The year isn’t over yet, but the majority of it is, and there has been so much good music in this latter half of the year. All of these tracks are standout releases from independent artists from different genres that belong on everyone’s radar. Looking for something new? Listen to these 5 new songs from independent artists!
SOPHIE SHREDZ – ROLLS ROYCE
‘ROLLS ROYCE’ takes a hyperpop basis and adds punky influence to make it both fresh and dark. The bass-heavy instrumentation gives a punchiness to things, and the electric guitar bits are exciting and thrashy. Then, the synths and trap-inspired drums keep a rushed flow to keep things exciting front to back, and the use of different sounds and SFX throughout builds amazing dynamics. Vocally, instead of the higher-pitched edit, it takes on a more growly alto tone that builds into the punky vibes. Lyrically, this track takes on a narrative of being confident in oneself and exploring LGBTQIA+ ideals.
Janiq – COBRA
‘COBRA’ has absolute pop princess vibes with Latin, R&B, and hip-hop influences to help Janiq stand out from the rest. The way the bass cuts in and plays with the percussion gives great rhythm that’s played on well by the rhythmic trill of the vocals. Vocally, this track goes into deeper, stronger tones and more breathy, higher tones. It also does well at mixing rhythmic vocal portions and more melodic portions to stay exciting and unique throughout. Lyrically, it’s about falling for another’s allure that can get one “dancing like a cobra” and change their whole demeanor.
Aaron Bai – Back In The Hill
‘Back In The Hill’ meshes an electronic sound with a more laid-back tempo and reverb-laden instrumentation to build atmosphere in a cinematic way. The flow is really smooth, but the snappy flow of the bass and the percussion gives it enough energy that things remain interesting. Also, though the vocals have a more electronic edit, they still stand out with a lot of emotion. Additionally, it does have some moments with higher energy and builds well to further hold the attention of audiences. Lyrically, this track is about discovering oneself through a moment of peace on a trip to the hills. It’s written from the perspective of one who’s making a difficult decision to put other things to the side to follow their dreams.
Dr. GO – Hero comes
Anyone who follows Music & Fashion regularly already knows about Dr. GO and his futuristic sound. Though ‘Hero comes’ has a bit of this sound and similar synths to his other music, it also has a full orchestral sound that evolves and flows as if it’s a track from an epic film. It does justice to the title of the track, as it feels as if it would be placed in the portion of a film where the hero comes out of the woodwork to save the day. Overall, it does well at keeping Dr. GO’s signature sound and switching it up in a way that helps it to stand out.
Oil & Whiskey – Jealous
‘Jealous’ does well at mixing contemporary pop music with the flair of musical theatre and folksy undertones. The instrumentation does well at mixing snaps, guitar, and piano layers with some other atmospheric instrumentation to fill things with life. And speaking of mixing, the mix is astounding and allows a sound that may come across as busy in other tracks, and delivers it as full and lively. Both vocalists play well off of each other to add to the dynamics, and there’s some dialogue in between that plays into the theatrical vibes. Additionally, the strong ending is absolutely addictive with its lyrical belts and power. Lyrically, it’s about the end of a relationship and two parties wanting to fill one another with jealousy and take back their own power through getting the higher ground.
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by David Bartus
