We are now officially more than halfway through March. And though this past week has come with a lot of mixed feelings- between the first day of spring, the one year anniversary of lockdown, and the constant flux in emotions and allergies brought on by the changing of the seasons- today is once more full of new music that we hope will help brighten up your weekend.
A bit more packed than usual, this week features fourtnee new tracks that we think are the best of the best.
You can stream all of the below tracks out now, wherever you stream music, and be sure to follow along for all of our favorite releases from the month in our MARCHing to the Beat playlist- linked below.
“Equinox” by Niki Tonik & TMGMusic
A relaxed, almost dream pop single, “Equinox” is the latest single by Niki Tonik and TMGMusic.
Heavily inspired by nature and the changing of the seasons, “Equinox” explores human condition and our connection to the cycles of the seasons and Mother Nature.
Tied to Tonik’s latest album Write on Time, which heavily focuses on the concepts of Yin and Yang, “Equinox” discusses balance as well as correlating themes found between both nature and life- a conversation that is especially timely just one day before the spring equinox this weekend.
Using very light vocals and repetitive almost relaxing lyrics, the song allows listeners to find their own bit of peace within the music and the concept of change.
“Lyrically, ‘Equinox’ centers around the changing of the seasons and the passing of time,” Tonik shares. “Highlighting nature’s beauty, celebrating the elements, creativity and love. The spring equinox is the first day of the year where the hours of day and night are equal in length so it really represents balance, renewal and coming into full bloom like the flowers that appear after the rain.”
“As Good As It Gets” by Wolf Rd
A song that will easily break your heart as you add it to your breakup playlists “As Good As It Gets” is a song about miscommunication and heartbreak.
Styled as a duet between Wolf Rd vocalist Chris Hoffman and guest vocalist Sylvia Mendez, the song shared two sides to a breakup and allows listeners to get eners to piece together a relationship that has dissolved and left both parties feeling sad but also frustrated.
“Sometimes breakup songs can be nasty, but one thing that was really important to me was that I didn’t want this song to be one-sided” shares Hoffmann. “I’m far from perfect, and when things fall apart both sides usually share some of the blame.”
Driven by an acoustic guitar played by Hoffman, the single showcases Wolf Rd’s softer and more emotional side, with a clear vulnerability shining through both vocalists’ verses.
Including gut wrenching lyrics such as “you’re so in love but not with me,” and “who would have known you’d take the better parts and pieces of me,” the song immediately brings fans back to the last time they experienced similar feelings and makes you want to sing/scream along.
More In Luv may have only debuted last year but they already have six fantastic tracks under their belt and are ready to keep on the rise with the release of their latest single, “Someone Else.”
Featuring a classic indie pop vibe that both is reminiscent of 80s pop and more modern acts such as The 1975 or The Band CAMINO- “Someone Else” is a song about watching those closest to you grow up and become different people than you once knew- but in this case, it’s not for the better.
With an extremely relatable message regarding the neverending changes we all experience when hitting adulthood and the difficult time many of us face when trying to find ourselves- including adapting new personalities, interests and hobbies- this song documents what it’s like to try to remain friends with someone who is no longer the person you once knew and reconciling with the fact that they may not ever be their former selves again.
Using an upbeat and fun rhythm to move the track along, as well as attention grabbing mini guitar solos, the song helps listener’s workout their own friendship dilemmas while also keeping them in a positive mindset. There is no reason to waste time trying to make someone into a person they aren’t- so instead, throw this track on and dance any sadness away.
Dating is difficult as it is- let alone when you don’t get along with your new partner’s friends and you don’t seem to be able to escape them. But luckily for all of us who have ever been in this situation- or will someday end up in this situation- singer/songwriter Killboy has just dedicated her new song, appropriately titled “FUCK YO FRIENDS,” to this exact topic.
Inspired by a relationship she had where her partner cared more about what his friends thought about her than what he thought about her, “FUCK YO FRIENDS” is a track that truly drives home the idea that some “friends” don’t have your best interests in mind.
