Happy New Music Friday, everyone!
Once again we have reached the end of the week and are now blessed with tons of new music to add to our weekly playlists.
As always, New Music Friday would not be complete over on Second Society Report if we didn’t provide you with some new tunes to check out. So, in classic NMF fashion, we have curated a list of some of our favorite new releases for your enjoyment, as well as our full August playlist, linked below.
Be sure to check out each track and drop a comment letting us know what your favorite release from this past week was.
One of our favorite rising pop-punk artists, Big Smile are yet again proving themselves with the release of their new song “Killdozer.”
Written about the pharmaceutical industry and the role they play in addiction and price gouging, “Killdozer” is a powerful track both sonically and lyrically. Opening with a groovy solo guitar riff before the full band joins in, the song picks up over time with an upbeat punk feel- though remaining unique to Big Smile’s own niche sound.
“It’s got a familiar Big Smile sound to it with some new elements thrown into the mix,” bassist John Morris shared with us. “I believe this is Scooter’s best lyrical effort to date.”
As a follow up to their last single “Oscillate,” “Killdozer” gives fans a further idea of what to expect from Big Smile- and we are positive it is going to be massive.
If you like what you hear, be sure to check out our full interview with Morris about the song and what the future holds for the band.
As the latest single by New York based singer/songwriter Illicit Ghost, “Present” is a reminder to ground yourself.
An indie pop sounding track, “Present” was inspired by the singer’s own struggles with mental health- something that is a prevalent theme throughout their previous releases.
“This is a song about learning to be present,” the singer shared. “It’s about acknowledging difficult feelings and doing the work to heal, move forward and live in the moment.”
An entirely self-produced and recorded track, “Present” further showcases Illicit Ghost’s talents as a multi instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer. With their unique vocal styling, an orchestral intro and outro, and catchy electronic-esque beats driving the song and adding an uplifting air of hope- the track leaves listeners feeling understood and also optimistic about their own present futures.
Anna Hamilton is making her official debut with the release of her brand new single, “Self Help.”
After gaining worldwide attention following the release of her Imagine Dragons “Bad Liar” cover in 2018, Hamilton has been on the rise to the top. With over 1 million monthly Spotify listeners, the role of featured songwriter on NBC’s Songland and an ever-growing fanbase, Hamilton’s debut today was sure to be welcomed with open arms. And we are happy to say, she deserves the hype.
Written as an ode to learning how to take care of yourself and prioritizing your own mental health care, “Self Help” is a light and airy pop track that features a steady, driving percussion track along with a faint electric guitar and some synthesized beats.
Through reminding listeners to put themselves first, the track places less emphasis on the instrumentals than on Hamilton’s angelic vocals and lyricism- showcasing the singer’s talents as both a vocalist and a songwriter, and reminding anyone who’s watching that she is more than just a cover artist.
Self described as the musical version of “smiling when really you feel like shit,” “Deep End” is the latest single by Canadian based singer, JEEN.
Featuring a groovy bass line provided by the singer’s close Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene) and light electro-synth beats by Jeff Heisholt, (along with guitar and percussion by Ian Blurton and Stephan Szczesniak) “Deep End” is a pure synth-pop bop. With dreamy and almost beach-y 80s vibes, the track takes listeners on a sonically relaxing journey through the singer’s stress filled final writing sessions- where she poured her anxieties about completing her upcoming album into the creation of “Deep End.”
“I wrote this track in a last-minute realization that we needed more songs to round [it] out,” she shared. “I felt defeated and tired and consequently that’s all I could write about that day.”
“Deep End” is the fourth single JEEN has released this year and the latest look at her upcoming album, out October 9th.
“Take My Time” is the latest single by German rock band Silent Attic.
With gritty, earthy vocals, punchy guitar and catchy percussion beats- “Take My Time” is one of the most memorable songs of this week- getting stuck in our heads after just one listen.
Documenting the cacophany of feelings that come with the end of a relationship destroyed by insecurities and past toxicity, “Take My Time” uses the instrumentals to recreate feelings of anxiety and desperation that come with trying to better yourself. Immersing listeners in the message of the track, Silent Attic prove that despite their fresh start with just one album under their belts, they are well versed in creating fresh, unique sounds.
And, as the second single off of their upcoming EP- anticipated for an early October release- “Take My Time,” gives us high hopes that any new music from Silent Attic will be sure to impress.
