New Music

Howzen – “Blind Test”

April 24, 2025

Rising rapper Howzen’s parlayed his passion for drumming into a full-fledged hip hop hobby, showing off his talent on his latest track “Blind Test.” There’s not a vocal style Howzen won’t mix in — on “Blind Test” he’s singing, rapping, and using some tasteful autotune as he discusses his ancestors and his relationship with his faith. “Blind Test” respects the grind, as Howzen calls out on the chorus “All wanna know what’s next, but it’s about the mindset.” The track’s production includes some powerful string parts featuring violin and harp, supplemented by a floating gothic vocal sample. It’s a good motivational track for your grindset/mindset playlists. You can listen to more from Howzen on Spotify, Apple Music, or on our Rising Hip Hop Playlist. 

Kai Bosch – “Popstar Of Your Dreams”

April 23, 2025

We’re Kai Bosch stans here at buffaBLOG (see here, here, and here), but at this point, can you blame us? The alt pop luminary has had a legendary output with no signs of stopping – evidenced by his latest offering, “Popstar Of Your Dreams.” A pulsating electro bass gets the blood pumping while Bosch’s effervescent vocals paint a scintillating picture. This is by all measures a flamboyant and unapologetic pop song, but Bosch knows when to let his emotions fly too.   Kai Bosch has you covered – “Popstar Of Your Dreams” is up now on Spotify, Apple Music, and even Deezer.   Kai Bosch · Popstar of Your Dreams

Why Dogs Why – “Play The Hits”

April 19, 2025

Why can’t more bands be like Why Dogs Why and just PLAY THE HITS. Tongue-in-cheek statement or not, their latest song of the same name certainly doesn’t sound like something you’d hear on the radio, but we’re in love with it regardless. This Californian quartet tout this jam as their longest composition to date and its a stunning listen all the way through. With a sexy indie rock progression that dabbles just a bit into Midwest emo, we find the band singing “Dance monkey, dance away” as a metaphor for feeling pressured to behave in a certain way. Get into your feels and let this one sink in deep the next time your boss pisses you off.   Sample “Play The Hits” via the YouTube embed below – Spotify and Apple Music are good to go too.  

DEAD PERRY ft. P-Dirt, Raz Fresco and Daniel San – “’83 Canadian Hollow Tip”

April 17, 2025

If you’re like me, there’ve been a few hundred times you’ve been browsing for something to watch, and  you’ve stopped and read the description for the Tom Hardy biographical drama “Bronson.” Ultimately, you, like me, opted out of watching this movie despite its approachable runtime, curious central figure and relatively positive reviews. This was a good decision by us. It kept us out of the crosshairs of Bay Area Hip Hop producer DEAD PERRY and his friends. The latest track from the NorCal mainstay features cold, deliberate production, strong verses from P-Dirt and Daniel San, an immediately catchy hook from Raz Fresco, and a big fat @ sign for anyone who’s attended a “Bronson” watch party. Not me, losers! “’83 Hollow Tip” is infused with the personality of each performer and DEAD PERRY’s icy beat locks them all into place. Check out “’83 Canadian Hollow Tip” wherever you listen to[...]

Tre K – “Identity”

April 17, 2025

Energy bursts out of each bar of the latest single “Identity” from the trio of rappers Tre K, 400HazeMoney and YoungDiggz88. With menace, each artist delivers streetwise lines, talking about robbing banks, buying tanks and snatching back chains. It’s authentic hip hop and I trust every line from these dudes. The track features a regal, gothic vocal sample that feels just like a beat off of Watch the Throne. “Identity” also features a dope music video, letting you step into the shoes of the emcees as they run wild through their city. Check out more from the artists on Spotify, and listen to more underground hip hop on our playlist. 

eSex – “bumper sticker”

April 16, 2025

eSex is a weeb punk band out of California and “bumper sticker” is their latest single. They definitely tricked me the first listen through with the sudden heel turn from lovely guitar-forward emo-punk to SCREAMING. I thought the breakdown was gonna be the end but then NOPE, THEY CAUSED QUITE THE RUCKUS IN MY EARDRUMS. Funnily enough, the song ends as it began to bring it full circle. If you check out the band’s socials you’ll see what I mean about the weeb comment – assuredly, from me specifically, a compliment.   If you’ve ever been to a basement show or had/have patches on your vest you’ll feel right at home with eSex …and you may be entitled to financial compensation (not from eSex, to be clear). They deserve your financial compensation, so throw them a listen and check out one of their shows if you’re in Northern California.  [...]

Tarn PK – “Cry Baby”

April 16, 2025

Straight to your ears from Wellington, New Zealand, Tarn PK (the moniker of Tarn Puentener-King) shows off his latest track “Cry Baby.” I’m always a sucker for a well-crafted pop track and “Cry Baby” is no exception. Going with a “less is more” approach, the synth and drums play off each other to great effect and let Tarn PK’s catchy vocals do the heavy lifting. Speaking to the track, Tarn had this to say:   “[‘Cry Baby] came from a time of feeling like I wasn’t moving forward and thinking, what am I going to do about this….a big part for me was trying to detach from my expectations and just appreciate things as they currently are.”   You can hear it below from Soundcloud, Spotify, or check out the music video on YouTube (which is more or less a visualizer except Tarn PK in a daze in an elevator).[...]

Roller Derby – “Lights Out”

April 16, 2025

Roller Derby, a band we’ve written about before here, have a new track out – a dream pop affair entitled “Lights Out.” Clocking in at just under three minutes, organ flavored synth (or maybe actually an organ, who can say) and a slick bass line dance along with fitful bouts of guitar. I got some Beach House vibes here and there, but this isn’t just another cookie cutter dreamy track – the warmth and speaking to the complexities of love feel truly heartfelt.   You can hear “Lights Out” below from Soundcloud or Spotify. An AI music video also exists over on YouTube. As per the band this was done purposefully to “mirror the song’s dreamlike quality – blurring the lines between reality and illusion…” You can hear the rest of the album, When The Night Comes, on a streaming device near you.   Roller Derby · Lights Out  [...]

