rock to make for an eclectic album with a consistent, yet unique, sound. We fervently believe this is an act you want to see live.