Now Listening: This Week's Tracks
The Greeting Committee- “Can I Leave Me Too”
We always carry mementos with us - even ones that no longer belong to us like a relationship. Breaking up can start to haunt us until it becomes a form of a ghostly tale, one we only feel comfortable recounting to ourselves about what happened as we lay in bed with the lights dimmed. On their new single, “Can I Leave Me Too,” The Greeting Committee invites our ears to listen to the tale of Addie Sartino, the vocalist of the story, and her lost lover. Relationships can be a tough one to break from especially when the bond two people shared seemed tested to last. Days spent for two become moments shared with the memory of one. “Can I Leave Me Too” is the main words that echo from all the other lines in the song. The lyric has a sense of longing and absence to its syllables, showing how addictive we can feel for an ex’s touch when they are long gone. A form of loneliness that seems to only be cured by completely abandoning ourselves and entering into a phantom zone where memories of the two of you together are played out while you know you can never be those lovers again. It’s a beautiful sad song, juxtaposed with a killer uptempo sound that evokes those early 2000s pop ballads. After the release of their 2019 EP, I’m Afraid I’m Not Angry, looks like The Greeting Committee is ready to give us more heartfelt tunes as we start to spend days underneath the sun.
joan - “don’t say you love me”
Arkansas duo joan are back with another single from their two highly-anticipated EPs due to be released later this year. Indie-pop doesn’t get more infectious than “don’t say you love me”. The song is breezy and feels heavy in nostalgia with its lovelorn lyrics and bouncy instrumentation. The melody is decorated with waving synths and occasional cowbells that amp up the sonic atmosphere on “don’t say you love me”.
The playful music video fits well with the lively production of the single as the pair dance around and perform from their bedroom. It’s uniquely DIY and authentic which showcases the coolness of joan, free from any judgement. The song is irresistibly catchy and a light-hearted sing-along for the summer.
HONNE - “What Would You Do?” (Feat Pink $weats)
Honne’s latest venture “What Would You Do?” is rich in alluring rhythms and features breakout R&B star Pink Sweat$. The song incorporates groove-filled, synthy highs that entertain a euphoric electronic-pop beat. As ever, the London-based duo takes on a futuristic and soul-infused sonic direction with their bright, sweet harmonies. Adding texture to the track, the layered vocals of Pink Sweat$ elevates the song to provide a warmer glow. Their accompanying lyric video is pretty in pink and mirrors the retro aesthetics of the track. “What Would You Do?” embraces the evanescence of life, reminding listeners that if there is someone you love, you should tell them before it ever becomes too late to do so.
Honne are no stranger to inventive melodies and blending 60s psychadelia as seen in their last album no song without you, yet this latest release is not just an extension of their sound in 2020, but one that is more refined and even more captivating.
RICEWINE - “Already Gone”
The solo project of 20-year-old Talae Rodden, RICEWINE has returned with “Already Gone”. A dreamy and inviting indie-pop single that is so easy to love, RICEWINE states that it is “a love song about my cat who I miss dearly.” The track balances bitter-sweet melodies with perfectly placed percussion and this culminates into a track that plays with indie-pop structures and sensibilities. RICEWINE has been steadily building his career and dropping solid projects like 2020’s Lovesick and 2017’s Mornings, which have gained him the title of “Indie Rock’s Latest Trend Setter” according to Pop Dust. Though future releases are yet to be confirmed, RICEWINE’s “Already Gone” is an undeniable song for the summer.
BXB LOVE - “Losers”
Charming, introspective, and a necessary dose of cynical pop-rock - BXB LOVE’s latest single “Losers” is the kind of track you’ll find yourself replaying over and over again. An infectious and unpredictable artist, BXB LOVE has continued to unveil the various facets and ranges that her music can explore in a chameleon-like fashion, and “Losers” is no exception. The single looks at the simple fact that “we are all really just losers trying to fit in,” with the kind of humanistic playfulness that LOVE is so adept at incorporating in her lyrics. With the electrifying syncopation of the guitars and layered vocals that emulate choral shouts that retort the immediately unforgettable hook, LOVE once again showcases a type of genre fluidity that makes her an incredibly exciting artist to watch grow and develop. Alongside her other singles, “matrix” and “IGNORANCE SONG”, BXB LOVE is building a collection of irresistible and carefree pop music - and you don’t want to miss out.
