It is once again another quarantine Friday. And though the state of the world may be gloomy, today’s new releases are anything but.
With new songs from Dance Gavin Dance, PVRIS, Via Fiori and more, we have compiled some of our favorite new tracks for you to check out and add to your ever growing quaran-tunes playlists.
Be sure to check out all our new favorites below, and save our full list of quarantine releases via our Spotify Playlist, linked at the bottom.
Via Fiori – “Don’t Bother”
Earlier this week we published a full post on why we love Via Fiori, but for those who missed it and are looking for more info: Via Fiori is the new solo project of Jake Bundrick, best known as the drummer of iconic emo band, Mayday Parade.
Following the release of “Call to Arms,” and “I Need This More,” earlier this month, “Don’t Bother” is the third solo single to be released by Bundrick under his new moniker.
Similar to the two previous releases, “Don’t Bother” is a pop-rock track, however unlike the other songs, the new single is the most “Mayday Parade sounding” track- very reminiscent of the band’s album “Black Lines.”
That being said, though, Via Fiori has a certain flair that makes all three singles unique and separates the solo project from Mayday, giving fans of the band even more, different sounding music to love.
Jo MacKenzie – “Lose My Face”
Written by 16-year-old singer/songwriter Jo Mackenzie, “Lose My Face” is an upbeat dance track that documents the singer’s desire to overcome her insecurities in order to “have a good time.”
The track is the second single to come from the singer this year, following “Suicide Season,” which dropped at the beginning of February and brought awareness to mental illness and seeking help.
And though as of now MacKenzie only has one EP under her belt, in addition to several singles, we are certain that she is not an artist you want to miss out on.
Mae Krell – “garden (stripped)”
Mae Krell first hit our radar with the release of their new single “garden” last month- a song all about growing and re-learning yourself after leaving a toxic or difficult situation.
Now, the singer/songwriter is back with a stripped down version of “garden,” removing the track’s keyboard backing track and replacing it solely with an acoustic guitar- giving the song a brand new vibe and showcasing their incredible solo vocals.
You can stream both versions of “garden” now, and check out the new video for the stripped version above.
Letters to Part – “Ascian”
“Ascian” is the latest sneak peak of Floridian rock band Letters to Part’s upcoming project.
The second single to be released off of their freshly announced EP “Mad’ouk,” which is set to release later this year, “Ascian” is a song about providing hope to those who may need it most.
With heavily ambient sounds, this track is driven by it’s instrumentals- specifically electric guitar, and backed by a steady percussion progression. It is a track you can listen to and get lost in while simultaneously soaking in the various musical elements and re-pondering it’s meaning with each repeat.
Perpetuals – “Passive Witness“
A song with a greater purpose, “Passive Witness,” is potentially one of the most meaningful tracks to be released this week.
As the brand new single from Philadelphia based alt-rock band Perpetuals, “Passive Witness” was written with the intention of inspiring listeners to do good and consider their place on Earth.
After being approached to write a song specifically about Earth Day (which was just two days ago), the trio got together to think of what the holiday meant to them and how they could use their musical abilities to impact change.
“Earth Day is an event that we all have experienced and enjoyed through our lives, but the message of Earth Day now seems to be so much more important to advocate for,” the band shared. “We found ourselves with an opportunity to write not just another song, but write a song that speaks volumes. We hope the passion found in the writing of this song resonates with every listener.”
As for how the track sounds, it features simple melodies and driving vocals/lyricism instead of favoring fancy instrumentals in an effort to drive the point of the song home and bring awareness to the environmental issues at hand.
Gillian – “High”
Reminiscent of early 2000s indie-pop, “High” is the lastest single from 16-year old singer, Gillian.
Inspired by a relationship the singer experienced, “High” is about feeling left alone in a time of need and confronting those uncomfortable feelings and having the difficult discussions needed to resolve what is turning into a failed relationship- romantic or platonic.
“The song took true emotions I was feeling in a relationship and created a story with them,” Gillian shared, “it’s about how addiction can affect a relationship.”
And though the track’s subject matter is on the darker side, “High” has a very catchy chorus, beautiful piano instrumentals, and a message that virtually all listeners can relate to. And, as the first single from Gillian’s upcoming album “3AM,” it gives us high hopes for what is to come.
WD-HAN – “Red Sun”
The latest single to come from trio WD-HAN, “Red Sun” could perhaps make it as THE indie song of the summer.
An upbeat track about the importance of taking chances despite the fear of failure or rejection, “Red Sun” is one of the happiest tracks on this week’s playlist and is one of our favorites.
With this new single, WD-HAN have proved once more that they are a band with staying power; and that despite their 12 year run, they’re still rocking.
And though this track was the first time the Florida based band made their way into our playlist, we are positive it will not be the last.
Dance Gavin Dance – “Afterburner”
While this is not a single, but rather a full album, we wanted to show some love to Dance Gavin Dance to honor the release of their ninth studio album, “Afterburner.”
The heaviest release to make our playlist, Dance Gavin Dance are a post-hardcore band that are known for their heavy contrast between clean vocals and well timed unclean vocals- provided by Tilian Pearson and and Jon Mess, respectively.
Despite several lineup changes over the years and a variety of experimental turns in their sound, Dance Gavin Dance have never been afraid to take chances, and “Afterburner” is just one more example of that.
PVRIS – “Gimme a Minute”
After announcing their track earlier yesterday afternoon, Massachusetts natives PVRIS dropped a surprise single titled “Gimme a Minute” at midnight.
An electronic-alternative fusion that spans multiple genres, this is a track you definitely don’t want to miss- and you can read our full thoughts here.
You can check out our full QUAREN-Tunes playlist below, and be sure to drop a comment and let us know which new song is your favorite.
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