There 4 tracks are fresh from this year, the furthest back not even a month old. Each one works in a different genre with a different sound, and they’re sure to show you something unique and catch your attention. So, here are 4 fresh finds from 2025 for varying listeners!
Kashawn – Dolly (Get Behind Me)
‘Dolly (Get Behind Me)’ has an infectious beat comprised of lo-fi synths, trap drums, some cash SFX, and that deep infectious 808 buzz. This all works together to complement a stellar vocal performance that meshes R&B harmony and hip-hop flow. Overall, it hits a distinct mix of star power and smooth flow. The lyrics capture a story of love, and protecting said love. On it, Kashawn expresses that said protection comes, “whether it be a person, yourself, or a thing (in my case it was my career) and supporting and doing what’s needed to ensure your happiness.”
Zircon Skyeband – Must Be Feeling In Love
‘Must Be Feeling In Love’ is a jazzy wonderland that gives a sensation of heartwarm and connection. It has that lovely buzz of a brass section, a bass bounce that has a sweet lull, and percussion that sounds almost starry with the inclusion of brighter tones. Additionally, the vocals harmonize and play between a masculine and feminine tone beautifully. Lyrically, it captures the nice feelings that love provides: soft touches, tingly feelings, and someone to connect with. The hook takes care of the main point well, “I must be feeling in love.”
Alas de Liona – The Alchemist’s Son
‘The Alchemist’s Son’ tones things down to even more softness. The instrumentation mainly works with a piano, and with the overall peace the sound has, it has a ballad-like nature. However, the instrumentation also has atmospheric synths, a slow and steady bass, and percussion that follows suit. There’s something introspective and emotional about its sound, and the vocals have a jazzy warmth paired with breathiness and well-controlled riffs. Lyrically, it mixes poignant reality and fantasy. It’s about chasing a dream with hesitation due to sacrifices that may need to be made. But, it also tells a tale of a township that’s burning, a beloved coming to another “through the glade and the wood,” and the son of an Alchemist. This is both a piece straight from the emotion, but also a story to be told.
Bermuda Hills – THE BOOT
‘THE BOOT’ is a unique deep-toned electronic bop with a bass bounce, synths that seem to cut through the soundspace, and an abundance of washed-out and introspective backing vocal layers. It sounds like pure thought and emotion spinning around the air around the listener, begging them to think and process meaning. It expresses a subject running through the narrator’s mind and tells a real-life narrative of giving a manipulative narcissist the boot.
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover Photo by: Kenneth Jencks
