These 5 tracks have been selected because of their ability to weave narratives into an emotional exploration, lesson, or narrative. They’re all well thought out and here to be listened to today!
BoltTheDoggo – Here With Me
‘Here With Me’ is a heartfelt indie track with crisp vocals that provides the emotional punch that it’s going for. The simple guitar instrumentation is the perfect backdrop for the vocals, which deliver a deeply emotional pull. Then a bass adds over top with some harmonized “ohh” sounds. In general, the instrumentation is simple, but that simplicity benefits the track at the end of the day. This track is about loss and memories when it comes to lyrics. It has a lot of emotional depth in the fear of losing the memory of someone who can’t come forward into the future.
Sara Diana – Body Ache
‘Body Ache’ is a bass-heavy alternative electronic track with more than enough emotion to spare. The instrumentation seems to blend concepts from the 80s and early 2000s, and the vocals hit an alto tone with fullness and life. The rhythmic diversity between vocal lines here keeps things interesting, and it’s both lifelike and raw when the lyrics and musicality are put together. The lyrics explore heartbreak, but there’s also an aspect of taking back one’s own power and self-confidence on the other side of a prior relationship.
Illudo – Woman in Blue
‘Woman in Blue’ has dark pop vibes with well-produced vocals that use dynamic filtering to keep an interesting flow throughout. Additionally, the rhythm here is great. The instrumentation moves from soft percussion to strong bass moments, and similarly, the vocals are strong in both their soft and strong moments. Some tracks with heavy vocal filtering take away from the raw emotion in the vocals, but this track finds a way to filter things and keep that feeling loud and clear. Lyrically, this track was written from the perspective of someone getting a call from another who’s threatening to commit terrible acts.
Digney Fignus – The Emperor Wears No Clothes
‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes’ has a unique sound with influences from indie, world, and Americana sounds. It utilizes some classic instrumentation with a strong percussive lead, almost like the sound from a march. The chorus is catchy, and the flow seems to swing back and forth infectiously. Lyrically, this track is based on the classic story “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and it uses this narrative to talk about those in power and how they seem to become out of touch.
Eli Lev – My Wish Was You
‘My Wish Was You’ is an acoustic folk sound that utilizes a rawness in its production to deliver its distinct story. The soft acoustic guitar creates a beautiful baseline for the vocals to shine on top. The riffs and guitar lines have a soft flow to them, and there’s a cello that cuts in and rests in the track beautifully as things pick up. What stands out most is the bright brassiness of the vocals, which have a lot of emotion that shines through. Lyrically, this is a track of yearning for a former love that’s now gone.
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by Tima Miroshnichenko
