New Music

DYAN – “Acoustic Midwest”

February 15, 2025

DYAN wraps up her album cycle with the lovely, heartstring-pulling “Acoustic Midwest.” A bare bones arrangement that highlights film composer Alexis Dyan Marsh’s vulnerable-but-stunning vocals atop beautifully strummed acoustic guitar, “Acoustic Midwest” is one of those songs that truly lets itself do the heavy lifting. Lyrics about protecting your child and vague Midwestern imagery give a strong sense of nostalgia that, like DYAN explains, “bring out the tender defiance of leaving.” Throw this one on during your next early winter morning while you sip your coffee.   Check out “Acoustic Midwest” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify or Apple Music playlists.  

Pavy – “Amex My ID”

February 13, 2025

Southside Chicago rapper Pavy blends subgenres into one hypnotizing formula for his latest track “Amex My ID.” Comprised of smooth trap autotune, enchanting chorus, and frantic adlibs, Pavy’s created an airtight banger for your cruising and pregame playlists. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, a large chunk of “Amex” is Pavy’s and featured rapper The Boy Illinois‘ “make a girl wanna roll with us” hook. The middle verse is tight – but all you need is a few minutes of that hook taking your mind into a dark, smoke-filled, neon-lit back room. The duo’s adlibs throughout the entirety of the track keep the energy high and your ears guessing what direction they’re gonna hit you – flexing great production work on top of the already stellar vocalists. Check out more from Pavy and The Boy Illinois on Spotify.

SOZI – “The Brink”

February 11, 2025

“The Brink” is a place I’m sure many people have been brought to through various circumstances, but in this case, we’re talking about SOZI’s latest single. Drum machines and synth underpin an ethereal romp that feels like partway between a dream and waking; just as time is starting to slow down to a crawl. Speaking to the track, SOZI had this to say:   “This one’s all about that electrifying moment between breaking and breakthrough: the tension, the uncertainty, the push to keep going when everything feels like it’s about to collapse.”   Fans of Florence and the Machine and Clairo would find a lot to enjoy here, as well as aficionados of LORDE/Randy Marsh.   You can hear “The Brink” below from YouTube. You can check out her personal site with a link to lots of stuff (more vids, socials, etc.). Including, apparently, SOZI tokens.        

MacGregor Burns – “Put It All On Me”

February 11, 2025

MacGregor Burns, a true artist’s artist and a renaissance man, brings us his latest single: “Put It All On Me.” We previously covered Burns and producer/collaborator Luke Temple back in August for the lead single, “She Never Took a Chance On Me” off the upcoming album (coming this fall). Burns flexes his goth cred with a lightly haunting but not oppressive track; calling to mind a modern-day version of Joy Division or Robert Smith on a sunny day.   The bass & synth on “PIAOM” contrast nicely with the acoustic guitar of the prior “SNTaCOM;” seeing artists dip into different styles while still maintaining a signature feel is always a fine treat. Both tracks come straight from the soul lyrically while going in interesting directions musically.   You can hear “Put It All On Me” below from YouTube or add it to your synth-y playlist over on Spotify.    [...]

A1 Beanz – “Digital Scale”

February 10, 2025

SoCal rapper A1 Beanz  brings the heavy snow with his newest coke rap single “Digital Scale.” With menace in his voice, the “dope rapper” talks guns, scales and sniff tests while icy, heartless piano paces the track’s beat. Beanz departs from the evocative lines to drop clever one liners like, “I did a line and now my eyes wide like Emma Stone.” “Digital Scale” also features a strong hook -with Beanz’ gruff voice demanding his counterpart “put the work on the digital scale – it’s all there!” “Digital Scale” goes perfectly within your Griselda playlists as Beanz has coke lines for days and charismatic vocals and adlibs that’ll stick between your ears immediately off the rip. Check out the music video on YouTube live from the trap house. The guns aren’t real but the rhymes sure as hell are. Listen to A1 Beanz on Spotify and check him out on our[...]

