Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
By Saachi Gupta, Astrid Ortega & Isabella Vega
somegirlnamedanna - “kitchen table”
“kitchen table” captivates you from the moment it starts. Soft and meaningful, the music and Anna's powerful voice melt together perfectly, to create this magical song.
Anna notes, “The kitchen table growing up is where so many important moments happened— talking with my family about anything from how my day was to some of the most defining moments of my life. The sense of connection and support I needed all happened when we were sitting there together. For me, that kitchen table reminds me of the people I love and where I came from, and it holds so many memories that I look back on.”
The official video for “kitchen table”, to be released on May 14th, is sure to leave us as blown away as the song itself.
It was only six weeks ago that somegirlnamedanna quietly introduced herself with an unmistakable choir of vocal loops on “hello i am”, a critically acclaimed song that has already exceeded over a half a million streams globally. Having been selected by MTV as the first artist to be featured on its MTV Push: FIRST series focusing on a curated selection of exceptional artists just embarking on the start of their careers, Anna is certainly a promising presence, someone to look out for.
jos - “alright”
Creating music that blends genres together, Jos releases his new single, “Alright,” a bedroom pop masterpiece. With a flowing melody, “Alright” takes you into a dream where the warm vocals create an atmosphere of melancholy and blurry nights. As he includes lyrics like, “Thinking about you from time to time, maybe you’ll just say ‘Be mine’,” Jos puts into words the feeling of trying to leave someone behind but still holding your heart out for them. It’ll be a big year for Jos as he releases more music and we’re excited to see the different ways he can make our hearts fill up with memories.
Mini Trees - “Want Me To Stay”
Mini Trees is, above all things, a storytelling band. Their latest release, “Want Me To Stay”, is a mellow jam that is reminiscent of great lyricists like Sufjan Stevens, and proves that magic can happen even when love isn’t always double sided. The lead singles off of their highly anticipated second EP Slip Away, is “a song about trying to move on from an unrequited love, but realizing it still has a hold on you.” The band was created by Lexi Vega, a Los-Angeles based musician who spent her early career drumming in the heart of LA’s indie music scene. They cite their main influences as the likes of James Taylor & Justin Vernon. Formed in 2018, Mini Trees has since become known for their distinctly emotional lyrics and vocals that all play around a diverse and melodic sonic palette.
Moonguys - “Shiver”
“Shingles” is a unique song– an ode from the shingles virus to its host. Created by Moonguys, the solo recording project from Greg, the song is soft and beautifully indie, a blessing to the ears.
Based in Norman, Oklahama, Moonguys’ second full-length album Also features a collection of songs that Moonguys had been working on during the nights and weekends in their three years living in Kuwait as a teacher. With very little equipment, Moonguys was just making music to maintain their sanity and a sense of normalcy.
As of right now, Moonguys is working on an as-of-yet unannounced collaborative project that they're very excited about. Judging by their music, it is safe to say that amazing will be an understatement for whatever comes next.
Walla - “The Draw”
Los Angeles-based band, WALLA, releases their new single, “The Draw,” an upbeat and vibrant song to dance around in your room. The song voices a hopeful anthem to tough times, WALLA mentions it’s a song about loss and acceptance. It’s okay to feel like you’re losing yourself right now, but you get to choose letting yourself feel like that or carrying on. “The Draw” is the perfect song to see the style WALLA has mastered, a style full of vibrance and emotion. With a soon homemade music video to “The Draw,” the band also hopes to be able to tour soon to give you all some fun and a chance to start making memories again after quarantine.
Elephant Castle - “I’m A Loser”
Elephant Castle's “I'm A Loser” is– to put it lightly– genius. With a fast-paced, catchy beat and vocals that perfectly meld with the music, to hear this song is to love it.
The band notes, “"I'm A Loser" is about a friendship I had that really showed me who I am inside... a loser. The result: a tongue-in-cheek anthem for the underdog.”
A retro inspired indie rock project from Los Angeles-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Danyew, Elephant Castle released its debut single, “Cool To Be Unhappy” on March 27, 2020– a song that predicted more brilliance, soon to come.
Danyew spent the last six years touring with Foster the People, and only recently quit to pursue his own music– a feat that will certainly bring great results.
Moontower - “Got My Way”
Moontower returns with an emotive, acoustic track “Got My Way” that’s sure to pluck your heart strings. Written after vocalist Jacob Culver almost lost his mother to a heart attack, “Got My Way” touches on the regrets Culver would have had if he lost his mother that day. He notes, “n that moment I experienced intense sadness, love, relief, and regret all at once…I hope [this track] serves as a reminder to tell the ones you love that you love them when you can.”
Though acoustic, the guitars of the track carry a heavy weight, providing a solid foundation for the harmonious vocals. “Got My Way” highlights Moontower’s range as musicians, drifting from their usual upbeat pop sound to a more stripped and emotive feel.
Hayley Williams - “Dead Horse”
Hayley Williams has struck melodic gold yet again, while still maintaining her honesty & authenticity that has somewhat become part of her nature. With the latest release of Petals For Armor, “Dead Horse” is an upbeat, almost pop-ish track that is reminiscent of Paramore’s After Laughter era. The song, which opens up with a raw voice message between Williams and producer Daniel James, is an ode to Williams’ younger self and previous marriage, as she mentions her previous husband “holding her head underwater” in a situation she’s not sure is fact or fiction. Other lyrical references include her iconic blue hair moment as self-preservation and the truth about the cheating allegations that plagued her early marriage. It’s as if the deeper Williams dares to dive into herself, the deeper we are all swimming after her, trying our hardest to keep up with the ever-changing currents in order to catch up and catch a glimpse of the real Hayley, and thanks to Petals For Armor, we’ve finally been given a life-preserver.