“I was talking to this guy, but his friends had a problem with me,” Killboy shared. “I thought to myself: how do I tell his shitty friends they suck without telling his shitty friends they suck? And [then] I texted them this song.”
Repeating the line “fuck yo friends” over and over while sharing specific anecdotes about their relationship and the negative impact of this partner’s friends, the track uses a light guitar strum coupled with synth beats and a bass drum that helps to give the song a dreamy alt pop-esque vibe while also encouraging listeners to stand up for themselves and walk away from anyone who allows external influence to affect how they feel within an otherwise healthy relationship.
The Maine had us all scratching our heads over the past week as they began cryptically teasing what would later be announced as their upcoming studio album XOXO: From Love and Anxiety In Real Time. And though the album won’t be coming out until July 9th, the Arizona natives are treating fans to a glimpse into their new era with the release of the incredibly catchy and appropriately titled “Sticky.”
A perfect spring-meets-summertime anthem of being in love and having fun, “Sticky” is an uptempo pop rock track that truly has us feeling that better days are ahead.
Relating an unrelenting love for a person to the feeling of having a song stuck in your head, the song is lyrically light and fun- a reprieve from some of the band’s darker tracks of the last era (see “Slip The Noose” and “Flowers on the Grave.”) Using a groovy guitar riff and a pop drum line to keep the track flowing and listeners ready to dance from the get-go the song is a perfect palette cleanser to remind us why we love The Maine and give us even more reason to be excited about the new era.
And though we are sure that XOXO will include it’s fair share of deep cuts, “Sticky” truly is a perfect introduction and just what the world needed this week.
“Let Go” by 7evin7ins feat. 916frosty
If you haven’t found yourself on the pop punk x hip hop wave yet then you are severely missing out on some of the best music to hit the airwaves over the past few years. With artists from the late Juice Wrld and Lil Peep to the recent workings of Machine Gun Kelly, the melding of rap/hip-hop and pop punk fit perfectly in a way that both creates an entirely new sonic profile for artists while also helping expose fans to both rap, hip-hop and pop punk on their own. And today, we are thrilled to share another fusion of these genres with 7evin7ins new single “Let Go.”
Featuring 916frosty, “Let Go” is a song about trying to move on from the hurt caused in a relationship. Sharing the experience of trying to forget someone and using various coping mechanisms to find a sense of okay after finding out a former flame has moved on, the track is an emotional ode to avoiding pain while remaining honest with yourself about how you feel. Giving listener’s full hip-hop production but with the guitars and percussion of a classic pop punk tune, the song satisfies both the “emo” and high tempo requirements of both genres while providing listeners with yet another example of why the fusion dubbed “emo rap” works so well.
“Life on Mars?” (Cover) by YUNGBLUD
YUNGBLUD has gone from being alternative music’s best kept secret to one of the biggest artists in the world, and we are so thrilled to watch his career blow up in front of our eyes. With over 10 million monthly Spotify listeners alone, a top ten album and a continuing growth of recognition in the mainstream music world, YUNGBLUD is impossible to ignore and for good reason- which he reminds us this week with the release of a live rendition of “Life on Mars?” by David Bowie.
Recorded as part of the livestream David Bowie tribute A Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day! earlier this month, YUNGBLUD’s “Life on Mars?” gives the 1971 hit a 2021 upgrade, 50 years in the making.
Staying relatively true to the original instrumentally and lyrically, YUNGBLUD adds an extra kick of emotion behind the song- honoring Bowie’s musical legacy while also letting new listener’s see his talents on full display.
And for fans of YUNGBLUD’s own music this cover is especially special as listener’s may catch glimpses of inspiration for the singer’s own track “Mars,” which features a few similar lyrics about trying to escape one’s currently reality for a better world far off into the galaxy.
