Now Listening: This Week's Tracks

Music

Jul 25

By STEPH DUNLOP, SAHAR GHADIRIAN, SHELLSEA LOMELI & JOEY POVINELLI

“close 2 you” - SamKing

For the fierce friends and lovers out there, Sam King’s latest single “close 2 you” challenges the lengths you’ll go to for the people you love. The track see’s King honour his “tribe”, as he measures the true value of his loved ones and proclaims that family transcends a shared human experience. Scraping the track’s drum beat from the trash can he’d banished it to months prior, the Nevada based artist mixed in a bouncy melody and lyrics laced with altruism to transform a lost piece into his magnum opus. King is also unveiling a music video for “close 2 you”, the lead single for his upcoming EP which is set to release mid-August. An authentically self taught artist, Sam King has been learning and drawing inspiration from big indie artists like Tame Impala, Marc DeMarco and Dominic Fike for the past three years.

birdtunes - “Cherry Street”

Asian American singer-songwriter Birdtunes taps into summertime nostalgia with his latest release, “Cherry Street”. Produced by UrFriendJoe, the track is sonically driven by an antipop sound with a blend of early/mid 2000’s alternative influences. With lyrics like “Tell me about your hopes and dreams/When we meet on Cherry Street”, the Bay Area native muses over the reminiscence of a past relationship. The song explores how focusing on memories can fuel single sided desires to rekindle an old flame.

“Cherry Street” is another dreamy addition to Birdtune’s acoustic, synth-driven soundscape - a discography that creates the perfect backdrop for emotional exploration. Recording from his bedroom with no formal training, the independent artist intends to prove that anyone can tap into their creative side.

Postcard - “Don’t Tell Me”

No matter the proximity to a beach, Postcard’s debut single “Don’t Tell Me” will take you there.

Postcard is the recording project of Haiden Gerstner, a Florida and Rochester, NY-based multi-instrumentalist and producer. He played every instrument, produced, mixed, and mastered the track entirely on his own. Gerstner’s control over his sound is evident with him seamlessly inhabiting surf rock revival: guitar notes punctuate each syllable of the verse and breezy melodies bring it all home. It captures the feeling of being in between a cooler and the Pacific ocean.

“Don’t Tell Me” is a confident debut with hopefully more from Postcard within the surf genre on the horizon.

Junior Mesa - “Bleacher Blues”

20-year-old Californian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Junior Mesa searches for the answers on his latest track “Bleacher Blues.” Soulful and raspy explorations centered around the subject of growing up are displayed authentically as Mesa confronts his worries. Showcasing sweet vocals amid a mix of piano and digitized melodies, listeners can sense the influences on his music from the greats such as Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi Hendrix. For Mesa, “music is peace” and he wants to share this with the world. “Bleacher Blues” is the sort of song to instantly instill a sense of comforting calm to the mind. Whether you’re listening in your room alone or in a crowded space, Mesa’s often distorted sounds are like a breath of fresh air.

sam woods - “Motel 6”

For those who like Alfie Templeman, this one’s for you. The first release from Sam Woods’ highly anticipated sophomore EP, “Motel 6” is a funky bedroom pop track, laced with a blazing bassline. The free-spirited track is ultimately about breaking from the mundane reality of day-to-day life. The melody is full of grooves that achieve exactly what the lyrics are about - a sweet escape from the chaos of the everyday. The LA singer writes and produces his own music from his bedroom and his eclectic range of influences, which span from indie, pop, R&B, and funk, are blended into his own creations. “Motel 6” is an infectious and light-hearted song that helps you dream your worries away for as long as you need.

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