New Music

Rashad + Confidence – “Non Stop”

May 3, 2026

You gotta hear the timeless instrumental longtime beatmaker Confidence has cooked up for his collab with Rashad. “Non Stop” sounds like it came straight off a Gang Starr record. Confidence is in his bag, chopping up delicious piano lines, rearranging them into a head-knocking production prime for a veteran emcee like Rashad to find inspiration within. It even includes some scratching to add texture to an extra smooth selection of instruments. If there was any doubt about the quality of the artists involved, Rashad takes care of that with his lyricism. “Non Stop” is a braggadocious reminder of what traditional hip hop is supposed to sound like. This track appears on The Element of Surprise, a collaborative EP between the artists from 2011 that they’ve remastered for 2026. It’s just in time to add to your cruising playlist so you can play it with the windows down while you lock eyes[...]

Jack Landess – “Everytime”

May 1, 2026

Nashville-based solo act Jack Landess hit our inboxes with the surfy bedroom-pop of latest single, “Everytime.” Jack’s music is ultra-soothing – almost aquatic, and reminiscent of the oceanic scene that he used as his album cover. Plush guitars twinkle underneath Jack’s hushed vocal delivery – catchy and calming all the same. Through and through, “Everytime” is a love song – here’s a little bit more about the song’s inspiration from Jack himself:   “This song is about just wanting the love of my life, Jane, to be with me just as she is. Bringing forth both the hard times and the great times, I just need her at her core.”   You can find “Everytime” via the YouTube embed below and also on Spotify.    

Alela Diane – “Dusty Roses”

May 1, 2026

Alela Diane is a Portland songcrafter whose been carving out a quietly extraordinary career for more than a decade. “Dusty Roses” is her latest stunner – a folksy meander that highlights her darkly heartfelt vocals. Acoustic guitar twinkles gently behind Alela’s vocals, set off by gentle drumming and stabs of thumping bass. The heavy nature of the song is part of the appeal here, and it’s powerful enough to let Alela explain for herself – see below:   “I wrote this song about a dear friend of mine whose path took a wrong turn a number of years ago. I think she’s still alive, but no one knows where she ended up. I believe that we all have the capacity to lose ourselves along the way. I’ve seen it happen again and again, whether through mental health struggles, drug use, addiction, trauma, depression, or grief. So many of us have[...]

Bending Backwards – “I See You From Here”

May 1, 2026

Copenhagen-based act Bending Backwards brings their power trio energy with latest single, “I See You From Here.” We hesitate to use the term “power trio,” although “I See You From Here” is certainly powerful in its own right. Bending Backwards’ music is jittery, jangly, and unsettling in the perfect way, set off by a haunting wail that cuts right to the bone. This one made us feel things, and we think it will make you feel things to – hence, the feature.   You can find “I See You From Here” via the Bandcamp embed below.   I See You From Here by Bending Backwards

Garet Camella – “Balance”

April 26, 2026

LA based Garet Camella is a solo act of (you’ll never guess the name) Garet Joseph Camella. His latest, “Balance” is a clean guitar track through and through that leans into the indie pop feels. Dude clearly knows how to slay with that axe but he keeps it measured and controlled with this track; giving his vocals room to breathe and the groovy bass licks shine too.   You can hear “Balance” below on YouTube as well as Apple Music and Spotify. Camella’s upcoming EP Just Passing Through is coming in the first half of May (no specific date given). That’s fine though, if you wanna hear more be sure to pop a follow on Garet Camella’s socials or streaming. Don’t worry, music Mommy or Daddy will tell you if you ask.        

Frog – “Best Buy”

April 26, 2026

New York based Frog brings us their latest single, “Best Buy.” Just a week past the release of their new album Frog For Sale, we realize we haven’t written about them since last year’s “WHERE DO I SIGN VAR. III.”   Honestly, the intro of “Best Buy” feels the closest to frog-like I’ve heard so far. The “ba-dum, ba-do” gave me “couple of frogs hanging out on lily pads” vibes and I can’t unhear/unsee this head canon. It’s a little jazzy and laid back with a rambling bass couple with geetar pluckings with background synth. I also associate frogs with jazz because of some book or acid trip (or both) so this really just makes 1000% sense to me.   You can hear “Frog for Sale” below from Bandcamp, as well as over on Spotify. The rest of their album, Frog For Sale, is available in both spots as well. Welcome back Frog, glad[...]

southpaw + Dope TAF – “Book of Genesis”

April 23, 2026

Hinted by their name, rising Bay Area hip hop producer southpaw brings power from unexpected angles on their latest single “Book of Genesis.” Classic boom bap drums set the tone, but the haunting “Joanna” vocal sample and whimpering saxophone pack the hardest punch on southpaw’s board. The track gets an assist from rapper Dope TAF, who counters the melancholic production with a bit of gusto, asserting his status in the scene. As a complete package, “Book of Genesis” offers the levity of hip hop bravado with the anchoring southpaw production, making for a really well-rounded listen. Add this one to your boom bap playlists. If you’re feeling “Book of Genesis,” make sure you check out southpaw on Spotify. While you’re there, give our Best Underground Hip Hop playlist a spin – you’ll hear from southpaw and other talented emcees making waves in 2026.

