New Music Friday is upon us once more, and that means we are gearing up for the weekend with new tracks from some of our well known faves and some rising artists who are hitting it out of the park.
The perfect way to close out a busy week of work, rapid New England weather changes, and a global sense of hope as vaccinations and tour announcements seem to be on the rise- this Friday is a bit heavier than the last with tracks of all moods ready to hit the airwaves.
As always, you can check out our picks for the top ten tracks of the week below, and be sure to check out our full April playlist, linked at the bottom for a full run down on all of our monthly faves.
Sometimes the world just sucks. Whether we are going through something personal or feeling a general sense of disillusionment with the political/social/economic state of things, there are days where everything feels overwhelming and hard to face. That is until we find other people with similar mindsets who we can tackle the world with together- people we’d want to combine with.
This idea is the basis of today’s new release from pop punk band Eve 6. A punchy rock track that showcases the band’s unique but familiar feeling punk instrumentals and vocal styling, “Can We Combine” gives a look into the process of finding someone who you want to connect with who can take away your feelings of negativity and remind you that not everything is as horrible as it seems.
A perfect track to throw on for a pump up anthem, this single is a great way to kick off the weekend and have you feeling energetic and ready to take on your corner of the world.
A song about fighting an internal battle that feels never ending, “Pendulum” is the latest single from rising pop rock band FELICITY.
A mixture of pop-punk and heavier alternative rock, “Pendulum” is the band’s third release of the year, following their cover of Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” and this month’s “Hit and Run,” further giving fans a glimpse into the groups range and musical abilities.
With lyrics about struggling to stay afloat and feeling as though you’re constantly swinging between a feeling of dramatic highs and lows with rare periods of general peace, the song is a brave admittance of mental battles and the feelings of helplessness that can come with. A battle cry of sorts, the track confronts these struggles head on and through slightly vague lyricism allows listeners to put themselves in the song and find an anthem for their own experiences- reminding them that they are not alone in fighting the darkness.
“Silver Ray” by TJ3X feat. Robbie Rosen
If you are looking for a track that features a glimmer of sunshine and good vibes, “Silver Ray” may just be the perfect feel-good anthem for your weekend adventures.
Lyrically sharing the story of finding someone who helps refill you with hope and encourages you to appreciate the little things in life, “Silver Ray” is a beam of light in the stormy night sky. Reminding listeners that there is still love, faith, and positivity in the world, despite how difficult the past year has been, the track uses a fun pop rhythm and folk fullness to engage both your mind, body and ears- making it nearly impossible to not sing along after one listen.
And with the track being produced by multi talented artist TJ3X with American Idol finalist Robbie Rosen on vocals, this track radiates good energy and positivity in a way that is much needed after the past year we have all had.
The third single to come from indie meets alternative rock band The Spins this year, “Vibe Police” is the latest glimpse into the band’s upcoming debut album.
A smooth, easygoing and dare we say vibe-y single, “Vibe Police” is a song about appreciating the people around you who help you loosen up and enjoy the simple act of being alive. One of the lighter singles to be released from the album thus far, the track explores being young and having fun while you have the ability to do so- encouraging listeners to live in the moment and not let life pass them by by growing up too fast.
“This is a feel good song about not taking life too seriously and surrounding yourself with people who build you up and make you feel good about yourself and encouraging others to do the same,” the band share. “We wrote this song as the more lighthearted and fun song on the album, easy to sing, dance, and vibe to, with a hint of several different influences and genres. It’s probably one of our favorites both to play and listen to on the album.”
“In The Morning” by The Kelseys
Each week we come across a track that is too good to pass up on- even if it’s release date may not line up with our current week. This week, that track is “In The Morning” by The Kelseys.
The final single of eight released over the past eight months, “In The Morning” follows “Stoop So Low,” “Can’t Go Home Tonight” and “Pedestrian” as the band’s fourth release of the year. And though all of the singles flow together as a beautiful representation of what The Kelsey’s can create, each track also stand on their own as little vignettes with different soundscapes, storylines and moods that help fit a wide scope of possible listener interests. And “In The Morning” is no different.
Sharing a brief glimpse into a relationship where two parties are fighting after a long day, the track is a soft indie-pop ode to making things work- but only after a good night’s sleep. Approaching the subject with a sense of vulnerability and delicacy, the song encourages the parties involved to take a moment to relax, de-stress and remember what is most important to them.
A great message and reminder to be kinder to yourself and those around you, “In The Morning” is a great song to bop along to when you are trying to get yourself into a better mood- something The Kelseys are the perfect band for.
“Dreams About Him” by Anna Thompson
Viral TikTok artist Anna Thompson has had one hell of a year after rising to musical prominence in 2020 after a clip of her original song “Get Me High” took over the app. And now, less than five full months later, the singer has released her debut EP titled Centerpiece, alongside lead single “Dreams About Him.”
