It is once again New Music Friday which means we are back again with a list of some of our favorite releases of the week.
With new songs from Yungblud, Boys of Fall, Celeste and Kassi Ashton- in addition to dozens of other artists- this week has brought us new music from all genres and for fans of all sounds.
You can check out all of our top new releases below, and be sure to listen to our full SPOOKTOBER Playlist, including music from the past week, linked at the bottom.
An emotional metalcore track, “Midnight” is the latest single by Detroit based Boys of Fall.
The newest single from the band’s upcoming album Distance, out November 20th, “Midnight” is a gut wrenching take on rethinking your past mistakes and battling your inner demons to rediscover a sense of purpose or meaning in life.
Using a mix of clean vocals and accentuated screams, the track repeats lines such as “Save me, please. My eyes are heavy as the dark creeps in. And I don’t believe in this no more,” leaving listeners feeling both somber and somewhat seen- as the feelings explained in the track are reflective of depression or isolation, both things that have been especially prevalent this summer as
In an interview with RockSound, the band shared the track “describes the inner loathing you feel inside yourself that becomes so deep, you feel it change who you are. That you don’t deserve love because you’re not worthy of it due to the inability to let go of your own mistakes.” An unfortunately relatable but painful feeling, “Midnight” is another perfect glimpse into the band’s upcoming album.
“Sparkle & Bleed” Eamon McGrath
Inspired by the seeming blanket of uncertainty that first hit his home city of Toronto during the beginning weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Sparkle & Bleed” is the latest single by singer/songwriter Eamon McGrath.
Written as the singer’s way of making sense of and explaining the odd turn of events that transpired after the world began to shut down as the virus began to close down both the music industry and local business, the new single is a soft rock track that serves as a bit of a retelling of events.
“Despite it only being less than a year ago, it seems like a lifetime in the past now, as all the other otherworldly events of 2020 followed shortly after,” McGrath shared. “Sparkle & Bleed” is an attempt to journalistically capture this drastic and dramatic change, which came with a feeling of everlasting permanence in what was really only a few short weeks of our lives.”
And though the height of the pandemic seems to be behind us now, the track still remains relevant as many countries begin to see a spike in cases as we return to winter months.
The last few moments of sleep before you fully wake up in the morning are some of the most precious. You could easily choose to roll back over, cover your head, and refuse to face the day ahead- or you could force yourself up and get on with your day. It is this in-between dreaming and awake state that inspired Seagoth’s new single “Dreamworld.”
A dreamy synth-pop single that features a beat driven by a keyboard, “Dreamworld” is an escapist track that examines the fine line between dreams and reality and uses it’s smartly written instrumentals to replicate the feeling of being in this in-between state- along with the avoidance of reaching a full state of being awake.
“The lyrics “wake me up, something keeps waking me up. But I keep coming back here in my dreams” refers to the repetitive e-piano melody that’s mimicking an alarm sound,” the singer shares. “Those few moments before you fully wake and your alarm is blending into your dream momentarily causing this “dreamworld” to spill into reality for a second. That strange and unreal feeling is what I attempted to replicate in this track with the lyrics and the instrumentation.”
A track that feels new and also nostalgic, “Dreamworld” makes us want to lie back in bed and hope to re-enter our own ideal dreamworlds.
“Black Motorcycle” by Kassi Ashton
An artist who describes her sound as “motorcycle country,” the latest single by country artist Kassi Ashton is perhaps the best culmination of all things she loves- music, motorcycles, and a bit of grit.
Inspired by her long lasting love of motorcycles after growing up with a motorcycle loving mom and dad, Ashton’s latest single pays homage to the freedom that comes with being out on the open road and how she longs for the excitement that comes with taking a long ride. With an obvious country influence breaking through, the track also samples some pop elements and adds a bit of punk flair.
“I like music with weight at the bottom.” the singer shared. “Part of my love for that being gritty and bottom-ended comes from the sound of a motorcycle. When you sit on it and it rumbles through you – I want the music to do the same thing.”
This single also comes on the heels of Ashton’s recent brand partnership with Harley-Davidson, a company she has had a fond love for ever since first learning about the motorcycle life.
Times of isolation are oftentimes the worst for our mental health, as we are alone with our own thoughts and feelings with no seeming escape from our inner demons.
This feeling of being trapped inside of your own head is what drove 19-year old CANNXN to write her latest single “Uncomfortable,” which documents her experience during the beginning of the global quarantine that set in place at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I wrote the track over my time in quarantine when I felt I was going crazy. Every hour of the day began to feel the same, and I knew every corner of my bedroom all too well. There was nothing left to do than sit with my own thoughts, and every muscle in my body was tense as I sat in my room and began to overthink every aspect of my life,” the singer shared. “I was listening to a lot of songs with darker textures at the time, and wanted to create something that sounded like the anxiety that was consuming me… it felt like I was really encapsulating being uncomfortable in my own body.”
