This week has been an especially heavy one.
With the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last night, wildfires engulfing the west coast, and the continued raging of the coronavirus that has shut down the music industry for the foreseeable future, it seems as though this week has been a perfect culmination of 2020: dreadful.
But, despite the constant state of anxiety that is provided by our daily doses of news, this week has also been one full of new music- a lot of which perfectly encapsulates the same fears and weaknesses we are all experiencing, or takes those fears and flips them on their heads to create anthemic empowerment, positivity, and worry-be-gone tunes.
So in classic New Music fashion, we are happy to present our New Music Friday playlist- one day late, but full of music that will get you out of your head and into the world of some of our favorite artists, including Elder Brother, Flight Club, Dani Kristina, The Kelseys, and more.
You can check out our picks for best new music of the week below, and be sure to check out our full September New Music playlist, linked at the bottom.
A smooth indie acoustic driven track, “Projector” is the latest look into Elder Brother’s upcoming album “I Won’t Fade On You.”
A song about longing for guidance after a relationship has turned sour and the desire to be left alone, “Projector” is, in essence, a song about heartbreak. And while it’s not a song to throw on and dance to, it is the perfect track for a morning in, curled up under a blanket with a cup of coffee. The best kinds of fall mornings are the ones where you can listen to Elder Brother in peace, and this track, however somber, is one of the best.
“Save The World” by The Kelseys
Inspired by the current state of the world and Senator Bernie Sanders’ dedication to tackling climate change, “Save The World” is the first of an eight track release by Michigan natives The Kelseys.
An indie pop track, “Save The World,” is the perfect song to throw on when you are getting ready for the day and need a pick-me-up to help you get in the positive mindset of crushing whatever lies ahead. With funky guitar riffs and a catchy beat making the song an easy one to dance to paired with lyrics that are quick to get stuck in your head, “Save the World” is one of our favorite new singles purely because it is so fun to listen to.
And though the song was written about the political climate in the world and wishing that there was an easy fix to make all of the harm stop, you can easily flip this song to be about anything in your daily life that may need saving and put yourself as the hero in your own story.
Sometimes we just need a good cry, and that is exactly what the latest single by Brooklyn based indie artist Middle Part is about.
Inspired by the singer’s own battle with mental health and struggle to balance relationships during his period of recovery and rebuilding, “& Cry!” is a reminder that it is okay not to be okay, and that letting yourself feel your emotions is not only healthy, but it’s normal.
“I think it’s supposed to be a very romantic plot but it has this dark side of not being entirely there if that makes sense,” Middle Part shares. “You want all these things, you think it’s great, but you’re mentally unfit to take it on. You don’t understand why, so just cry, it’s okay…I’m here.”
And as the first single off of his upcoming EP I Wish I Was Alive, “& Cry!” gives us high hopes for the future of Middle Part’s releases.
“You Don’t Get to Choose” by Dani Kristina
As the third single to be released by Toronto’s own Dani Kristina, “You Don’t Get to Choose” is about breaking free from a toxic relationship and finally getting to be yourself.
With soaring and beautifully controlled vocals, this song is a piano and string driven ballad that will leave you feeling empowered, ready to take the reins on your life and ready to love freely. It is a song that is perfect for anyone struggling to separate from a toxic entity- whether it be a past lover, friend, or even family member- to remind them that they are allowed to control their own destiny- even if it goes against the wishes of those around them.
Rising singer/songwriter Jacob Banks has the ability to completely captivate you with his vocals, and his latest single “Stranger” is no different.
Written about a relationship that has turned sour and thus resulted in both parties becoming strangers to one another, the lyrically simple yet potent track takes listeners headfirst into the vulnerable state of being heartbroken. With lines such as “once upon time we were the chorus,” and “no one makes it out alive,” paired with the track’s beautiful music video that showcases the visual feelings that come with drowning in pain and remorse following an inevitable yet reluctant separation, the song is haunting- in the best way. It forces you to confront your emotions head on, and brings you to realize that this pain is a normal part of life, despite how little we all wish to have felt it.
“There’s No Cure” by Nick Kingswell
Another somber one, “There’s No Cure” by Nick Kingswell is an emotional track about living with regret and trying to navigate the path towards moving on.