Some friendships are not meant to last forever, but rather are meant to teach us valuable life lessons regarding what we want, how we wish to be treated, and when it’s time to move on. And for anyone who is currently experiencing a friend breakup- which is arguably more detrimental than a romantic split- The Kelseys have the perfect new release for you.
Navigating this theme of growing up and growing apart, as well as dealing with a relationship ending blow dealt by one party or the other, the band’s new single “Stoop So Low,” is a light indie rock song about coming to terms with the destruction of a previously close friendship.
Starting off by reminiscing on the best of times together while accompanied by a light acoustic guitar, the track gradually picks up by adding in more instrumentals- including a grand piano- as the lyrics intensify- eventually asking the question “why’d you have to stoop so low?”
Wondering how such a close knit connection could be ripped apart in a matter of words/phrases, the song offers an emotional and raw look into trying to heal from hurt- with lyrics written vaguely enough that any listener can find themselves within the song and use it as their own coping mechanism for finding their way on their own.
“Spotless Mind” by Coda Meraki
Coda Meraki is an artist to watch. From making his debut last year with the release of his single “Happy” in May to releasing his debut album When The World is Upside Down in October and even putting out three tracks already in 2021, Meraki is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. And today’s release “Spotless Mind” is a great example of that drive and his creativity.
Inspired by the film Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, the song recounts the feelings and memories that come flooding back after a particularly bad breakup.
Making several references to the film through lyrical anecdotes but featuring an added modern twist, the song takes listeners on a journey through a recent heartbreak and the process of trying to block out the hurt you are feeling.
With a mix of emo and rap elements, the song appeals to listeners of varying musical preferences, making both the message and the overall sonic profile easily enjoyable. It may make you feel extra emotional or “in your feels,” but in a way that makes you want to crank the volume up and fully lean in.
“Food For Your Garden” by Waxflower
“Food For Your Garden” is the latest single by pop rock band Waxflower, giving fans another glimpse into their upcoming EP, We Might Be Alright, out April 16th.
An upbeat single, “Food For Your Garden” explores the idea that not all relationships are destined to work out, but that they all will play an important role in the future relationships and friendships we will cultivate as we grow older.
Comparing the love and life someone has to an everblooming garden, the song relates a wilting love or past mistakes to the soil that helps keep the garden alive and growing. Encouraging listeners to embrace their pasts and use those lessons as a guide for the future, the track is a nice reminder that there is always hope for the future- regardless of how uncertain things may currently be.
“We all want to leave something behind,” the band shared via Instagram. “This song was born riding the line between neurosis and reflection. Don’t write off your missteps, let them guide the path you forge moving forward.”
“Just A Friend” by Concrete Castles
One of the most difficult parts of entering into a relationship is battling insecurities. Whether it be on your own behalf or on your partners, the nagging doubts or fears that your relationship is not what it seems on the outside often can cause detrimental riffs that sometimes cause a relationship to end.
But in some cases these insecurities or concerns are rooted in reality, and in the debut single by Concrete Castles the band share the experience of fears taking on their own life after a partner begins lying about their relationship with another person.
Titled “Just A Friend,” the song navigates the uncertainty that emerges when a partner begins acting somewhat suspiciously- including hiding their phone or forming close friendships that you are not part of.
Using engaging pop rock instrumentals that catch the listener’s attention off the bat, the song is carried by vocalist Audra Nicole Miller’s engaging vocals and the song’s relatable lyricism. Both perfectly capturing the anger and hurt that anyone in this situation would feel, the teack pulls you in and makes you feel as though you too are experiencing this relationship fall out.
“Perfume” by DE’WAYNE feat. Awsten Knight
Young love is often irrational, all consuming and sometimes emotionally draining. And today’s new single from DE’WAYNE featuring Awsten Knight is a perfect encapsulation of just how crazy love can be.
Inspired by one of DE’WAYNE’s past relationships, “Perfume” navigates the emotions behind loving someone so much that it makes you mad- especially when it feels uncontrollable.
