Sometimes, things don’t always go as planned and we find ourselves unable to keep up with the world around us. But thankfully, when plans fail, or when life seems a little more hectic than usual, we have good music to keep us company and keep us sane.
This week was one of those times- where life came at us fast and before we knew it it was once again New Music Friday and we were flooded with new content, new artists to discover, and a playlist that is truly thriving beyond comprehension.
But with that came some much needed absorption time where we could fully soak in all of the new music being sent our way- and thus today we present to you: New Music Friday: On A Saturday.
A day late but still just as stacked as ever with all of our favorite rising artists and new tunes, today’s post marks the final new music of the month of April as we switch gears into full May-mode. So as always, please sit back, relax, and get your earphones ready for some of our top tracks of the past week.
“Found My Friends” by Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko is getting into the groove of a self love anthem today with the release of her new track “Found My Friends.”
The singer’s first single of the year, following 2020’s I’m Too Sensitive For This Shit EP, “Found My Friends” is an ode to putting yourself first and allowing yourself to be kind to your mind, body and heart rather than being your own biggest critic.
Using a mix of 80s synth and electric sounds with Kiyoko’s soft but captivating vocals this track pulls you in almost instantly and keeps you going with the relatable messaging.
“‘Found My Friends’ is a song I wrote during a challenging time when I realized instead of being my own worst enemies, I could actually be my own best friend,” Kiyoko shares. “It’s about discovering and nurturing a strong friendship with yourself. This song resonates even more so now with everyone experiencing isolation in quarantine, when we still somehow find the resilience to connect with one another and find comfort in each other.”
“Lonely Army” by Sophie Powers
The debut single from 16-year old powerhouse Sophie Powers, “Lonely Army” is a track that literally all of us can relate to after a year long battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.
A rock anthem about expressing your feelings and opening up about the internal sense of loneliness that this pandemic and isolation has brought on, “Lonely Army” destroys the concept that any of us are going through this alone. Instead, Powers promotes the idea that the ‘lonely army’ extends beyond just her and that it’s time to work on finding resources and help for others who are battling this same loneliness.
“‘Lonely Army’ is an anthemic song. It speaks on
behalf of my generation,” Powers shares. “I want to start a conversation, as it feels adults and people who are not struggling during this time need to understand that almost everyone else is, whether they show it or not.”
If you have checked out our New Music Friday series for a while, Mae Krell is a name you probably recognize. An artist known for having a beautiful vocal presence as well as powerful and emotional lyricism, Krell is one of our go-to artists for those days when we need to be more in tune with our thoughts and feelings. And this Friday’s new single “snow” is another track to add to our ever-growing mood playlist.
A single that documents Krell’s own battle with self love and self worth, “snow” changes up the singer’s previous sound by dipping back into the realm of pop music. Substituting the familiar acoustic guitar strums for piano keys, the single adds a more full bodied instrumental track behind the lyrics, allowing listeners to feel uplifted by not only Krell’s words, but also their musicality.
A message of hope and serving as an anthem of positivity for the future, “snow” encourages listeners to not be discouraged by anything they may consider a shortcoming and instead to look towards the future for brighter, happier and sunnier days.
“it’s alright” by shallow pools
Another artist who has frequently made their way onto our NMF playlists, as well as our daily mixes, shallow pools are giving fans another glimpse into their upcoming EP with the release of their new single “it’s alright.”
Released yesterday, “it’s alright” is an anthem of empowerment and acceptance. A song that explores the feelings that come with a budding crush or romantic connection, “it’s alright” is a single that reminds listeners of all sexual preferences that their feelings are valid and that having crushes can be fun regardless of your sexuality.
And as a band who are open members of the LGBTQ+ community, shallow pools make sure to let fans know this message is for fellow community members to help them feel acknowledged and safe.
