An industrial whirlwind of sound – cascading synths, melodies, harmonies and a rhythmic robotic stomp of a rhythm – the iconic Isaiah Mclaughlin returns, with the aptly-titled, extensive conceptual album Reincarnation.
Alt Pop
Kyle Jaymes is unmistakable as an artist, and refreshingly authentic and humble at the very same time. His songwriting and musicianship consistently promise versatility from one track to the next, but always that central voice, in lyric, structure and tone, remains distinctive.
“Even though I enjoy the process of making music, I think as the time goes on I’ll struggle more and more with the lack of motivation. Even now it’s getting kinda hard to stay motivated.”
Lush vibes rain down almost genre-free thanks to the warmth and melody of the performance – Linasty lifts the mood with ease, for the addictively dreamy new single NUBLAO’.
Florida’s Zach Ryan Haller, known to the scene as ZRH, aims high this year with the launch of his exotic album Shirtless. From this, the single Rendezvous showcases the limitless creativity of the ZRH sound – a unique take on English-language reggaeton, built out of collaboration with Spanish composer Alex English.
Dreamy surf-rock akin to shoegaze but with a blissful clarity – Alice Asara brings together instrumental prowess and soulful, poetic songwriting, for the impressively creative EP SLEEPLESS.
Structurally uninhibited by industry expectation, the song follows a single verse melody line throughout the extent of its 4.5 minute lifespan – an ode to Faith repeating and looping, just two notes across seven syllables, consistently grounding an otherwise unpredictable and boldly diverse production.
“Fun fact, my mother (for some reason) held headphones with music playing to her stomach when she was pregnant with me. I pretty much have been involved with music my whole life. My father plays instruments in his different Latin bands so since an infant, I always would play for example the drums with him just as a way to bond. “
Creatively eclectic to its core, the new album from Pennsylvania songwriter Monti Korbelle encapsulates freedom of play and curiosity of concept.
When In May carve out an emotive and genre-fusing pathway, programmed rhythms juxtaposing the organic and crisp guitar, with a breathy vocal somewhat blurring the lines between emo-rap and The xx.
Offering both uncertainty and longing, satisfaction in the progression and particularly the drop to the hook’s repeat, Emotions is a song that feels perfectly capable of making its way up through the rankings this season.
This idea of you and I both having scars is strangely comforting, and the warmth and simplicity of the music reinforces that comfort. But elsewhere, the lyrics present a sense of having lost our way, and of there being no tomorrow – no second chances.