Willow Smith, F Q-C #7
It’s excusable to forget about Willow Smith, given that she’s not Jaden Smith, and presumably less insane. Although, she did drop a song called Whip My Hair, and here, she sings about climbing trees, ditching class and amethyst crystals. (Man, these kids make me really pretty grateful that I experienced things like “discipline” and “humility” growing up.) Anyway, despite the lyrics, this song is actually fucking cool. Oozing with a stripped-back, quirky cool, the eclectic vocals are precisely halfway between Bjork and Rihanna – perfectly complemented by the retro-hippie film clip. By the way, the track name is pronounced Frequency Number Seven. Duh.
Jones Jnr, Never be Lonely
Australian duo Jones Jnr consists of Ev Jones and Thundamentals’ founding member Morgan Jones. The pair have just dropped Never Be Lonely, the lead single off forthcoming EP Step on Sleep. It’s a fun little disco-inspired track, with punchy rhythms and a wicked bass line. The hilarious video clip takes you through a kind of warped, retro, cheesy-dance-filled speed dating. I imagine it’s the kind of speed dating everyone who has ever done speed dating, wishes it was like. A fun little track that’ll be great for a boogie, I’m looking forward to hearing the full EP when it drops on May 29.
The Beach, From Above
There’s something somehow sinister and really quite dark about this gorgeous track, and as such, I like it a lot more than most indie-folk. With an angelic voice to rival James Vincent McMorrow and guitar flickers that hint at John Butler-style talents, this heart-wrenching track is accompanied by an appropriately dark, and strange video clip. Schoolyard bullying, longingly looking out windows, being chased through the streets suddenly give way when each of the victims suddenly begin to levitate. It’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” meets “Misfits.”
Olympia, This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Another folk-inclined track with something different totally unique about it, Olympia’s Feist-esque lilt is almost angelic enough to stop you realising that the lyrics are actually quite dark, in reference to the “sticky, unresolved nature” of relationships, reminiscent of the celebrated films of Almodovar. Visually, her blonde bob, over-shiny red dress and guitar channel a kind of off-kilter, grungy elegance, while the film clip features a whole range of breathtakingly beautiful gymnastic moves, slowed down to a point where even the most graceful leap become a visceral heave of flesh.