BIIANCO - “checkmate”
‘Limerence.’ I don’t believe this word was on any of our spelling lists, but it’s a sensation we have all experienced. BIIANCO, the multi-hyphenate artist, would say this word deals with having all your thoughts and actions consumed by one person - a feeling that surrounds their new single, “checkmate.” The song is written as if BIIANCO understands where this intense, co-dependent relationship is headed: doom. The song’s philosophy exemplifies the Shakespeare saying, “These violent delights have violent ends.” Addiction to a person can’t be quickly fixed, especially when a love exists between the two. BIIANCO understands this and wants to use the song to work through what they have been feeling toward this person. The result is a concept only BIIANCO could create. “The video was specifically inspired by this wild experience I had once where I howled at a full moon and was met by a coyote howling back and eventually showing up where I was standing. It was a vividly powerful moment.” There are few artists who are able to actively allow people into their minds when they offer the public material. Yet, BIIANCO has been able to do so time after time. Their latest release is a peek behind the world that influences their creativity. The wild part is BIIANCO is only getting started.
Christian Blue - “Frontside”
“Frontside” is the latest single from artist Christian Blue. The LA-based producer/songwriter/and multi-instrumentalist is one of the few to so ambitiously blur the lines of the alternative music scene, with “Frontside” being a powerhouse of fused genres. Picking up inspiration from psychedelic funk, hip hop, and RnB, Blue showcases his skills in creating a dynamic and experimental soundscape. It is scratchy, cosmic, and off-kelter - but his sultry and seductive harmonies and vocals bring it all together. In the end, it is a euphoric sentiment to the crazy and sometimes racy youthful nights spent within the Bayside.
Hollow States - “I’ll Leave”
Pairing lush and nostalgic soundscapes with personal triumph and conviction, Hollow States’ newest single, “I’ll Leave,” is a track that is surely worth repeating. Created by the Sydney-based trio of Huck Hastings and brothers Joel and Hayden Woolf, it is a vulnerably-written production that is filled with melancholy and yearning. The track itself dances in-and-out of the dream pop landscape, but experiments with a synthetic folk ballad arrangement that provides an atmospheric tone to the song. Hasting’s touch in approaching his voice within the track extends the feelings of hope and quiet defiance, creating a heartfelt ambience that doesn’t seem overplayed. It is a beautiful track paired with an even more beautiful and heartfelt music-video that will surely leave an impression on those who come upon it.
RIKAS - “I Always Think Of You (When I Listen To This Song)”
“I Always Think of You (When I Listen To This Song),” is the follow-up to Rikas’s last single, “Stereo.” Marking a departure in the band’s old sound, the single is a quirky and nostalgia filled track that lingers between the lines of a traditional “love-song.” The Berlin-based band puts into motion the question of whether we truly move on from past relationships and how being bombarded with old memories can quickly make you miss that person. It is for the moments and being single and feeling lonely, only to find out your ex has moved on to someone new. There are mixes of both hope and self-pity within the track, with an arrangement that dances in-and-out of sarcasm and bliss, waltzing with wistful guitar riffs and piano melodies. But it shows how Rikas are at the top of their game, creativity in full swing. We cannot wait to hear what comes next from them!
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From Pavietra 🕊️ https://t.co/BXVgWlZud8 -
slowthai by Rosie Matheson 🤩 https://t.co/z7SDfFQ5iF
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RT @i_D: Ian Kenneth Bird photographs young punks on Polaroid: https://t.co/MKT0tMUqO9 https://t.co/a0tTl12ML5
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RT @AnOtherMagazine: #DreamHome – this isolated idyll in the mountains of Lanzarote 🌵 📸 via Nowness, photography by Clemence Blr 🔁 https://t.co/GUusdxD0cg