Elle Belle – “Train to Kyoto”

April 14, 2025

Written in an entirely surprising location, Elle Belle put together his latest single, “Train to Kyoto” in the last place you’d expect. That’s right – on a train to Kyoto. Can you believe it? Us either.   That being said, the gentle electronica here is top notch, with a spicy, lightly-autotuned vocal presence. The composition is purposely bare in nature and the song breathes with both digital and organic lungs. Pleasant guitar plunks, gauzy synths, and project mastermind Christopher Pappas’ airy vocals are all highlights – here’s a little more (quite profound) diatribe about the song from Pappas himself:   ‘Train to Kyoto’ is a nearly lyric-less song I wrote while on, well, a train to Kyoto. I recorded a scratch vocal that started with the only lyric I had at the time: ‘I took the train to Kyoto and I never woke up.’ I improvised the rest of the vocals,[...]

Color Palette – “Anywhere at All”

April 14, 2025

“Anywhere at All” is the latest single from DC based Color Palette and wow, is it just chock full of sound. A self described “indie dream-pop band,” “Anywhere at All” takes some rhythmic cues from industrial and shoegaze music that incorporates the synth – an approach I found intriguing and refreshing. I even felt some moments of “is this almost an EDM track?” Like I said: this track packs a lot of sound.   The band’s last major release was 2023’s Pacing Like a Lion EP with some singles here and there. Keep your ears out for more, because bands that keep up this long (since ~2017) certainly tend to have some staying power. Their other single of 2025, “Grateful,” is worth the listen too especially if you’re looking for a good example of the depth of the band.   You can hear “Anywhere at All” below from the band’s Soundcloud[...]

The Feather – BB

April 14, 2025

Solo act, The Feather, the brainchild of Thomas Medard, has a new single “BB.” It’s the latest single from his forthcoming album and, straight from his mouth on how important it is:   “It shaped the entire project: it’s the heart and soul of it. It speaks about daily life in a relationship, that routine that sometimes scares but also reassures. ‘BB’ is a song to remind the other person that some connections can grow endlessly. A song simply to say: I know you.”   The track itself is a smoooooth af synth and drum track that really sucks you in with how earnest and soulful it is. Aquatic FM piano tones lure in your ears with that quasi yacht rock sound. When you hear it, you’ll understand where the extra three o’s came from.   You can hear it below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify. An easy shoe-in[...]

Club 8 – Let It All Fly

April 14, 2025

Swedish twosome Club 8 bring us their latest single “Let It All Fly,” a languid and dreamy affair teaming with immensely satisfying effects and instrumentals (and vocals, of course!). I wouldn’t quite go so far as to call it ASMR, but damn if it isn’t toeing the line. Whatever they used for the *wooshing* effect was spot on and as close as I’ve gotten to actually flying while sitting down.   We most recently covered them here for their track “Free Falling” off of their 2024 album “A Year With Club 8.” They’ve been around the block a couple times and, if you click on the Club 8 label below (or here), you can see we’ve featured them more than once. With a catalogue stretching back into the late 90’s you’re certainly in for a treat and “Let It Fly” is the perfect jumping off point.   You can hear[...]

Reedus 3m – “Boss’d Up”

April 13, 2025

Boston-based rapper Reedus 3m channels classic soul sounds into his modern rap delivery on his latest single, “Boss’d Up.” A warm, eager vocal sample paces Reedus‘ braggadocios stream of thought, acknowledging “it might sound fake or like a tall tale.” His penmanship comes from the J.Cole school of writing – evoking real emotions and knowingly leaning into the persona Reedus builds with each line. Even though the track clocks in under 2 minutes, Reedus gives plenty of love to the nostalgic, thumping beat as it bookends the track. If you dig soul samples in hip hop, you’re gonna be hooked on this one. Check out more from him on Spotify, and discover more up and coming artists on our Spotify playlist. 

Keli – “Meant to Be”

April 13, 2025

German singer-rapper Keli calls out her ex for ghosting on her latest single “Meant to Be,” but on this track at least, the ethereal otherworldliness comes from her side. At times, Keli’s murmurs sound like Portishead and make “Meant to Be” feel like trip-hop. But significant sections of the song are Keli offering up her grievances in more traditional rap form. Producer Benji.Cares  creates a sparse, dour landscape for Keli to fill with her relieved rumination, finding solace in the idea that she no longer needs to watch “fake fires on tv screens.” Add this one to your atmospheric, nighttime playlists. “Meant to Be” is Keli’s first single of 2025 – give her a follow on Spotify to check out her upcoming output.

Bullet Brak – “Eating Good”

April 11, 2025

Hip hop veteran and Maryland native Bullet Brak raps with an intensity that makes you want to avoid eye contact at best, and duck and cover at worst. “There’s no need for low speed” for the rapper on his latest single “Eating Good,” where he takes the form of an urban legend – and not one we’re trying to cross over here at the blog. Sending shooters on mopeds, Belgian waffling peoples’ faces, things of that nature. His streetwise authenticity spits out of every word, and it’s combined with some icy, choral, bell heavy production that feels a bit like both ends of the 2000s. “Roll me a bag of green crack and purple haze.” Now we’re talking. “Eating Good’s” a highlight off of Brak’s latest project, World Traveler.  Give it some spins on Spotify and while you’re there check out our emerging hip hop playlist.