Glowry Boyz – “YEAH YEAH”

February 9, 2025

Berlin-based rap duo Glowry Boyz arrive with force on their sophomore single “YEAH YEAH.” The latest from Selassie and Anthony Wills follows up the swirling, epic “FREE FALL” with a good ole fashioned banger. Featuring pounding piano and knocking bass, “YEAH YEAH” is a great track for your workout playlist, channeling Neptunes and A$AP Mob between the production choices and the whispery ear worm chorus. “YEAH YEAH” is an anthem for self-certainty, resilience and decisiveness with bars that’ll have your ready to run through a brick wall. It also comes with a sharp music video that you can view directly on YouTube to get the visual component to the Glowry Boyz’ art. Check out more from the Glowry Boyz on Spotify and Soundcloud.Listen “YEAH YEAH” and more bangers from rising artists on our 2025 Spotify rap playlist.

Crack! Bang! Pow! – “Hey”

February 9, 2025

Crack! Bang! Pow! (hitherto known as CBP!) brings us their latest single with “Hey.” Other than figuring out the song was written by Bradley Peterson I….couldn’t figure out a lot here. Big lout energy is abound here with a punk aesthetic that clashes wonderfully into a glam rock vibe. Guitar aficionados will be satiated here and there’s nothing you can do about that.   You can hear “Hey” below courtesy of YouTube as well as Spotify and Apple Music. Fans of chanty/responsorial flavored punk rock would find a lot to enjoy here (minus the religion; sorry, just a recovering Catholic here). If you’ve ever gone into a mosh without showering or think that the British are the pinnacle of punk, you’ll be right at home here.   Crack! Bang! Pow! · Hey (SELF-RELEASE)

Rainbow City Park – “Fruitless”

February 9, 2025

“Fruitless” is the latest single from the Fruitless EP; Rainbow City Park’s latest release as of 2/4/25. Blistering guitars and drums assault the senses while lyricist Danielle Blankenship keeps us hooked with a perfect blanket of vocals. Inspired by the shoegaze greats – namely MBV and DIIV – “Fruitless” is a lovely addition to the overarching shoegaze canon, layered thick with emo-esque melodies that help it to go down just a bit smoother than its spikier contemporaries.   You can check out the track below on YouTube or add it to your Spotify playlist here. Be sure to check out the rest of the EP; well worth the twenty minute time investment. Anyone who enjoys a solid guitar solo that does some (but not all) of the heavy lifting will be in heaven.    

Frog – “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI”

February 4, 2025

“JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” is the latest from Frog off of their upcoming album 1000 Variations on the Same Song due out Valentines Day (February 14). Based out of New York, brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman have come back together for a rousing yet subdued indie album for the first part of the year.   Going with a dandy of a piano medley paired with drums, they play it close to the chest. It just exudes artistry, like your friend Ron’s bachelor apartment of yesteryear – complete with incense from his roommate and some obtuse dinnerware; never rising to ostentatious… but you’re still kinda jealous of that dinnerware. Fans of Bon Iver or Sufjan Stevens would find a lot to enjoy here. Why? Just because. You know I’m right.   You can hear “JUST USE YR HIPS VAR. VI” below from Soundcloud. The prior single “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES VAR.[...]

Risley – “World Goes On”

February 4, 2025

Feline-christened four piece Risley brings us their latest downbeat jam with “World Goes On.” Portland based (of the PNW varietal), this four piece meanders at the perfect pace through the track but never leaves you wanting. Clocking in at just under four minutes, it feels like Bauhaus and Dinosaur Jr. had a lovechild with split custody. Bass guitar often gets overlooked for its flashier cousin, but does a lot of heavy lifting here by setting the mood. Don’t let the flashy guitar ruin the mood… Even though in all actuality, the lead guitar riff here is quite captivating.   You can hear “World Goes On” below from the band’s Soundcloud, as well as over on Spotify and YouTube. The rest of the album, Umbra Penumbra (January 24) is worth chomping into and would pair well with a pinot noir or a long drive home from work where you just keep[...]

