The 5 tracks included in this round-up were all released between July and August of this year. They’re fresh summer releases leading into this month, the end of Summer. They’re all perfect to catch before the season changes!
Cypress Key – Monday Afternoon (IYKYK)
‘Monday Afternoon (IYKYK)’ is a reflective folk piece filled with a heartfelt nostalgia of growing up. The guitars in this track are really pretty, and the bass riff has a pull to it that keeps things catchy. But what really hits are the vocals. They have a raw production, which allows a diversity in the sound to stand out in an emotional way. Lyrically, this track delivers a reflective tale on a Monday afternoon during childhood and how it was experienced. It tells a story that has a reflective sense to it.
Samson For President – Hurricanes
‘Hurricanes’ is captivating, with an addictive guitar riff right off the bat, immediately followed by smooth percussion and crisply produced baritone vocals. The vocals break into anthemic moments, and they’re really strong with their bends and belts. There’s such a power and allure to this track, and the rhythm carries it along nicely. There’s a nice groove in this track, though it does still have some alternative influence and power to it. This track seems to use the metaphor of a hurricane to get into personal struggles and a persistence to get through them.
Alessiah – boy toy
‘boy toy’ displays powerful alternative pop with something almost primal about its sound. The bass hits a nice trill that goes along with claps and shakers to build a distinct rhythm. And unlike many tracks, the rhythm and percussive flow take the forefront at times. The R&B influences in this track mesh with some experimentation to make an experience that’s nothing short of unique. Then, the vocals find some sort of middle ground between soft and powerful, hitting their flow with great accuracy. Lyrically, this track captures feminine power in a way that points fingers at the patriarchal power dynamic.
IZN – Sunset Orange Miata
‘Sunset Orange Miata’ is a gorgeously smooth R&B track with a great deal of atmosphere. The instrumentation chimes along with a bit of a lo-fi sound, brass instruments cutting in and out as things build a nice sway to them. The vocals use dynamic filtering to add further dynamics on top of their overall tone. There’s such a chill presence to this track, and there’s something nostalgic about its sound. Lyrically, this track seems to explore feelings of love but needing change from another to invest in said love.
Ali Diane – Figure It Out
‘Figure It Out’ uses a raw emotional production and beautiful vocals with melancholic pop harmonies to build into a track that serves as a bit of a gut-punch. The instrumentation beautifully guides this track along with a piano basis, and its dynamic use of rhythm and tempo means that the track stays interesting as it moves along. That being said, the vocals take the forefront as they shift between power and softness. Lyrically, this track gets into the deep narrative of being with a partner with mental health issues. These issues infect the relationship, and the voice of the track is holding out hope for recovery.
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by Hakan Semiz