The focal point of the album, helping to launch the story that inspired the EP as a whole, “Dreams About Him” is a catchy pop track about battling the guilt that comes with thinking of someone other than your partner. Inspired by an experience that Thompson herself had while dating a former boyfriend, the song explores the gray area between harmless dreaming and a potentially deeper feelings.
“I wrote “Dreams About Him” after having several recurring dreams about an ex-boyfriend of mine that I hadn’t spoken to in several years,” the singer shares. “I was in a relationship that I wasn’t very happy in at the time, so I wrote this song to cope with the guilt I felt about my subconscious being tainted with another person. Mere days after writing the song, said ex-boyfriend DM’d me on Instagram. I didn’t open it for months, but once my relationship ended, I replied, and we reconnected. I wrote the rest of the EP about us reconnecting- us progressing from casually talking again, being in a serious relationship with each other.”
“Old Insecurities” by Winona Oak
Winona Oak first caught our attention with the release of her collaborative track “Nobody Loves Me” last month, and now the singer is back and hitting just as hard with today’s release, “Old Insecurities.”
A single that navigates what it feels like to battle anxiety and varying insecurities, “Old Insecurities” is an ode to tackling your darkest demons while also being gentle with yourself and remembering that it is okay to not be okay. Inspired by Oak’s personal struggles with not feeling good enough or worrying what others may think about her, the track is a solid reminder that you are more than your anxieties, and that what you are going through does not define you.
Putting Oak’s hauntingly beautiful vocals and range on full display, the song will both break your heart and help you find a way to mend.
“I wrote this song on a day when I was overwhelmed with anxiety, as a reminder that there’s no way for me to find a real change in my life until I confront the darkest corners of myself. There’s not an easy way out when my anxiety hits me,” the singer shares. “If you relate to this, just know that you are not alone. You got this! We got this. I hope that you’ll find some comfort in this as it is a piece of me.”
“Clean Laundry” by Transviolet feat. DREAMERS
Transviolet have become easily one of our favorite artists over the past month. From capturing our attention with their track “Drugs in California” which has become a daily listen, the alt pop group have landed themselves on their watch list and further solidified their spot with the release of today’s new single, “Clean Laundry” feat. DREAMERS.
A catchy but relaxed bop, “Clean Laundry” is a song about finding someone to have a carefree fling with, allowing yourself to not be tied down by any labels or strict expectations. Using the two vocalists (Transviolet’s Sarah McTaggart and DREAMERS’ Nick Wold) to share two sides of the same story- strangers meeting at a party and deciding to get to know each other instead of spending the night alone- the song explores the excitement and unpredictability of young love. Nothing is guaranteed to last, but nothing is also guaranteed to fail- leaving the track optimistic and happy-go-lucky in a way that makes it the perfect anthem for any upcoming summer fun.
“I HOPE I DIE FIRST” by Jake Miller
Finding people who love and support you no matter what is one of the best parts of getting older. And the act of choosing to surround yourself with these people, and others who allow you to live authentically, is an extremely important part of finding peace and happiness- which is exactly what Jake Miller’s new single “I HOPE I DIE FIRST” is about.
The latest single to be released by Miller, “I HOPE I DIE FIRST” is an emotionally charged ballad about not wanting to live without those who mean the most to you. Whether it be a friend, a romantic partner, or family members- the track uses a mix of piano and electronic instrumentals to accompany Miller’s vocals and lyrical vulnerability serving as a reminder to live life to the fullest and show appreciation to those who matter most in your life.
There will always be ups and downs in life, but what matters is who is still by your side at the end of the day helping to support you when you need it most.
“I HOPE I DIE FIRST is a very special song,” Miller shares. “I wrote this with 5 of my best friends right before the pandemic started. This song is about how crazy the world seems right now, but having that one special person next to you through it all makes it okay.”
Earlier this month we shared the rebranding of Juliet Simms into her new form: Lilith Czar. And today, the singer has released her debut album under her new persona titled Created From Filth and Dust, featuring the brand new single “Anarchy.”
A full power, high energy track, “Anarchy” is about calling out those who have tried to take away your power and reclaiming your voice in the face of injustice. With an angst and fiery passion behind the lyrics, the track showcases Czar’s full transformation from Juliet’s softer folk tinged tracks into a dark, mysterious yet fully badass rock god.
And though “Anarchy” is just one of twelve tracks to be featured on Created From Filth and Dust, it is one that is perfect for the current political climate and state of the world. An anthem for change, this track has us ready to fight the system and anyone else who stands in our way.
The only way out is to work together for a better future- and that starts with us.
You can stream all of the above tracks out now wherever you stream music, and be sure to check out our full April music playlist, linked below.
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