Captain Brick – “NO BRAKES”

February 3, 2025

Reading, PA rapper Captain Brick is not one to fuck around. His latest track “NO BRAKES” is the soundtrack to his fondness for the best weed, best clothes, best women – all the vices that’ll scratch your itch. Featuring a menacing beat and Brick’s nasty delivery, “NO BRAKES” also flexes a catchy hook perfect for your gangsta rap playlists. New Jersey’s DreArtist also tears his verse up with one liners, warning his listeners “in seconds your life can go from a movie to a TikTok.” Check out more from Captain Brick on Spotify – and peep some more rising hip hop artists on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.    

Akete – “Last House on tha Block”

February 3, 2025

Rapper and multi-instrumentalist Akete finds inspiration with the classics – demonstrating as much on their latest single “Last House on tha Block.” Featuring boisterous horns of Steely Dan’s “Home at Last”, “Last House on tha Block” is bursting with liveliness. The up and coming Akete delivers an effortless freestyle to match that bright production – flexing rap skills,  life wins, and quippy one liners to flow through his freestyle. Hip hop in its purest form: “I’m not crazy, I don’t think I know karate. Can’t nobody stop me.” Take a listen to Akete on Spotify and check out the track on Soundcloud below. Akete · Last House on tha Block

The Feather – “All My Life”

February 2, 2025

Winning the award for one of the most wholesome songs you’ll hear this week, “All My Life” is not a Foo Fighters cover, but rather a song of sibling love by Belgian solo artist The Feather (aka Thomas Medard, of Dan San fame who are also worth a listen). This song is filled to the brim with vibrant synth and *impeccable* bass licks that will leave you in a puddle. Medard’s vocals along with the groovy effects (both electronic and visual in the video below) craft an impossibly catchy track.   You can see the music video for “All My Life” below from YouTube. You can add it to your synth heavy playlist(s) on Spotify. Keep your ears peeled for more after this and 2024’s “Invisible” album; you won’t be left wanting but you’ll certainly be hankerin’ for more.  

KOTE – “To Be Horrified”

February 1, 2025

“To Be Horrified” is the latest from mysterious musician (and possible time traveler and/or vampire/deity) Veronique Bertelle, better known as KOTE. Bertelle’s lyrics mesh well with the tight combo of drums, bass, and rhythm guitar and showcase a story of strength against the patriarchy. Speaking to their experiences, Bertelle had this to say:   “My name is Veronique Bertelle, but I am not me. I don’t live, nor have I ever lived, by your rules of space and time. I was born in the United Kingdom in the ’50s, in an era that already felt the first beats of a musical revolution. In 1984, I was reborn in Italy, a fracture in the timeline that redefined who I was. Until 1990, I lived between 1965 and 1975, moving between Los Angeles and El Cerrito. In those places, immersed in sound and experimentation, I walked alongside artists I intimately knew through[...]

Two-Man Giant Squid – “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)”

January 29, 2025

Brooklyn post-punk act Two-Man Giant Squid released their driving new song “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)” earlier this week. The track is the lead single off the band’s forthcoming self-titled album, out March 7, 2025 via Mint 400 Records.   The band started as a faceless solo bedrom project from Mitchell Vonikur, eventually fleshing out to a live fivetet. The new single is about the frustrations of the creative process, letting dead ends take up too much time and effort. Not everything has to be perfect, it’s important to embrace creativity and the voice-in-your-head isn’t always right.   “Weird Recordings (you’ve got some)” has the post-punk rawness of Parquet Courts, the crescendo indie groove of early Modest Mouse, and the franticness of LCD Soundsystem when they are giving Nancy Whang a rest. Check it out below.   Weird Recordings (you’ve got some) by Two-Man Giant Squid