““it’s alright” was the first song we wrote for headspace, and it set the tone for the rest of the EP. We wrote this song about accepting your sexuality and fully embracing who you are. The meaning of this song really resonates with all four of us,” the band shared. “The lyrics were inspired by a TV show from the early 2000s called South of Nowhere, which was about two girls who were best friends and fell in love. Growing up, it was extremely important for us to see queer relationships with a happy ending represented like this in the media. We wanted “it’s alright” to give others that same feeling of happiness and hope, especially since a lot of queer stories in the media end in tragedy.”
Never Loved are preparing for a big year ahead as they gear up for the release of their debut album Over It (May 14). And though the release is just under two weeks away, the band are letting fans get even more of a sneak peak with the release of their new track, “Autumn.”
An acoustic driven, indie-rock sounding track, “Autumn” is the second single to be released off of Over It and gives fans a glimpse into Never Loved’s softer side. A departure from their normal angsty-rock driven tracks, such as their previous single “On & On It Goes,” “Autumn” documents feelings of heartbreak and loss and lyrically explores the emotions that come after you find yourself separated from someone you love.
And though the track is different from most of the band’s previous repertoire, this track gives us a good look into their range and potentially what the rest of Over It may sound like- so far giving us high hopes for the band’s future.
“Monday’s Fácil” by Summer Salt
If you are looking for a band that matches the relaxed weekend vibes we all aspire to have, and a track helps you knock any case of the Mondays that may be impending- Summer Salt is the perfect band and “Monday’s Fácil” is the perfect song.
Released yesterday as the latest single from the duo’s upcoming album SEQUOIA MOON (June 25), “Monday’s Fácil” is an easygoing indie pop song about enjoying life to the fullest and not letting yourself get too bogged down by the negativity in the world.
With extremely relaxed, narration style lyrics, the song documents an easygoing day and encourages listeners to take stock of the beauty in their lives, appreciate what they have where they are and to approach life with a more carefree yet acknowledging attitude.
And though this track is impossible to listen to without feeling an instant mood boost, the band have also accompanied the track with a music video that gives viewers a glimpse into the recording process, as well as fun moments of life that will have you ready to bust out a camcorder and start treating your own life as if it is a coming of age story. There is beauty in everyday activities- sometimes you just need to look at life through a new lens.
“Semi-Prologue” by Action/Adventure
Though we always appreciate taking a beat to relax and feel at peace with ourselves, there are more moments than not where what we truly need is a piece of music to help us get our anxieties, frustrations or general angst out- and Action/Adventure is a perfect conduit.
First capturing our attention with their ever catchy music and presence on emo TikTok, Action/Adventure are a rising pop-punk force you do not want to miss out on, as proved by this weekend’s debut EP, Pulling Focus and their new single “Semi-Prologue.”
A track about struggling to find meaning in life and battling between a sense of disillusionment and general sense of apathy, “Semi-Prologue” is one of the EP’s 7 new tracks that showcase Action/Adventure’s talent and fresh take on one of our favorite genres.
And though this is just one of the band’s many great releases, we picked “Semi-Prologue” as our NMF pick because it perfectly encapsulates the general mood surrounding the past year as we all find ourselves struggling and looking for our greater purpose.
Switching the mood up once more, the next track on our playlist will have you ready to scream at the top of your lungs and leave you actively missing the days of jumping into a concert crowd. Enter “Live4” by Short Stack.
A high energy rock track that will have you feeling pumped up from the first chords to the last note, “Live4” is a track all about conquering your fears and coming out victorious- whether that be anxiety surrounding a relationship, societal expectations, or any internal obstacles that are keeping you down.
An anthem for taking back your power and pushing through even the darkest days, this track has an infectious sense of positivity and resilience that will make it an easy listen for anyone who needs a quick pick-me-up or perhaps a new track to add to a pumped up workout playlist.
And even though the future of live events is still up in the air right now, we can only imagine how hard this single would go at a concert and cannot wait to someday hear it live.
You can stream all of the above tracks now, available wherever you stream music, and be sure to check out our full and finalized April playlist, linked below, for all of our April faves.
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