Self described as a band that makes “songs to drive to,” the latest single by Nashville based trio Nightly is exactly that.
Made up of cousins Jonathan Capeci and Joey Beretta, alongside Nick Sainato, Nightly have steadily been gaining traction with the release of their three previous EPs, amassing over 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
And today the band added to their growing repertoire with the release of “summer,”- a laid back love song, dedicated to spending long summer nights with someone you love and reminiscing on the better times. Yet another perfect song to blast while cruising with your windows down on the way to the beach.
As the fourth and final single from the band’s collection of tracks titled “summer + not like you + you should probably just hang up + the movies,” “summer” was also announced as the latest single from their upcoming album “night, love you,” which is set to debut October 16th.
“Better Than Reality” – Mirror Eyes
Mirror Eyes have officially made their return to music after a near three year hiatus.
Launching their comeback with the official release of their song “Better Than Reality,” Mirror Eyes are already working their way back into fan’s hearts- and we are so glad to have been introduced to them with this new release.
An alternative rock track, “Better Than Reality,” tackles the idea of blaming others for your problems, while suggesting listeners take stock in their personal issues and realize that without facing the struggles life throws at us, we would not have the strength that shaped us into the people we’ve become.
And though the track only made its official debut this morning, “Better Than Reality” was actually written several years ago prior to the band’s temporary disbanding, along with a music video that was filmed the same day the track was recorded.
In addition to the music video and the single itself, today’s release also comes alongside the band’s official Spotify debut, with their 2015 EP “Reality” officially being added to the streaming service for fans both new and old to enjoy.
“I Like The Way You Talk About The Future” – Sam Roberts Band
A trippy, groovy track with a thick bass line, and catchy percussion, “I Like The Way You Talk About The Future” is the latest release by Canadian quintet Sam Roberts Band.
With minimal, repetitive lyrics, this track is lyrically simplistic. But that is not a detriment for the release, as the ease of picking up the words by the second verse adds to the track’s appeal and overall easy-going vibe.
A song you can’t help but head bob to, “ILTWYTATF” is a romanticized telling of meeting someone who forces you look at life in a new way. It provides a sense of hope to listeners, first by making them feel at ease solely from the instrumental intelligence, and then subsequently calming their existential anxieties by letting them ponder what they think the future looks- encouraging a positive outlook.
After all, it is impossible to think of anything bad while vibing out to a good song, and “ILTWYTATF” is a perfect example.
A groovy pop-rock track a-la the stylings of IDKHow or Panic! At The Disco, “Same Graves” is here to remind listeners that someday we will all meet the same inevitable fate.
A lesson in remaining true to yourself while not falling victims to societal pressures, “Same Graves” showcases the band’s honest and symbolic lyricism. Ready to hit on the darker topics of death and the toxicity that runs rampant in social media culture, as well as the music industry itself, The Ghost Club are encouraging fans to find comfort in themselves- regardless what others think.
Featuring intriguing electronic beats melded with the band’s other wise pop-rock sound- “Same Graves” is a very catchy track that is both easy to dance to and also belt along to as you attempt to match vocalist Domenic Dunegan’s impressive range.
“Story of My Life (acoustic)” – 4th & Orange
4th & Orange are one of our absolute favorite up-and-coming artists and their latest release is easily one of their best.
An acoustic remix of their song “Story of My Life,” which dropped at the end of May, this new acoustic track is a sonic masterpiece. Mixing the overall relaxed vibe of reggae music with lyrical elements of hip hop and vocal styling of pop punk- 4th & Orange are undefinable- making them one of the most unique bands we’ve heard in a while.
As for what the track is about- “Story of My Life” documents the struggle between moving on from someone, convincing yourself your relationship is done, and then somehow getting sucked back into their antics. Something nearly every listener can relate to.
For anyone still not convinced- after being sent this track last week it has quickly become one of our most streamed videos this month, if not all year. We are so happy to finally have this version available on all streaming platforms so that we can add it to all of our playlists.
And if you like what you hear and want to learn more, keep an eye out for our full interview with 4th & Orange- coming soon.
If you enjoyed the above tracks or want to see what other releases you may have missed this month, be sure to check out our full August playlist, linked below. And let us know what songs are your favorite by dropping a comment.
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