“Teenage Visions” by Landon Forbes
When we’re kids, it’s easy to spend hours fantasizing about the big futures we’ll have- with lots of money, potential fame, and huge houses where it seems dreams come true. But what we often don’t think about is the hustle it takes to reach that point, and how difficult it can be to turn those visions into reality- which is exactly what Landon Forbes’ latest single “Teenage Visions” is about.
Reminiscing on the plans he made with a friend when they were younger, Forbes uses his new song as a followup to their life goals- recounting the move to Hollywood he once dreamed of and fame that he still hopes will come from his singing career.
Using a relaxed pop feel and catchy percussion beats, the song gives listener’s a glimmer of hope as they recount their own “teenage visions” and begin to re-plan their path to success- whatever that may look like- along with the people they hope to bring along for the ride.
NONEWFRIENDS. first caught our attention when they released their single “The Hook” earlier this summer. And now, with the release of their newest single “Closer,” the Syracuse University band is once more landing themselves on our radar.
A funk, R&B and soul influenced single “Closer” is about pushing past your insecurities and fears to let free and form a human connection- however fleeting it may be.
With beautiful and soulful vocals, a potent horn section that helps set this single apart from the rest of this week’s favorites, and an overall groove that makes this track easy to listen to on repeat while dancing along- “Closer” is yet another single that puts NONEWFRIENDS. on our ones to watch list. They are young, but full of life and style that is refreshing even for the most seasoned music fans.
In a collaboration with director Aaron Sorkin and composer Daniel Pemberton, “Hear My Voice” is the latest single by Celeste, who helped pen the track as the closing song for Sorkin’s upcoming Netflix film, The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Inspired by the true story of the 1968 Democratic convention protest that erupted into a violent outbreak between protestors, police and national guard, The Trial of the Chicago 7 uses “Hear My Voice” as a tale of hope- reminding listeners that their thoughts and voice matter and deserve to be heard as much as anyone else.
A hauntingly beautiful song that is carried by Celeste’s vocals and orchestral backing, “Her My Voice” gives listener’s the first glimpse into the film and the message it will send once it debuts.
“One of the first things Aaron Sorkin talked to me about was his vision for a song that could end the film, that could leave us with a sense of hope and possibility, of light beyond the darkness,” Pemberton shared of the collaboration. “I wanted to write something that captured the ideals of protest, that every person has a voice and a dream for the world and that those voices deserve to be heard. ‘Hear My Voice’ was that idea.”
You can stream the track now and watch the full film on Netflix beginning October 16th.
Fascinated by the idea of fame and whether only corrupt people become famous or whether fame corrupts those who it graces, “The Jump” is the latest single by alternative pop artist Tiny Deaths.
Questioning the realities and horrors that come with fame, “The Jump” navigates celebrity with a pessimistic view, pointing out the often negative stereotypes and actions taken by famous people and how there is a somewhat hidden “evil” side to the industries that create fame.
Pondering if this evil nature is intrinsic in humans or learned by the expectations of fame, Tiny Deaths uses a mix of electro beats and repetitive lyrics to get listeners questioning their own views of fame and what the truth behind the mystical world of celebrity really is.
Released last week, “Fresh” is the newest release by Nashville based pop singer Clinton John.
A fun, feel-good pop anthem about falling for a new love interest, “Fresh” documents the early stages of a relationship where everything feels new, interesting and fun. It is carefree and happy, emulating the emotions you go through when you are first hoping your newfound love feels the same way about you.
“After my first break-up it was hard for me to imagine having feelings for someone else again,” John shared. “The next time I was interested in someone, it took me by surprise and definitely caught me off guard. It was almost like a light bulb went off in my head, letting me know I was capable of developing feelings again. That realization happened almost instantly, they were exciting and felt so fresh.”
Yungblud is gearing up for the release of his sophomore album Weird! set to debut next month with yet another new song for fans to gush over.
“cotton candy,” which debuted this morning is the fourth single to be released from the upcoming album, and is a romantic tinged pop track with a prominent and groovy baseline that tells the story of battling monogamy and finding your way through the world while battling societal norms in every way possible- from religion to relationships.
An artist who isn’t afraid to experiment, “cotton candy” showcases a softer side of the singer who’s last release “god save me, but don’t drown me out” tackled mental illness by way of soft punk and rock elements. Both tracks will be available on Weird! out November 13th.
“Earthworm (2020 Remastered)” by TANDM
A track dedicated to the underdogs, the artists who aren’t respected by their “friends,” or anyone else who has ever been doubted when sharing their career goals, “Earthworm (2020 Remastered)” is the newest take on TANDM’s previously released single.
Adding a bit of pep and increased guitar presence to their track “Earthworm” that debuted earlier this year, the 2020 Remastered edition helps listeners feel the happy-go-lucky the duo presents when discussing their future musical endeavors.
“We believe that financial income should not be a reason to dismiss a passion as an unworthy career path,” the band shared. “There is beauty and emotions that resonate from the arts, unlike anything else, that deserve recognition and respect.”
We couldn’t agree more. Pay artists more- respect musicians- and don’t ever stop rocking.
You can stream all of the above tracks now, via our Spotify playlist below or check them out wherever you stream music.
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