8. Brian Allison – Keep Your Head Up
As the title may suggest, Brian Allison’s latest single is all about positivity. The acoustic rock single oozes optimism with every line, chord, and lyric. “Keep Your Head Up” was written in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic when it felt like the world was falling apart and we had no understanding of what was going on. We all went through an emotional rollercoaster of fear, uncertainty, anger, and sadness during that time. I hope that this song will touch people in a way that can help them raise their spirits through difficult times.”
Allison’s voice is the definitive highlight of the piece. The acoustic arrangement is far from a soft one, rather opting to take a more grandiose and monumental feeling. And, in perfect sync, Allison’s voice is equally magnificent. It’s especially striking in the chorus, where he chooses to take a tremendously loud and boisterous performance down a notch to a much more subtle falsetto for emphasis. Undeniably, it’s a bit soppy. But, in times of anguish and where hope feels seemingly impossible to muster, it’s a damn good jolt of positivity.
7. Fonteray – Flash of Colour
Fonteray is one of the most exciting new voices in electronic pop. The synthwave multi instrumentalist from Australia already had a stellar debut with ‘Stay Close’, but he’s taken his talent and composition ability multiple notches higher on ‘Flash Of Colour’. Bringing together a collection of piano chords, pulsing basslines, and an intricate syndicate of synths, Fonteray’s latest track feels more like a dance piece than his former work. However, it still retains that core bit of psychedelic sensibilities that make him so unique.
“Many of the songs I have been writing for this project have been an exploration of my mid-to-late twenties – both the good and the bad. Flash Of Colour illustrates a positive shift in my thinking and the way I perceive a range of my experiences.”
It’s exciting and energetic in every moment. There’s not a dull section on the track, constantly reeling you in and hurling at you a flurry of different sonic elements you could have never even imagined. As far as electro-pop goes, you’d be hard pressed to find an artist who’s innovating and composing pieces that are as engaging as they are trance inducing.
6. Lindsay Ruth Young – Hot Summer
LA isn’t an easy city. All you have to do is ask any of the millions of people who move there with big dreams what they think of it. With a social culture that inspires superficiality and toxicity, it’s not hard to see many a new resident disillusioned as fast as they were dreamy about it. Lindsay’s latest track explores this sentiment over a sultry trip-hop beat and luscious vocals.
“LA is like a never ending heat that continuously beats you down into a grain of sand. One of millions, lost amongst the others who came before you and walked over by those who will come after you.”
Taking the concept of the heat within the city, that unbearing and melting feel bearing down on you, Lindsay equivocates it to the sickness one feels while being disillusioned with the city as a whole. All in all, a track that hits the right buttons on two accounts — innovating lyricism and exceptionally mastered production. Trip-hop done perfect.
5. Linda – Losing My Mind
There’s nothing like a good piece of funk to put me in a good mood. The genre’s soundscapes are just so inherently fun, relaxed, and carefree that they immediately put a smile on my face. Hailing all the way from Budapest, Linda’s latest track is an infectious piece of funk pop that marries the instrumentation of a groovy piece of funk rock to the appeal of a powerful and evocative commercial pop vocal performance.
The instrumental work from Ábel Mihalik, Linda’s producer, adds a dimension of chirpiness and excellence that commands your attention. But Linda’s vocals are what gives this piece of pop-funk its uniqueness. Just imbued with so much energy, it’s clear from listening that Linda is having an absolute ball while performing the track. And that same passion carries to the listener, who can’t help but be reeled in to her rollercoaster piece that would be perfect for the dancefloor.
4. Kutiman – Guruji
Kutiman’s brand of electronic music is absolutely the vibe that I die for. Embedding indigenous Indian sounds into a futuristic and downright psychedelic. His combination of cold wave synths and entrancing tabla sections combine to make a soundscape that is uniquely special. And it’s not like Kutiman is sheepishly leveraging the tabla as a gimmick either. Ever since he was a teenager, he’s looked to learn the tabla after being presented with and enjoying Indian classical as a kid. Four years back, Kutiman travelled all the way to Kolkata and practiced twelve hours a day for two months under the tutelage of Pandit (Master) Tanmoy Bose. The result is spectacular.
Today based in Israel, Kutiman’s brand of electronic music is bound to break boundaries. ‘Guruji’ is a scintillating track that’s almost hauntingly ominous. Recorded in an isolated bunker in the Negev desert, Kutiman draws from a deep well of aural reconstructions collected over lifelong musical plimages around the world. He’s a musician’s musician, but the kind who’s making tunes that will live long in your memory from the instant you hear them.
3. The Long War – Deeper Blue
Some songs just have an essence to them that you can’t really ascertain, a warmth that makes you harken back to memories that immediately bring you happiness. The Long War’s fourth single from their sophomore project is filled with melancholic longing, hazy and dreamy production, and lyricism that makes you yearn for summers past. And while it may just be a sad song, I can’t help but feel a deeper happiness while listening to it. Not the kind that’s immediate or energetic, but the type that makes you feel reassured and nostalgic.
And that’s precisely what singer-songwriter Jarret Lee was hoping to achieve on the project — nostalgia. “When I came to the west coast one of the first things I did was travel to California to clear my head. In all its beauty, I felt a lot of sadness and a nagging feeling of uncertainty. The song is about the struggle to hold on while saying goodbye. It’s a place and time where I learned to embrace the beauty in life, good and bad.” So, if you’re looking to reminisce, or just harken back to a time when things felt perfect, look no further.
2. Nicole Issa – Home
Brave, powerful, and evocative define Nicole Issa’s brand of pop music. The contemporary pop artist from Sydney is all about crafting tunes that are inherently anthemic, the kind of over the top overwhelming songs that make you feel like you’re in a movie. ‘Home’ is about a relationship built on a broken foundation. Nicole describes a relationship that was held together by fear, fear of being alone. There was no concrete love in this partnership, merely a weak scaffolding that could crumble at any moment.
The emotive piano driven piece sees Nicole’s vocal performance really hit all the right notes. It’s serene at moments, where the melodies are more restrained and placated. A delight for any fan of commercial pop.
1. Lil Beetle – Let Me Go
With a keen and emotive piano intro, Lil Beetle’s latest track ‘Let Me Go’ brings together notions of sorrow and melancholy alongside a mildly progressive and easily enjoyable trap performance. “I had an inconsistent start to life to say the least, but no matter what happened or how deep down the rabbit hole I fell, music was always the one consistent factor I had.” Let Me Go is about Lil Beetle’s response, his decision to dedicate his effort and passion entirely into music.
The song is a rallying call and testament to how far he’s come in his journey, against all the obstacles and mental hurdles that proved difficult to overcome. It goes back to a dark time in his past, wherein he was uncertain whether he could even get by on the day to day. But, in this moment of vulnerability where he lays it all on the singular track, he’s able to release for himself and for many others.
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