Pop & Indie

I had never heard of Hank Heaven or Beach Bunny but I am so glad I caught their new collab “Beloved.” The beat is super catchy, I could honestly listen to this over and over. The lyrics represent the end of a relationship where one person used the other. It also conveys the struggle in being alone when you are constantly reminded of the other person. It touches on the struggles of wanting to stay in a relationship that’s not good for you, but choosing to leave. I will definitely be listening to more from both artists.

Another break-up song, “Lie” takes a sadder approach. The style of a softer voice with a louder beat isn’t normally my taste, but I enjoyed it this time.

“Last Woman on Earth” is a song from Paris Paloma’s only album “Cacophony.” Despite the album’s name, the instruments flow together well in this song. The presence of drums is very obvious towards the end, but I think it emphasizes the lyrics. I really enjoyed the sound of this song.

“Somebody Come Through” is from Wasia Project’s latest EP “Isotope.” The song is about the repetition in relationships not leading anywhere. I really like this song and will definitely be listening to the rest of the EP. 

Flo Rida gave quite the performance at Wake The Giant last spring so I was extremely excited to see he had a new song. “Floats Your Boat” is such a good song, it brings the energy, has a catchy beat, and is easy to sing along to. If you’re a fan of Flo Rida you will definitely enjoy this song.

Punk & Alterative

Alberta-based band, Calling All Captains, have been called “pop-punk to emo to post-hardcore.” They explore all of those labels in the band’s new EP “(e)motion sickness” that released on July 19, 2024. The EP sports 5 songs and an interlude, “wallflower,” “be cool,” “skin & bones,” “float back (interlude),” “one more day,” and “sunbeam.” My favorite song off the EP is “skin & bones,” it matches an almost-lofi sounding backing track with the classic electrifying pop-punk guitar and drums that we’re familiar with from the likes of New Found Glory and Taking Back Sunday. The band began its musical journey with debut EP “Nothing Grows Here” in 2019, and have been consistently releasing music almost every year since then.

Alternative rock band, The Killers, released a new single on August 9, 2024 entitled “Bright Lights.” The release of this single marked the first time all four original members of the band had worked together since the band’s 2017 release, “Wonderful Wonderful.” “It’s a little bit more canyon rock, maybe a little bit more traditional Killers, I guess,” said the band’s frontman Brandon Flowers, in an interview with NME. “Bright Lights” is not what you might think would come from a band like The Killers if the only song you had listened to was “Mr. Brightside,” but “Bright Lights” shares the “it-factor” that all of the band’s new music features.

Irish phenom Hozier released a new EP on August 16, 2024. The alternative EP “Unaired” was unexpected, as the artist usually disappears for years between releases. The EP has three tracks, “Nobody’s Soldier,” “July,” and “That You Are.” “Nobody’s Soldier” immediately blew up on TikTok, with thousands of TikToks being created that utilized the song. My favorite track off the EP has to be “July.” It’s hard not to love the gentler beat and soft sound of the piano and droning counter-melody of the bass guitar.

Austin-based alternative band Sarah and the Sundays released a new single on August 30, 2024. “The Cue” as it is called, fits comfortably within the band’s other music, sounding similar to such bands as The Backseat Lovers and the Happy Fits. Sarah and the Sundays made its debut in 2017, with its single “Ghost Town,” which didn’t gain much traction. The band’s first album, “So You’re Mad About the Cups,” released in 2019, had a better time finding its footing. While the band is based in Austin, only one of the members is originally from there. The other four members are all Connecticut natives, and the band has performed at Toad’s Place on multiple occasions.

Folk & Country

The song “Burial at Sea” is Tucker Zimmerman’s latest masterpiece. With collaborators like Big Thief, Iji, and Twain there was no doubt this song would be a pillar to what folk music should be. The song evokes a longing to get lost at sea, pulling you into its serene depths, it is a beautifully gentle song. Be sure to look out for Zimmerman’s upcoming album, “Dance of Love,” set to release on October 11. 

“Do You Haunt Me” by Hazelett is a hauntingly hypnotic song, blending indie and folk music seamlessly. The stripped-back vocals and ethereal quality of the backing instrumentals create a mesmerizing song that you will have on repeat for days. The Swedish-based Australian singer’s music is both authentic and vulnerable, making it all the more relatable.  

“August” is Noeline Hofmann’s latest single, and it’s the perfect song to say goodbye to summer. With gentle vocals and lyrics full of imagery, “August” captures the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye. If this single is any indication, Noeline is a country star on the rise—something Zach Bryan agrees with. On his latest album, “The Great American Bar Scene,” Noeline and Zach teamed up for a duet rendition of her song “Purple Gas.” Be sure to keep an eye out for Noeline’s EP, also titled “Purple Gas,” set to release on October 4. 

Country legend Dolly Parton’s latest single, “Smokey Mountain DNA,” is part of a project like no other. This single, from the upcoming album “Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables,” celebrates Dolly Parton’s musical heritage. With six generations of musicians, “Smokey Mountain DNA” is an ode to the rich culture of Appalachia. A companion four-part docuseries is also in production, set to explore Dolly’s vast family history. 

Hip-Hop & R&B

Travis Scott’s most famous mixtape finally dropped on streaming services, and new and old fans alike have found something to enjoy. My favorite song from the project has been “Backyard,” since it takes full advantage of Scott’s unique production. The other hits of the album include “Drugs You Should Try It” and “Mamacita,” two of which I would cite among his best songs. All in all, I hope Scott sparks a trend here so other rappers start putting previously vaulted albums on streaming services.

Chance the Rapper has been dropping quality singles for the past two years since the catastrophe that was “The Big Day.” Chance goes back to his roots on this song, and it reminds me a lot of his 2016 album, “Coloring Book.” The choral elements give it a signature gospel feel that Chance has excelled at his whole career. While this isn’t my favorite single of his that he’s released, I’m thoroughly hyped up for his eventual album release.

Yeat is an artist that has grown on me a decent bit since his latest album, “2093” dropped. This single is one that I’ve heard before from leaks, but the finished product feels complete. I feel like BNYX and Yeat are this generation’s trap duo equivalent of Lil Uzi Vert and Maaly Raw, pushing the boundaries of the genre and creating some iconic tracks that have become classics. I love the guitars and all of the layers this beat offers, and I highly recommend the listen if you feel nostalgic towards Yeat’s old rage beats.

This is A$AP Rocky’s second lead single for “Don’t Be Dumb,” which is supposed to come out sometime this fall. Rocky hasn’t dropped an album since “TESTING” in 2018, and so far I’ve been feeling great about his rollout. While the album did get delayed from an initial August 30 release, he’s been doing most everything right. This song specifically is pretty solid. It has a cool beat with a flute and up-tempo trap drums. I normally like Rocky’s slower music, but this one gets me very interested in what sound he’s trying to achieve in his new project.