So many tracks, so little time! Last week was off the hook when it came to new music, so if you’re a little overwhelmed on where to start, why don’t you try on these for size?
Roseau – See You Soon
UK singer/producer Kerry Leatham, aka Roseau, is relatively a newcomer but something tells us she’ll be around for a while. Her voice alone stops you in your tracks, not to mention her sublime production. See You Soon is a dream you can’t help but get lost in, and it’s mellow vibes and sophisticated feel make for an extremely enjoyable listen every single time.
Homeshake – Faded
Homeshake is Peter Sagar, Mac DeMarco‘s former guitarist and chilled electronic music master. He’s prepping for the release of his sophomore album Midnight Snack which is out later this year, and this is the second single from that release. Faded is a slow, tinkering, dreamy track with a woozy but emotional side to it. It’s subtle but captivating, and is making us very excited for Midnight Snack!
Chance The Rapper & Noname Gypsy – Israel (Sparring)
Chance The Rapper is hardly one to sit still for very long and he’s not one to shy away from collaborations. Having just released a collab record, Free, with Lil B and Surf with Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, he’s now teamed up with Noname Gypsy for Israel (Sparring). The Cam O’bi produced track is chilled and natural, and effortlessly shows off just how talented both artists are.
RaRa – Faries
Melbourne collective RaRa have only recently come onto my radar, but holy shit am I glad they have! The intergalactic jam that is their latest track Faries is a perfect introduction to their unique and fresh sounds, combining the best parts of hip hop, electronic, RnB and more. It’s incredibly promising and catchy as hell. Body rolling and grinding guaranteed!
Tirzah – Make It Up
Previously premiered about a month ago thanks to Four Tet dropping it in on his BBC Radio 1 show, Make It Up is one of those songs that has a groove you can get addicted to. It’s woozy, bouncy, a little dirty and the lyrics are tough and uncompromising. The house stylings of producer Micachu make it fun and upbeat, despite the slight air of desperation surrounding the track. I’ve got both eyes on Tirzah!
Deer – Cry For Help
Melbourne producer Deer is definitely worth a lot of your time, and you only need to hear just a few seconds of Cry For Help to know why. Unpredictable, huge and refined, Cry For Help is a huge step forward for Deer and marks his return to the scene in a big way. In a time where just about everyone is a producer, it takes something special to separate yourself. Whatever that is, Deer has got it.
Angel Haze – Babe Ruthless
Angel Haze is one of my favourite rappers at the moment, so any new music coming from her is a very good thing indeed. She reiterated that she was a force to be reckoned with last month with the release of her track Impossible, and now Babe Ruthless only further cements this. Not giving one fucking, Angel Haze goes to town in this track, and the results are astounding in a way that kind of gives you a feeling of whiplash. Hard hitting and fierce, Angel Haze is more than just another up and comer, she is THE one to watch.
Jamie xx ft Oliver Sim – Stranger In A Room (Pional’s Room Version)
Madrid producer Pional is the latest in a slew of producers to take on reworking a track from Jamie xx’s incredible album In Colour, but he is definitely one of the best too. This remix is subtle and refined, controlled and meticulous. Oliver Sim’s voice floats above a bed of groovy basslines and an impressive array of percussion. Sometimes less is more, and that rings true tenfold with this track!
Dornik – Stand In Your Line (Jungle Edit)
Dornik has quickly become one of my favourite artists lately; his effortless Michael Jackson-esque vocals and sublime knack for complimenting his vocals with some outstanding arrangements is not something I can pass up easily. Add a bit of Jungle on remix duties to this love, and it’s almost too much. That’s what we’re presented with in this edit by Jungle of Dornik’s Stand In Your Line. It’s a chaotic take but this spliced up version has more than enough groove to keep you going.
Neon Indian – Slumlord
Along with the announcement that a new album was on the way titled VEGA INTL, Neon Indian overjoyed fans this week with the accompanying release of new single Slumlord. It’s Neon Indian at his funky best; upbeat and exciting. Frontman Alan Palomo said in a statement about the track, “Most of what I’ve learned about human nature in my twenties has happened after dark. People are just kind of more honest then. More deliberate. I like to call the places I go to Night Schools.”
This week’s playlist is one that will chill you out more than the harsh Australian winter. It’s made up of absolutely sublime songs from a great mix of artists, from the sophisticated to the soulful. Happy Friday!
