Pop & Indie

CONCERT: 11/30 – Girl in Red @ College Street Music Hall

Lauv describes what heartbreak feels like. “First Heartbreak” is a depressing song that captures all the intense feelings brought on by the end of a relationship. The artist touches on multiple emotions: knowing you need to let go but it feels too hard, anger, and of course sadness. I think this song fits perfectly on any breakup playlist.

JVKE has an interesting style. “This is what forever feels like” begins with less music and feels more like someone speaking to an audience. The beat comes in and it becomes a really cool song. The title is exactly what the song is about, wanting forever with someone and how that relationship and its love feels. This version with Nick Jonas is new but this song was performed about a year ago by JVKE.

I’m not a Tate McRae fan but some of these lyrics really hit. I think my favorite lyric is, “And she be like, ‘He’s so perfect’ I be like, ‘Oh, what version?’.” I liked the lyrics but the song isn’t really my vibe. I’m sure Tate fans are loving it though.

“Heaven” is a great song. I love how the beginning has a light and airy feel and the artist’s voice is so smooth. The beat builds and so does the emotion the artist lets through.  I just really enjoy the tune of this song and I will definitely be adding it to my playlist. Melt released the “If There’s a Heaven” album on September 13th.

This song has been out a bit longer than a week but it’s too good not to include. Beforefrances describes how it feels to still be in love with someone as they move on into a new relationship. They mention how they hoped they made a mark on the other person even as they move on. I think the emotion of the artist really comes out during this song. I don’t really know how to describe the feeling of this song but it is really cool and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

Punk & Alternative 

CONCERT: 10/26 – Foxing @ Space Ballroom 

Popular Pop Punk band Set It Off released a new single this week, and the track stays in tune with what we’ve heard from them before. “Creating Monsters” is a return to the sound that made the band so popular in the 2010s – with the release of the band’s debut album in September of 2012. Set It Off is definitely a band whose past music I look at fondly, and whose more recent music has only left me disappointed. I know the likes of “Duality” (2014) and ‘Cinematics” (2012) like the back of my hand, but the band’s most recent album, “Elsewhere” (2022) just fell short for me. With that in mind, I really appreciated how familiar “Creating Monsters” felt. It honestly really reminded me of a track from the band’s album “Midnight” (2019), that track being “Killer In The Mirror,” with both the sound and vibes of the tracks being incredibly similar. Set It Off is currently on the second leg of the band’s “The Deathless Tour”.

Knox is an artist that I’ve covered here before, and the Alternative singer has just released a new single that appears to be unrelated to a new album release. This past week, the Nashville-based singer released “Invisible,” a track that definitely feels like a small departure from the artist’s most popular track, “Not The 1975,” which is a much more hard hitting track. “Invisible” is much calmer, trending more towards being a pop track than the more alternative sound that Knox has put out in the past. “Invisible” is a track that does not sport any conflict or hard feelings, and it seems like a genuine love letter in the form of a song—which could account for the song’s sweeter sound.

Scottish Post-Punk band Franz Ferdinand released a new single this past week titled “Audacious.” The band’s first release since the band’s previous album, “Hits To The Head” in 2022. Released 20 years after the band’s number one hit, “Take Me Out,” “Audacious” has a noticeably smoother sound, and is less punchy than the band’s most popular track, but sports a plucky baseline supporting the band’s vocalist, Alex Kapranos. The song as a whole is a sonic departure from the band’s more popular music. It is hard to describe, but “Audacious” has a much more noticeable focus on melody than the other tracks, which are often obscured by the production texture and heavier use of electric guitar.

I had never heard of Alternative band julie until this week, and with little information about the band existing on Spotify or online, the band’s obscurity was really intriguing to me. julie just released its first studio album “my anti-aircraft friend” this week, the Californian band focusing on releasing singles since its debut in 2020 with “flutter.” The band has a mysterious air about it, the members appearing as incredibly brooding individuals on the band’s Instagram, @julieband. The band clearly takes plenty of inspiration from other popular artists, notably citing my bloody valentine and Henry’s Dress, now known as The Aislers Set. julie is absolutely not a band that would appear on my usual rotation, but I had a really good time listening to “my anti-aircraft friend” this weekend, so I plan to keep an eye on the band going into the future. julie is currently on tour with They Are Gutting a Body of Water and Her New Knife and will be coming to the New England area in late October. To learn more, visit the band’s site: myantiaircraftfriend.com.

