Essential Songs — New Tracks You Need to Hear
1. Anti pop up and comer Ty Lorenzo has continued to evolve with new single “undo.” The song keeps the rock-inspired, emotionally intense energy of songs like “potentially fatal,” while adding a fierce electronic nature to the instrumental, bridging and accentuating past sounds. Despite its initial intensity, the song has a sort of relaxed, carribean vibe that certainly makes it a single worth kicking back to and enjoying. The variability of the production is certainly another major development for Lorenzo, taking some of the burden off of the (unmistakably infectious) vocals and hooks. Any way you flip it, “undo” is a strong mark in Ty Lorenzo’s career and continues the trend of making his music truly his own.
2. Hyperpop prince Glaive has released the first single “eyesore” from his upcoming EP. The song straddles both the electronic pop and emotive r&b sounds Glaive has become known for, and is quite possibly his most successful effort to date. As with his other singles, the song focuses on his own life in a way that’s unique but also accessible. Even moreso, the hook is quite possibly the most infectious yet, though each recent effort is marked by its expertly crafted hook. Production wise it again balances the sounds of both past and present alternative hip hop/pop trends and is truly a shining star in the spotless repertoire of the fifteen year old artist.
3. Another sleeping giant within the alternative r&b scene is Chase Laser, who has blossomed on his new single “wayside.” With a softer sort of indie guitar in the background mixing with the programmed drums, there is a light carefree vibe to the song, while keeping it emotional. The single’s lyrics focus on the near universally shared struggles of post-relationship grief, and the confessional nature helps to add an additional layer of sincerity to the song. That being sad, the listener should certainly still be singing along, as Chase’s grasp of melody and songwriting is quite impressive, contributing to the consistent catchiness of his singles.
4. Contemporary r&b trailblazer Artemas has released his newest song “High 4 U,” deftly using the sort of indie r&b format as his own by overlaying unique melodies and an impressive vocal range. The song has all the marks of something that should be successful in the modern indie scene, from the contrast of sweet crooning and scratchier, emotionally-charged vocals to a sugarcoated, instantly memorable hook over synth-backed 808s. The different vocal stylings, down to the hip hop-esque bridge keep the track fresh and interesting, but there is much to be valued in the perhaps initially overlooked production, which serves as a strong partner to the infectious singing of Artemas.
5. Sacha Online, formerly known as Loveonline and half of family pet has continued his new anthology of post-internet music with ethereal single “i just wanna dance.” The chops in vocals serve merely as a bubbly sort of vocal styling as the intensely high-pitched vocals develop a further fairy atmosphere. The entire thing is almost angelic, and is certainly more of an experience than a mere song. The ambient, synthy, otherworldly pop nature of the production truly takes the song to new heights and works in pretty perfect harmony with the vocals. It’s an intense level of experimentation for the online artist, and one that has undeniably paid off.