Released last week, the song is an honest and open conversation on past mistakes. Echoing the idea that “there is no cure for a man who’s had his chance before,” Kingswell couples a steady percussion track with a poignant bassline and piano melody to give listeners a feeling of calm while being met with the heartbreak and unfamiliarity that comes with knowing you can’t undo a past mistake and being unsure how to move back towards a sense of normalcy. It’s about unbreaking your own heart, and through the use of acknowledging your own shortcomings, leaves listeners hopeful that their discomfort is only temporary, as the first step to moving on is realizing your mistakes so that you don’t repeat them.
“Good About Everything” by Mike Edel
It’s especially difficult to find the good in the world when it seems like everything is on fire, but this new single by Mike Edel makes looking on the bright side feel a little easier.
Radiating positivity, “Good About Everything” is a pop track all about embracing the good times and soaking yourself up in the fun and happiness you feel to help block out the bad. Written after spending a night with close friends, Edel co-wrote the track to remind listeners that life still has good moments, even when it feels like everything is crashing down around you.
“‘Good About Everything’ embraces contentment in the present, and while inflated house prices, our unknown futures, the US immigration system and traffic get us down on the daily,” Edel shared. “Let’s focus on the good: good people, good friends, good lovers.”
This song is especially important this week, so turn it up loud and start reminiscing on those good old days.
When the world feels especially heavy and life gets difficult it is easy to get lost within your own mind and find yourself longing for the past- especially the days before adulthood when you could let loose and not care about what lays ahead. And those feelings are exactly what Flight Club tackle in their new energetic single “Adolescence.”
All about struggling to stay grounded and solidified in your current reality, “Adolescence” is a pop rock track that longs for a sense of stability and contentment while battling the mundanity of growing up. Living in a world full of political contentment, a never ending fight for equality and struggling to “make it” when everything seems to be constantly working against you is terrifying, but Flight Club use this track to show that they’ve felt that way too, and they want listeners to know they aren’t alone in their struggles.
A track written about singer Lomon’s battles with sobriety, “Escape Velocity” is a dreamy look into the world of recovery and how difficult it is to break free of the cycle of addiction.
With electronic/synth sounds giving the track a hypnotic 90s feel, the track dives into Lomon’s mind and gives listeners an abstract but honest retelling of his own battles.
But while the song is in essence about failing to stay on the path to recovery, it doesn’t leave listeners feeling defeated. Instead, it showcases Lomon’s optimism about turning a new leaf and getting back on the sobriety train- even if it’s not as easy as “just stop,” he refuses to give up, and gives listeners a push to keep on their own paths to success- whether it be to recovery, career wise, or other personal struggles. Failing is part of getting better, and just because you fail doesn’t mean you need to give up.
A happy sounding pop track, “Hiccup” is the latest single by Toronto based band Valley. Reminiscing on a relationship that has since expired, “Hiccup” navigates through the feeling of missing a past partner and wondering what they are up to while you are at home wishing you could turn back time.
With fun indie inspired guitars and synthesizers that give the track an extra kick, the track brings listeners on a journey through nostalgia. Confronting the darker moments of regret and sadness that come after a breakup with a light tone, “Hiccup.” makes you want to take a long drive with the windows down and relive some of your life highlights- even if that means remembering times with someone you no longer speak to.
“Handsomer” by Molly Moore and Maty Noyes
“I don’t need a man, I just need a manicure,” is sure to become the new anthem for women around the world this week following the release of the post-breakup anthem “Handsomer” by powerhouse duo Molly Moore and Maty Noyes.
Inspired by the idea of reclaiming your femininity and putting yourself first following a breakup, all while quelling the post-split sadness by reminding yourself that you are a badass, “Handsomer,” is a pop anthem with a hint of 90s R&B that will have you bopping along before your first listen even ends. It throws all negativity out the window and leaves listeners feeling empowered and ready to take on the world one pedicured step at a time.
In a world that makes living feels like a constant state of anxiety and monotony, “Make Time” by Tired Kid is here to remind you to find the beauty in the little things.
From appreciating the small and mundane aspects of life from having a good cup of coffee to working a 9-5 when others may be struggling to even find a job, “Make Time” reminds listeners that despite what you may be feeling in the moment, “you’ve turned out alright,” and that you are not alone in how you feel.
With a country tinge to the guitar and indie inspired vocals, this track is perfect for getting you back on your feet and out of a clouded state of mind- something we can all use a bit more of this year.
You can stream all of the above tracks now, wherever you stream music, and be sure to check out our full playlist of September releases, linked below.
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