2ŁØT – “Tread”

April 21, 2026

Rising band 2ŁØT is forging a new sound that they’ve labeled “electronic jam music” or EJM. Their latest single, “Tread” jams the hypnotic rhythms that you’d usually hear in those more free-flowing and long-form tracks into a tight two minutes. It brings the jam to the study beats structure. Led by a magnetic trumpet line and supported with piano, flute, and an enchanting vocal line, this one’s easy on the ears. 2ŁØT’s off to a strong start in 2026 with “Tread” and other highlight releases like “Come Together” and “Favorite Star.” Give “Tread” a listen on Spotify — while you’re there, check out our new Study Beats and Instrumentals playlist. We wanna drive you through with the fuzzy glow of traffic lights, the moon, or your computer screen.

Jay Dutch and BiiG Dreams – “the fires we repent”

April 19, 2026

New York hip hop artists Jay Dutch and BiiG Dreams embrace temptation even if it’s just for the night, on their sharp new track “the night before we repent.” There’s something to be said about living in the moment. Dutch and Dreams explore why this happens, whether it’s romantic partners, substances or other vices. Sharp lines assess what succumbing to those feelings means, and whether or not this impacts good graces later on. “I see a bit of heaven outside of my window.” Production-wise, we’re super smooth to match the polished delivery of both artists, and there’s a great little vibe shift for the back half of the track. Some cool visuals are available here too. If you’re feeling this track, give these artists a listen on Spotify. While you’re there, check out buffaBLOG’s Best Hip Hop of 2026 playlist – you’ll find a great list of underground rappers there.

Чернобыль – “The Day Death Overtakes”

April 17, 2026

Чернобыль, which translates to “Chernobyl” brings us their latest self-produced track “The Day Death Overtakes.” The brainchild of Daniil Zotov, this ties into a narrative arc that is in his forthcoming album Slow & Dreary. Interestingly enough, he claims this is at the end of everything, which feels a bit spoilery, but I suppose it’s all about the journey, right?   The track itself is devastatingly great – a thought provoking and mood-setting piece of music that sounds like the end of the world. Heavy, but contemplative, this could be an apocalyptic soundscape or something to ponder to while you’re contemplating something morose.   You can hear it below on YouTube, as well as Spotify. Slow & Dreary will be out April 24th.      

Brightmoon – “First Light”

April 17, 2026

Brightmoon is both the brainchild of Becca Mohler and husband Billy Mohler and “First Light” is their latest. I’m not a huge Thundercats fan because one dude sucked all of the fun out of it way back in the day, but Brightmoon is also the name of the setting for the land in She-Ra and the Princess of Power. If you’re not a nerd or live under a rock, 5/6 of that probably didn’t make any sense (sorry, Google it).   Musically, it feels like a great, slow-mo underwater song – for some reason that I can’t eloquently explain. That 90’s shoegaze aesthetic is strong here, but it manages to feel like something new, as opposed to a retread. It’s a great guitar-forward track that somehow feels like four seconds and also four years. I literally got lost in it as I was listening the first go around and I[...]

Violet UltraRay – “graceland”

April 17, 2026

Feels like just yesterday we featured Violet UltraRay, but it was actually way back in November here! Where the hell does the time go? Luckily, we have been graced by “graceland” this month and we’re here for it now, just as we were then. Shoegaze is their specialty and they lean into it here. I definitely dug the bass riff throughout the track which, as per the band, was what the song started and grew from.   You can see the music vid for the track below via YouTube. It’s a little avant garde but not ostentatious and it has Elvis in it, which is both appropriate and funny. Speaking to the track, the band said that   “…graceland felt like the right metaphor – myth, aspiration, somewhere just out of reach…”        

sssiv – “All the Time”

April 17, 2026

“All the Time” is the latest single from Copenhagen based sssiv – itself a clever amalgamation of the three band members (Sara, Stephen, and Sasha). Falling into the dream pop realm with hints of post-punk, I particularly enjoyed how everything meshed together – you can hear how connected the entire band is. On top of all of that, they construct most of their songs with improv, so you KNOW they must secretly be conjoined at the hips.   You can hear the track below from YouTube as well as Spotify. If you felt the beautiful connection betwixt the three SSS’s, you’ll enjoy their smattering of singles they’ve released over the past couple years. (I particularly enjoyed “sea salt”).          

Robbery Club – “Never Better”

April 15, 2026

Robbery Club can add breaking and entering (and probably trespassing) to their list of crimes – the evidence is clear in their new video for single “Never Better.” In the video, the sharply-dressed band plays a squiggly, Joyce-Manor-meets-Weezer brand of indie punk on some random Buffalo rooftop. Crunchy guitars and melodies aplenty, the song isn’t so much a departure for them – moreso an evolution. Lyrics like “I’m not a child anymore” and “everything is okay” offset the more angsty material from their past, with just enough vagueness to keep you guessing on whether they’re tongue-in-cheek. The visual motifs in the video are cheeky, but cool – keep your eyes peeled for an omnipresent smiley balloon, cowboy hats, and… chickens?   Check out the music video for “Never Better” embedded below. While you’re at it, check out our previous features of Robbery Club here and here.    

Already Legends – “Up the Smooth Water”

April 14, 2026

Our Great Lakes compadres over in Detroit are cooking up something smooth and fierce with this hip hop collective Already Legends.  The group, made up of SavageSpitFlames, Sam Tate, Squad and L.O.E Boog, bring a eclectic mix of styles that round out to feel very Detroit. Their latest single, “Up the Smooth Water” is a great barometer for the sound over there, and it’s exciting to see shine getting brighter for a legendary city for hip hop. The first thing you’ll notice about this track is it’s appropriately smooth, and the sample is front and center. A lot of Detroit and Rust Belt rappers in general have a conversational flow, with lines very casually moving into the next, and I love that about this track. Between the 80s soul-feel of the beat, and each of these dudes shining with unique, charisma and conversational-driven flows, you can chew on a lot[...]