New Music

Herbert Walker – “I’m Not Sorry”

January 12, 2025

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Phoenix-based act Herbert Walker (pronounced “Herbert Walker” as per their official bio, also, see here), but this “blue collar chamber pop” act is at it again with their latest single, “I’m Not Sorry.” The band deploys lots of their trademark jank and jaunt on this latest song – syncopated guitar/bass riffs, a haunting organ, and baritone-esque vocals that specialize in eloquent and lightly quirky lyrics. My favorite aspect of Herbert Walker’s songs is that they’re full of really cool musicianship that feels like its about to explode, but always keeps that about-to-boil-over intensity, leaving you perpetually excited to hear what’s next.   “I’m Not Sorry” is out now – check it out via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.  

Club 8 – “ooo”

January 12, 2025

Club 8 was one of our favorite finds in 2024, including two of our favorite features of the year (see here and here). Happy to report they’re still putting out excellent indie pop tunes at an astonishing rate, and their latest single, “ooo,” may just be their finest yet. Expect the neurotic drumbeats and airy melodies you’ve come to know and love with a hint of extra urgency this time around. An ever-descending chord progression sets the scene for icy guitars leads to shine through too.   You can find “ooo” as well as Club 8’s illustrious catalog on most streaming services, including bandcamp (below), Spotify, and Apple Music.   ooo by Club 8

VIDA – “Jump In Whole”

January 11, 2025

VIDA is an explosive band from Ontario whose latest single, “Jump In Whole” had us reeling from the get go. Opening with discordant jabs of stinging guitar anger, “Jump In Whole” feels like an amalgamation of all your favorite heavy bands – think Drive Like Jehu meets Pile meets Converge. You might be surprised to hear, but “Jump in Whole” is actually a love song… Through the sour chords and throat-shredding screams, VIDA denounces the pressures of Western society on relationships – you might actually hear a message of hope:   “We’re stronger together.”   Peep “Jump In Whole” via the bandcamp embed below. VIDA is also on Spotify, if you want to check out their catalog thus far.     The Nature Of How We Live by VIDA

otsyuda – “resin”

January 11, 2025

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Toronto-based shoegazers otsyuda, but they’ve done it again with their second single, “resin.” Impossibly fuzzy guitars wallop your eardrums with unexplored ferocity, while delicate vocals soar overtop of the chunky instrumentals. Deceivingly upbeat and, dare we say, catchy, “resin” eschews the downtrodden mystery of typical shoegaze for something bombastic and energizing. With wonky guitar solos and bonkers feel changes, this one’s a real emotional roller coaster in the best way.   Check out “resin” via the Bandcamp embed below, or, add it to your favorite shoegazey Spotify jawn.   resin by otsyuda

Goodnight House – “Existence”

January 11, 2025

Goodnight House originates from Portland, Oregon, and is the musical outlet for Joel Lane. Lane creates an incredible amount of noise on his latest offering, “Existence,” a fuzzed-out romp that combines ’90s era fuzz with modern-day indie rock… Think Weezer or Pavement mixed with Speedy Ortiz or Great Grandpa. He creates a conglomerate of emotions – a dark and sardonic take on the world mixed with chunky and energizing music. His dry and wry view on current events might even bring a smile to your face, even if he’s joshing around about some heavy stuff.   Check out “Existence” via Bandcamp below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.   Existence by Goodnight House

Lucas Player – “More Than You”

January 10, 2025

Lucas Player knows the meaning of sacrifice, and his passion for his craft certainly comes through on his latest single, “More Than You.” A somber, piano-driven ballad, “More Than You” is a juxtaposition of classical influence and modern sensibilities from a former music composition student, falling more in line with bedroom-pop than your favorite symphony. Lucas claims that this song keeps him up at night and we have to admit it’s having the same effect on us – a heartfelt, heartbreaking, and haunting melody that sticks with you.   Check out “More Than You” via Spotify below.  

Eminencee – “WWIII on Roller Blades”

January 10, 2025

Houston’s Eminencee showcases his successful transition from elite athlete to emerging hip hop artist on his latest track, “WWIII on Roller Blades.” Eminencee’s delivery reminds you of some of Kendrick Lamar’s incredulous affectation, giving the rapper an aura to be taken seriously. “Roller Blades” swiftly moves between Em’s faith and steadfast confidence in his superiority over his peers – a hallmark of rap’s finest. The production on this track is appropriately foreboding for Em’s sinister lyricism – slightly off-kilter drums pace you and keep you on edge. “WWIII on Roller Blades” appears on Eminencee’s fresh EP with producer Vystears, Palette Portraits. Check it out on Spotify alongside our Underground Hip Hop 2025 playlist – highlighting some of our favorite new hip hop artists like Eminencee.

Harmonica Lewinski – “Rat Race”

January 10, 2025

Grab your boogie board and catch a psych-rock wave with Harmonica Lewinski’s beachin’ new single, “Rat Race.” If your new year’s resolution is to listen to more groovy music, this is the perfect place to start as these veteran Rochester scenesters and buffaBLOG mainstays kick off 2025 with a helluva luau. This instrumental track is a punchbowl of surfy guitar riffs and jungle drumbeats spiked with the band’s signature weirdness. Drink it in below and let this fun-loving five-piece bewitch you with the sounds of a party on the wrong side of the beach; the side where you might find skeletons clinking piña coladas or Uncle Fester sunbathing.   Harmonica Lewinski’s “Rat Race” is streaming now on Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.   Rat Race by Harmonica Lewinski

Moschino Jones ft. prod.myles – “HUSTL3 HOUND”

January 9, 2025

2025’s starting off strong for Motor City emcee Moschino Jones and his producing counterpart prod.myles. This week, the duo dropped “HUSTL3 HOUND.”  continuing the wave of praise the buzzy Detroit rapper received following 2024’s Meet Me on Woodward Too, another collaborative project with prod.myles. Myles’ effort on “HUSTL3 HOUND” is lead by samples of some 80s/90s R+B, grabbing some “ooohs” and “aaaah” and very nostalgic synth and giving the track a retro edge with some bounce to it. Jones is in his bag, finding rhyme pockets within the thumping drums and tinny keys to pose questions about self-worth and ability to rise to the moment. His accessible delivery and myles’ sample-heavy production give this track the flavor of one of those Harry Fraud/Alchemist collabs with guys like Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa – though Jones’ lyrics are a bit more reflective. Check out the single on Spotify and more Emerging 2025[...]

