Happy Friday, everyone!
It is once again the best day of the week where we can all wind down and take a beat to recover from the work week and slide our way into some new tunes.
And though today may be Friday the 13th, we can’t help but feel lucky to be treated with so many killer new tracks.
As always you can check out our full list of favorite weekly releases below, and be sure to follow our full November Spotify playlist to stay up to date on all of this month’s best tracks.
“Again” by Waxflower feat. Caitlin Henry
A perfect pop rock anthem of hope, we couldn’t have chosen a better way to kick off our New Music Friday roster than with the latest single from Australian pop rock band Waxflower.
Released yesterday in an exclusive with Rock Sound before launching publicly today, the band’s new single “Again” gives listeners a nostalgic emo feel while providing the gentle reminder that everything is found to be alright in the end.
Self describing the song as “a mantra of hope, a reminder of our capacity to heal when times get tough,” Waxflower use a very fun and danceable electro pop style instrumental verse, coupled with lyrics about “coming back to life” after going through a major change.
And with 2020 bringing unwelcome and unexpected changes on each and everyone of us- this song is a perfect way to get out of your own head and get lost in the fun beat and hopeful lyrics.
Another track about perseverance and prevailing through the bad times comes from Nashville based duo Icon For Hire.
After raising over $260k in a Kickstarter campaign to help launch their next album, the band announced this morning that their album Amorphous will be launching next year and they gave fans yet another sneak peak into the album with the release of their new single “Seeds.”
A techno meets pop rock track, “Seeds” is a battle cry about not letting others keep you from spreading your roots and growing in even the harshest environments.
With the chorus “they tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds,” coupled with the song’s unique instrumental backing that will have you dying to mosh in a pit, the track leaves listeners feeling hyped up and ready to face the world.
“Therefore I Am” by Billie Eilish
As one of the biggest pop acts on the scene, Billie Eilish has never let us down when it comes to new releases. And her latest single “Therefore I Am” is no different.
Released yesterday, “Therefore I Am” is a snarky, catchy and beautiful amalgamation of hip hop inspired pop music that will have you cheering the singer on while also being ready to tell off the haters in your own life.
Written as a reminder to the world that Eilish is her own person and as a way to let everyone know that she knows herself better than anyone who uses her name in the press, the track is a reminder to think twice before you believe any tabloid rumors. And a (very danceable) reminder to never mess with Eilish or her family.
A social commentary on the social media generation and the existence of influencer culture, “Shameless” is an upbeat rock song that packs a punch both lyrically and instrumentally.
“‘Shameless’ is a hard look at how this generation looks for instant gratification and how we are willing to do anything for a quick ‘like,'” vocalist Randy Frobel shares. “‘Shameless’ is about how people are willing to sell their souls for 15 minutes of fame.”
With an upbeat and driving guitar and punchy percussion keeping the song moving along, listeners are forced to think about the people around them who may fall into this social media pit of competing for likes and basing your worth on the number of reactions your posts get. But instead of using that to feel bad about yourself, this track reminds you that social media isn’t the end all be all of self worth- and it’s better to live your life for you than for “likes.”
Inspired by their mutual love of James Bond, the latest song by Canadian songstress Kandle and writing partner Michael Rendell is a nostalgia filled ballad that will have any Bond fan eager to binge all related films.
Written about a toxic love that ends in heartbreak and accompanied by a Bond-esque music video, “Lock & Load” debuted yesterday and uses a smooth piano and a full, swanky orchestra to amplify Kandle’s vintage style vocals.
And coming just two short weeks after the death of the original James Bond, Sean Connery, this song feels like the perfect tribute to the late actor and his legacy.
“Can’t Feel A Thing” by Justice Carradine
Two years in the making, “Can’t Feel A Thing” is an electro pop dance track about battling your own internal demons in order to keep your head above water.
“I wrote ‘Can’t Feel A Thing’ two years ago when I started experiencing depersonalization and derealization,” singer Justice Carradine shared. “Since then, I’ve worked on myself a lot. I’ve learned how to feel more and cope with life in healthy ways. I’m learning more and more every day, but this song means a lot to me because it shows me how much progress I’ve made and reminds me that you can still dance even when it’s dark.”
With a very catchy backing track, the song puts Carradine’s effortless yet perfectly crafted vocals on full display. As a rising pop act, this track follows his previous release “Limbo” as further proof he is an artist you do not want to miss out on.
Serving as a reminder to not let anyone treat you poorly, regardless of how you may feel bout them, the latest single by Ekelle is a new take on a breakup anthem.
Fresh off her new EP Hood Pop, “Why” is a dream pop anthem tossed with a dash of hip hop that questions why a previous partner treated her so poorly and strongly pushes the idea that their behavior will never be tolerated again.
“Some people like to say forgive and forget, but I don’t believe in that. If someone has been awful to you, you should forgive yourself and treat the experience as a lesson. This should serve as an example as to how you shouldn’t be treated,” the singer shares.
An advocate for demanding the respect you deserve, Ekelle uses the track to remind both listeners and anyone who’s done her wrong in the past that there’s no reason to accept any bad treatment. Some people never change, and as the singer says, “It’s ok and necessary to kick shitty people out of your life.”
“We Can Do Better” by James Alphonse
Another track that calls out the toxicity that comes with the instant gratification brought upon by the social media age, “We Can Do Better” by James Alphonse puts our relationships with ourselves, loved ones, and social media under a microscope.
Inspired by the number of times he has heard or read about people telling each other “you can do better” in regards to their relationships, instead of encouraging each other to try to work out their issues, “We Can Do Better” is a song dedicated to pushing the idea that one bad turn shouldn’t completely end a relationship.
Rather than jumping to social media to find the next best thing- whether it be a new partner, new job, new friends, etc.- Alphonse uses the groovy pop track to encourage people to connect face to face and to work harder at keeping their lives happier and healthier rather than replacing everything once it stops being easy.
Making it work is never going to be a flawless process, but you’ll never know how beautiful something could be if you don’t put in the effort to keep it blooming.
“3 Decembers” by Liv Nicholson
If you are like us, you have probably realized that today officially marks 43 days until Kwanzaa, 42 days until Christmas, and 27 days until Hanukkah- meaning that the December holiday season is literally right around the corner and we are less than prepared for the season of gift giving.
But, while that thought may stress many of us out, especially amidst the current state of the world, we thankfully have musicians such Liv Nicholson to provide us with brand new winter-y tunes that will help us sing our worries away.
Released this morning, “3 Decembers,” is a cheery pop song all about sharing love in the holiday season- which Nicholson assures will resonate with even the biggest holiday romance skeptics.
Whether it be a shout out to a new partner, a close friend, or even just appreciating the family you get to spend this time of year with, “3 Decembers” will have you smiling while you listen and prepare you to properly deck the halls with your favorite decorations. (The day AFTER Thanksgiving, of course.)
A bit of a change up from the nine previous tracks, “Death & Comfort” by Rob Marr is a somber yet beautiful song that views death and loss in a new light.
Written following the death of his father, “Death & Comfort” navigates the process of acknowledging and accepting the mortality of those who we love most. Using a strong piano melody to help accentuate Marr’s deep yet comforting voice, the track takes listener’s on the path of examining life and its unexpected twists and turns. But instead of using the song’s near four minutes to focus on his loss, he turns it into a message of hope and peace.
And as the first single from Marr’s upcoming album Book of Man, “Death & Comfort” gives listeners a glimpse into the singer’s ability to tell captivating stories that help give us a bit of hope, even in the darkest days.
You can stream all of the above songs now, wherever you stream music, and check out our full Spotify playlist full of all of our favorite November releases, linked below.
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