Folk & Country

CONCERT: 11/18 – Florist @ Space Ballroom 

“I’d Miss the Birds” is Joy Oladokun’s latest single from her upcoming album, Observations From a Crowded Room. The song addresses the challenges of being a black woman in the country music scene and the difficult decisions she has made to pursue her dreams. Simple and reflective, the song carries a somber tone, yet Joy sings with a sense of hope for the future. She has collaborated with notable musicians such as Chris Stapleton, Noah Kahan, and Mt. Joy on her album Proof of Life, and this November she will be opening for Hozier in Australia and New Zealand. 

Chane Peña released his debut album, Ever-Shifting, Continual Blossoming, on September 13th. This Texas-born singer gained a fan base when his song “Up, Up and Away” was featured in the 2019 movie Five Feet Apart. With immersive storytelling and heartfelt lyrics, this new album resonates with listeners, offering a solid blend of modern folk and the increasingly popular pop-indie sound. Standout tracks from the album include “The Mountain is You,” “Whiskey Angel,” and “Blackbird.” 

Margo Price and Billy Strings have joined forces for a wistful country duet of Andrew Combs’ song “Too Stoned to Cry.” Known for her edgy, alt-country style, Margo Price reveals a softer, more vulnerable side in this collaboration. Her sweet, silky vocals intertwine effortlessly with Billy Strings’ distinctively raspy bluegrass tone, creating a seamless blend that highlights the emotional depth of the track. Together, they bring a fresh interpretation to Combs’ song, combining their unique musical sensibilities in a way that is both heartfelt and captivating. 

In his self-titled album, Willie Watson steps into the spotlight, showcasing a side of himself that many fans may not have seen before. Best known as a founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show, Watson ventures into a deeply personal and authentic space with this record. The album blends old-school folk and Americana, creating a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. Every track exudes a sense of soul, reflecting the time, care, and passion poured into its creation. Standout songs include “Slim the Devil,” “Real Love,” and “Sad Song,” each offering a glimpse into Watson’s rich musical abilities.  

Hip-Hop & R&B

CONCERT: 10/15 – Veeze @ The Webster (Hartford)

After nearly four years since he’s dropped an album, Playboi Carti has finally dropped music. This is his first non-feature single released since Whole Lotta Red came out on Christmas of 2020, and I for one could not be more excited. Carti has placed a high priority on mixing up his voice lately, but in this one, he sort of sounds like an off-brand Future. Not to say it was a bad product, but I hope we see some more unique music on the upcoming album, I AM MUSIC.

This is the Weeknd’s first single since his song “Popular” blew up in January. This one exudes the style he’s been going for. There are aggressive synths, his voice is tuned with a bit of a futuristic echo, and the drums are soft yet fast. I can definitely see this song popping up in clubs soon. He also released a live version of this song that he played at his one night only show in São Paulo, Brazil. I think it’s pretty solid, but I was much more blown away by the new music Playboi Carti played at the same concert.

“TELL ME” is a welcome track from an unexpected duo of established New York rapper Joey Bada$$ and up-and-coming pop icon Chlöe Bailey. On this song Chlöe definitely channels more of her R&B background, providing a gorgeous hook with some great vocals. Joey mixes his flow on every verse, which I think is a cool, creative idea from him. The beat is very mellow, and the song feels very complete that way.

I’m not super familiar with IDK, but this song just might be the one to turn me. To start, this beat is simply amazing. I’m a huge fan of strings in hip-hop beats, and this one pulls it off so well. The drums and IDK’s flow give the song a noteworthy bump in energy too. If I still played sports this would earn its spot on my pregame playlist without a doubt.