The landscape of music and recent releases has brought a beautiful range of sounds lately. If you need music for deep introspection, a self-confidence boost, or a relatable narrative, the tracks in this round-up are for you. Acoustic or electronic, energetic or laid-back, there’s so much to be found in the following 7 tracks.
Westwell – Ten Feet Tall
‘Ten Feet Tall’ tells the tale of respect and love for one’s father, from a now father, in a very emotional and heartfelt way. The instrumentation is mostly acoustic guitar, but it moves forward to fill out a full band sound with percussion, harmonica, and some harmonic synthy sounds. Then, there are the smooth baritone vocals that have a lot of control with dashes of emotion. Going back to the lyrics, this track is a song of reminiscence. It looks back in time at the voice of the track’s own father and the respect he has for him, all with a catchy hook-laden chorus.
Braison Cyrus – Know This
‘Know This’ is a gorgeous, folksy alternative country track with Americana influences and an anthemic vibe. It features an acoustic guitar and a banjo with some energetic percussion to keep things moving along. The anthemic sound comes from the belted, powerful vocals, and there are moments where Miley Cyrus cuts in with some gorgeous harmonies. Her parts feel like her coming back to her country influenced roots, and they pair amazingly with her talented brother’s. Lyrically, this track meshes poeticism and storytelling. It seems to be about being left behind in one’s hometown by another and feeling a sense of emptiness because of it.
Ava Valianti – Clean My Room
‘Clean My Room’ uses acoustic guitars and atmospheric synths to provide the perfect backdrop for the smooth vocal flow of Ava Valianti. This track features singer-songwriter vibes that are crafted in a heartfelt way. It doesn’t rush itself, but it refuses to lull on, and the moderate tempo gives a lot of focus on the vocal resonance that shines through great production, which still allows the sound to be raw and emotional. Lyrically, this track captures a relatable emotional cut about mental health and trying to keep going. It captures the vision of a messy room as a messy spiral becomes hard to handle.
Drew Korn – Living In My Mind
‘Living In My Mind’ is a beautiful piano ballad with sweet and soft vocals that hit beautiful, wispy tones. As things pick up a bit, some gorgeous vocal harmonies cut in at times, and some light percussion is dashed in. It remains calm and introspective throughout, but still finds a way to be dynamic and captivating. Though it’s soft, the musicianship here is powerful. The somber sound of this track hits well with the lyrical narrative, which is about post-breakup. That being said, the aftermath is quiet, and it captures what it’s like having a former lover turn into just thoughts and memories.
Breezy BRG – Crown On Me
‘Crown On Me’ takes things in a different direction. This track is a hip-hop track with a fire flow. Though it has quick bars, it also works with melody in a way that’s captivating. The trap drums rest softly in the background, and the synths work together to fill up the tonal range of things. What really stands out is the flow of the vocals. They evolve as the track moves forward, and this gives the track an addictive quality. That quality is furthered by the catchy hook-laden chorus. The lyrics in this ‘Crown On Me’ capture feminine empowerment, and it shows a lot of self-confidence.
Dr. GO – Star Guitar
‘Star Guitar’ fits into Dr. GO’s discography with its atmosphere, soft flow, and vocalizations that somehow sound futuristic and old-timey at the same time. This track seemingly pulls listeners into outer space, but it makes it a place of introspection and rest. It’s calm for the most part, but the energy flow rises at times and refuses to be one note. On the other hand, it stands out from the rest with its inclusion of an acoustic guitar. The mix of acoustic and electronic sounds is well mixed and edited so that everything fits together well.
Brookhouse – Sing to Me
‘Sing to Me’ is an indie rock jam with a bit of a funky groove to it and a distinct mix that allows a full band sound to truly pop. The bass lead carries things along well, and it plays with the percussion to control a dynamic flow. The vocals have a stunning baritone sound, and they bend and riff around with great finesse. Then, there are quick guitar and piano layers, riffs, and lines that fill things up with life. The piano gives just a bit of a jazz influence, and this builds into a genre-bending sound with a unique quality. In terms of lyrics, this track gives a storyline. It details a relationship with a musician and another. It seems to go through both taking shots back at each other and the toxicity that builds. That being said, it also gets into the end of said relationship with lyrics such as “Now that it’s been long enough that I wish you the best.”
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by Kyle Loftus