Referencing some of the most intimate parts of a relationship- including seeing them cry, how they smell, or how they know just the perfect way to push your buttons, “Perfume” dives into the worst parts of being in love and how obnoxious handling these feelings can be- especially when you are no longer together or going through a rough patch.
Keeping the track high energy with an angst that perfectly matches the story behind it, this is a song you have to listen to at full volume and with room to dance.
“I never ever write love songs but this is one, and it’s about my high school lady. You ever love someone so much you hate them? This is my ode to her and if she hears it, I honestly hope she sings along,” DE’WAYNE shares. “Even though falling in love can be the total opposite of beautiful, if you start to fall for someone go super hard!”
YaSi caught our attention earlier this year with the release of her single “Guilty,” and this week the songstress is once more grabbing our ear with the release of her new single “world is burning.”
Featuring a fun party-esque beat coupled with a darker message throughout the lyrics, “world is burning” is a commentary on the current state of the world and the absolute mess that we are all in.
Written pre-pandemic but with a newfound relevance, the song explores our desire for a sense of freedom from responsibility- both personal, political or professional. Wanting to escape the reality of the never ending horrors of modern society- the track explores different ways people may find their own escape- from drugs to other vices such as social media or dancing.
An acknowledgement that the world is not in any way near an ideal condition, the track encourages listeners to let loose and find their own peace- however short lived or frivolous it may seem.
We all need something to take the edge off and this song certainly is a great start.
“While I wrote this song in Jan of 2020, the feelings of anger, confusion, disillusion, and the clear hypocrisy of how the world treats its citizens were the reason I wrote this song,” the singer shares. “We’re all watching people around us get ‘high’ on their vices, but how can we blame people when our backs are against an unpredictable wall?”
A common theme throughout the releases this past week is the act of being in love, but Lauren Sanderson has a different approach to this topic. Using her new single “Hi.” as a way to revisit the past and reimagine what could have been had the relationship played out differently.
Sanderson’s first release as a fully independent artist, “Hi.” plays as though it’s a stream of consciousness- a flow of thoughts about someone that you love who may not feel the same way about you or who is difficult to read. Recounting the late night texts, long nights in, and all of the first romantic encounters that have become ingrained in your mind- the song is both an ode to love and to heartbreak.
Using minimal instrumentals, the song fully puts Sanderson’s vocals on display. Allowing listener’s to get a raw, emotional delivery of heartbreak and reminiscing that nearly anyone can relate to their own past heartbreaks.
“I never knew heartbreak until I had to let go of someone I was still madly in love with,” the singer shares. “This song is everything I wish I could tell her if we could forget about our pain for one moment and go back to the euphoria of meeting for the first time.”
“In Circles” by Holding Absence
The past year has been a complete whirlwind. From the change in political powers to the global pandemic shutting down the world and a never ending fight against racism and hate crimes- it is easy to become disillusioned with life and find yourself lacking the motivation to make a change to either yourself or the world around you. And while this is entirely valid, especially with the ever present uncertainty of all of our futures- it is important to try to hold out for hope and maintain a bit of motivation to help get back on track- a reminder that rock band Holding Absence are giving us through their new single “In Circles.”
Referencing the never-ending cycles that are present throughout our lives and the speed at which time can pass us by, the song advises listeners against becoming lost in their minds and letting the world go on without them. A warning to our present and future selves, the track encourages people to take stock of their lives and find ways to improve it bit by bit every day- even if that bit is only getting out of bed.
“In Circles is a really subtly exciting song for our band. Lyrically, it commentates on themundane and cyclical nature of day to day life… Pointing out just how dangerous it can be to live your life without ambition,” frontman Lucas Woodland shares. “With such a strong lyrical vision, we made sure that the song and video followed suit, playing out in an almost hypnotic fashion. We think this track is really special, and will hopefully be enough to encourage people to reach out of their lives a little bit.”
You can stream all of the above music now, wherever you stream music.
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