One of LA’s rising tastemakers, Autumn In June, has grabbed a lot of attention over the past year. With many reviews praising the forward thinking, pop-infused sound, it’s all culminated with his new 12-track album, ‘Magenta.’ There are many standout songs from high-energy hits to more emotional cuts. But I think this track “Almost Home” is the hidden gem on the record. Give it a listen and if you like it head over here to explore the full album.
It’s always a great find a well-made electronic album. There’s something about the songs flowing into each other that’s greater than the sum. And in the end the artist can go deeper in telling a story or capturing a specific vibe. Massappeals new ‘Casio Nova EP’ stands out as a polished four-track record where each song holds it’s own while connecting with the EP’s underlying themes. The songs have this intensity alongside a lightheartedness that makes for a unique and entertaining future-beat style. Standout tracks would have to be “Roller Cop” and “No Lies” for us. But get into the album for your self, you can find ‘Casio Nova’ on Spotify and even grab a full free download here.
The best hooks take a big idea and mold it down to the simplest form. They can carry specific emotion or instantly inspire you. And the greatest often get a universal reaction. I was thinking about that the other night while playing some music and this song “Medusa” came up. The line, “frequencies between you an me are exchanging” just stuck out and got me thinking. The artist is Driftwood and I recommend checking out the project for yourself. Chill hip-hop and minimalist influences go perfectly with the songwriting and Aurora Rose’s vocal feature. There’s also a music video that fits well, the concept is simple and mysterious but effective. Driftwood is just getting started but this new single is quality and I’m looking forward to hearing what’s next.
It’s rare that I find a a music video that truly catches my curiosity. However, HUKO recently released a peculiar visual project for their recent house hit in Europe, “Blind” ft. Cozy that promises to pull your interest. The video, directed by Greg Kozo features a man with an egg-shaped head roaming around a luxurious modern house filled with beautiful people. Panoramic shots, humorous scenes, riveting romance, and an unexpected ending make this video stand out from the rest. Standing in support of the track’s feel-good synths and catchy vocal hook, this piece does an excellent job of ushering in summer’s uplifting energy. Check out the video here and enjoy!
The best music often comes with an elusive sound. A new release by the Canadian band Astrocolor bends rock, soul, electronic and so many other genres into something wonderful. An emotional vocal performance from Fox Glove brings an Erykah Badu influence while the instrumental jams and analogue synth have elements of Tycho or Boards of Canada. They’re still relatively underground and building up their online presence but Astrocolor’s fresh modern sound points to big things down the line. “Push Too Hard” is the lead single on a new 7-track album. It’s a solid listen from start to finish so be sure to head over and check out the full album if you like it.
Some songs can hook you right from the start whether it be through intriguing instrumentation or enticing vocals. On Awoltalk & Reach‘s “Redhanded,” that feeling is induced as soon as the dreamy pads drop in. The duo’s collab comes as a nice surprise and a melodic vocal by NKOLO similarly keeps things fresh from the start. It’s a solid blend of trap, pop and progressive sounds all brought together with a lush production style. So listen up and stream “Redhanded.” We’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from these artists.
New York City’s rising electronic act, NOTNO, has been cultivating some stellar sound design in recent months. I first caught wind of the duo when their uplifting tune “Take It Back” dropped around three months ago. Since then the energetic yet ambient style these two have mastered has been making multiple appearances in my kick back playlists.
Their most recent release, “Live,” builds on this juxtaposition between upbeat and downtempo approaches. The track opens by establishing a huge, spacey atmosphere that soon strongly driven by groovy basslines, high flying synths, and progressive percussion. To top it all off, echoing vocals accent the track’s otherworldly energy with a vocal hook that promises to stick in your head. Check out the tune here, and if you’re into it, give their other recent release, “Gold,” a listen.