Airling – Stallin’
Brisbane singer Hannah Shepherd, also known as Airling released her EP Ouroboros last year, but has had a bit of time off recently. However, that all changed this week with the release of a new track, Stallin’. Featuring a VERY different sound for the artist, this track is smooth, sexy and sophisticated, drawing influence from the R&B greats. Although it may have come as a surprise to the Airling faithful, there is no denying her voice is perfectly suited to this style. Let’s hope we hear more of this in the very near future!
Leo Kalyan – Golden Age
Leo Kalyan has been on my radar for a few months, and if he’s not on yours yet this song will surely change that! The London singer is about to drop a new EP titled Silver Linings at the end of this month, and his incredibly smooth voice is on full display with Golden Age. The layering and dynamics in the song are powerful, emotive and so strong, but also conducted in a way that is calming in the way it floats along. Sublime.
Slow Turismo – I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up
I’m not easily impressed when it comes to indie rock, but something about the Slow Turismo guys just gets me. Maybe it’s the way they fit about four songs in one, maybe it’s that lead vocal, or the way they work seamlessly together to let their songs grow and breathe, but there is definitely something about them that does it for me and their new single, I Sit Down As Soon As I Get Up is another excellent example of this!
Roseau – New Glass
Roseau has already worked with Lapalux, been included on Bonobo‘s Late Night Tales, has toured with Lianne La Havas, and has been featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Not too bad for someone who is still yet to release their debut album! However, the wait for that is soon to be over, with the release of New Glass and the confirmation that her album, Salt is on the way! If you’ve not heard of her, New Glass is a perfect way to be introduced. Unpredictable, alive and packed with enough party vibes that it could get any dancefloor going, I was hooked from about 10 seconds in.
Gypsy & The Cat + Client Liaison – Evolution
Two of Australia’s greatest acts of the last 10 years have teamed up and, after teasing fans for a while, they have finally released their first collaborative track. Heralding their return to the scene, Gypsy & The Cat have found perfect musical harmony in Client Liaision, and Evolution is all I thought it would be and more. Showcasing both duos great strengths (they both have many), the track is predictably high energy, powerful and so much fun, but now all it’s got me doing is hoping for a joint tour! (Hint, hint).
Cleopold – Down In Flames
You might recognise Cleopold’s voice from Cassian‘s Running or Miami Horror‘s Love Like Mine, but now it’s time for this singer/songwriter to go it alone with the release of his debut single, Down In Flames. Having signed to Chet Faker‘s label Details Co., he has definitely taken some influence from his labelhead when it comes to this song, but has done enough to distance himself and create a sound entirely his own. He is set to record his debut album later this year, and that is one record I can’t wait to hear!
I’lls – Keep
I’lls are one of those groups that continually, without fail, out do themselves with every release. Keep is the latest addition in this trend, and once again the boys have stepped up even further. This is the second single from their forthcoming EP Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country (out next week via Solitaire Recordings), and has only added to our anticipation of it’s release. Totally lush, this beautiful track caresses you and makes you feel okay. We cannot wait to see these three in action at Splendour later this month!
Safia – Embracing Me
It’s no secret that Safia are onto something really good, and have had a huge last few months. Now, with the release of their new single, Embracing Me, they can probably expect even more. The kaleidoscopic breakdown, the warm chorus that has come just in time for the Australian winter, the infectious melody – Safia have once again flexed their musical skills and remain forerunners in the electronic/indie game.
Statik Selektah – All You Need Ft. Action Bronson, Ab-Soul & Elle Varner
Yes, we covered this track already, but it’s so damn good it can’t not be in this week’s playlist. Bronson and Ab-Soul shine through with their verses, and the beautiful, swelling, jazzy, soulful vibes from Selektah are like a dream. Elle Varner’s electrifying voice gives the track even more life, but it really comes down to Selektah’s flawless production that makes the track what it really is.
Manor – Can You Hear Me Talking At You
Melbourne duo Manor released this bad boy just yesterday, and we are so glad they did. Enchanting and soft vocals, hypnotic melodies and searing guitars, Can You Hear Me Talking At You is one of the more beautiful tracks I’ve heard in quite some time. Mixed by Gareth Jones (Grizzly Bear, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) in Shoreditch, London and mastered by Joe Lambert (Animal Collective, Unknown Mortal Orchestra) in Brooklyn, NYC, that would probably explain the worldly feel to the song – mature, self-assured and although seemingly tough, quite sweet and gentle as well.