Jean~Baptiste – “Maybe Next Year”

January 8, 2025

Haitian-American rapper Jean~Baptiste takes a second to reflect on his imperfections on his relatable new track, “Maybe Next Year.” An understated soul sample paces the track – similar to Kanye deep cuts from his early discography and production work. Its thoughtful contribution perfectly ties in with Baptiste’s lyrics – gratitude, regret and a yearning to make sure last year’s lessons mean something. Baptiste captures the insecurities everyone feels intermittently – ends can mean beginnings, you just gotta apply the past to the future. “She told me she’s afraid to fail, I said same here.” Add this track to your conscious hip hop and motivational rap playlists. Listen to more from the Tampa-based artist on Spotify: and check out our underground hip hop playlist. 

Hazael Escobar-Ortiz and Michael Zapawa – “My Girl”

January 6, 2025

Orlando songmaker Hazael Escobar-Ortiz and Charleston contemporary crooner Michael Zapawa serve up a silky smooth heartwarmer with their latest track, “My Girl.” An ode to the ladies, or more specifically, your lady, “My Girl” puts Zapawa’s vocal talents at the front of the stage, with soaring melodies and layered harmonies adding plenty of depth to this R+B track. Escobar-Ortiz, or “Haz” provides lush production to match Zapawa’s effort, featuring Spanish-flavored guitar lines and twinkling keyboards. “My Girl” is packed with romantic sounds and lyrics to put your partner on a pedestal – pair it with some red wine and a valentine then throw it a playlist with Usher, Bilal and more of your current R+B rotation. Listen to more from Haz and Zapawa on Spotify.

Sublime Pr1me – “Black Jesters’ Revolution”

January 2, 2025

Rochester rhymer Sublime Pr1me flexes internal rhyme schemes, an off-center flow and expertly used interplay with production on his sharp new single “Black Jesters’ Revolution.” Riding an Adult Swim-flavored boom bap beat, Pr1me rapidly moves between his personal philosophies and others’ he sees truth in, such as Michele Fuko. Pr1me is explicit, insightful, playful and more on this track – relentlessly switching up his cadences and somehow staying on the sampled/flipped/reversed beat. Add this track to your Lupe Fiasco-Aesop Rock-Talib Kweli playlists for when you’re looking for a hip hop track with keen lyricism and a beat that keeps you on your toes too. “Black Jesters’ Revolution” kicks off Pr1me’s Back Forward EP, featuring more of the insightful rapping showed off on this track.

$pence – “Lie2ME”

December 30, 2024

Ignorance is bliss in a relationship according to Charlotte emcee/producer $pence – who argues against unnecessary honesties in his latest track “Lie2Me.” In his radio-friendly single, $pence lambasts the unnecessary honesties in a relationship – if I don’t need to know, why tell me? “Make something up.” Whether it’s a rich girl problem, or a sincere thought on their relationship, $pence makes the argument for ignorance. “There’s problems in the world, I’m not solving…Why can’t you just lie to me?” It’s lighthearted, ironic in its honesty, and features a familiar radio-friendly cadence to it. Playful, funky keyboards and boom bap drums are the primary production component, gearing you up to hear a track ready to be played on your Jack Harlow/Chance the Rapper/Aminé playlists. $pence has been busy releasing new tracks in 2024 – take a look at his recent output on Spotify. 

Pompeya – “Yes”

December 29, 2024

Moscow-based act Pompeya might just have the perfect, post-holiday hangover cure. Their new song, “Yes,” is a blast of tropical, poolside energy, impossibly sunny and upbeat with a bassline built to get your body moving and grooving. If you’re feeling the back-to-work grind extra hard this week, give “Yes” a whirl and feel its rejuvenating beat reverberate through your body… Our bet is you won’t be able to help but dance along.   You can check out “Yes” via Soundcloud (below), or on Pompeya’s Spotify. Pompeya · Yes

Shabazz the Disciple & Ed Nodz – “Chant Down Babylon”

December 27, 2024

Wu-Tang affiliate Shabazz the Disciple sneaks in a heavy verse-of-the-year candidate at the buzzer with the aid of underground-flavored Aussie producer Ed Nodz on their latest track, “Chant Down Babylon.” Shabazz is an emcee’s emcee, combining ridiculous rhyme schemes with sobering lyricism throughout his career. “Chant Down Babylon” discusses conspiratorial trickle-downs in society before launching into a verse-long spotlight on AI in the second verse. Whether it’s AI rap albums, the in-progress loss of jobs, or AIs competing to outsmart other AIs – Shabazz previews a near future that’s inevitable rather than science fiction. Ed Nodz’s production is the ideal partner to the reality of Shabazz’s lyrics, using a melancholic horn as the primary pacemaker on the beat. Pull up the lyrics and listen to more from Shabazz and Ed Nodz on Spotify.