Looking for an upbeat springtime single? Bronze Whale’s “Warm” is a golden little number skating in on warm pop-y synths, expertly mixed and mashed vocals, and some groovy drum and bass. Time to add this to your good vibes playlist and picture yourself in that special tropical getaway you’re always dreaming of.
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Agency’s “I Can’t Think Of Anything But You” is a new track off their recently released LP, Philosophies. With satiny acoustic guitar, wonderfully raw neo-soul vocals, and laidback percussion, I can’t help but compare it to early Frank Ocean and his whimsically enticing R&B atmospheres. The song ends with a masterfully arranged web of flutes. The polyphony is heaven and I’m melting.
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Simon Jefferis has put out the silkiest single of the last few weeks. Collaborating with friend and fellow musician Benedict Cork, the South London artist has brought us some mellow indie pop on “Easy”. The track surfaces effortlessly with ambling piano, cloudy static, and jazzy fingerpicking that takes me back to some old George Benson.
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Houston-based artist Guess Genes has put out “Lilly Vine,” a soft and soporific hybrid between folk and indietronica. Sweet layered harmonies compliment jangly guitar dunked in reverb. Cozy synths and a looped sample delivers us gently down onto our pillow, sedated and grinning.
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Akurei, an indietronica artist from Brisbane, has put out “Photophobia.” The single is a glittery house track with fast paced lyrics, a sea of subtle percussion, and ethereal backing synths. It’s a glitchy ode to the artist’s journey with chronic migraines, and the personal hurdles that have followed.
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Australian artist Benji Lewis has released “DEEP BLUE,” a bubbly pop track verging on neo-soul with warm drums and scintillating synths. While the melody meanders and never quite seems to find its grounding, the sunny instrumentation remains a captivating hook. Look forward to the artist’s upcoming EP, which will feature this track along with several more colorful tunes.
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Optimystical has released “June,” a new tune that’s come out just a few weeks after their debut single. The group is continuing down a road of electronic hip-hop and R&B with the new song, busting out a web of melodic guitar, dreamy vocals, and experimental layering. Close your eyes and take a listen for some smooth, summery genre-bending.
Michael P Cullen’s newest single “Do You Believe” channels the brooding alt rock of Radiohead with a kitsch repetitiveness that seems to evoke a darker rendition of Spoon in their heyday. After the first listen, the track seems to seep into your head, refusing to leave.
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Self-described as an ethnomusicologist, Balkan Bump has put out “Aymo,” an incredible fusion of hip-hop, house, and non-western instrumentation. As you might guess from his name, the single features a Balkan horn and string section that Talib Kweli raps over with ceaseless swagger and passion. Combine all that with some expert production value, and you’ve got something worth holding onto.
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The east coast electronica duo Marian Hill have put out “Subtle Thing,” a pop-y drum and bass track. The instrumentation is a tasteful testament to the old “less is more” proverb. Samantha Gongol’s signature vocals caress your ears like velvet as mutilated bits of her voice pop in and out of existence. The group is expertly creating their own brand of minimalist EDM.
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The title track from Galapaghost’s new album Pulse is a stirring ode to the attack at the Orlando nightclub back in June of 2016. While the tune suffers from some heavy-handed lyrics, reverberating guitar spins outward, as if remembering those lost. Mallet-like percussion takes you by the hand, and the track locks onto the tenderness of the tragedy. It’s a dark, pop ballad that awards listeners a dose of true reverence—and, man, do we need it.
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Sam Moss of the artist collective and label Lost Honey Records has released a new single in anticipation of his upcoming LP, Neon. “Flowers” is a stunning testament to Moss’s expertise as both a singer/songwriter and a talented instrumentalist. The track shines as tender and accessible folk. While his music has reached NPR, Fader, and WXPN, his audience is still growing—and deservedly so.
Stream the best new songs in emerging music with our Top 12 of the Week playlist
