Blondshell: “Cartoon Earthquake”
NYC native and LA-based artist Blondshell has been my top artist to watch for months now, and with good reason. Her debut single, which first caught my ear this June, already has over one million streams on Spotify and was met by great reviews by bigger music publications like Pitchfork. After hearing her first three singles, I was highly anticipating her next single, a Spotify Single titled, “Cartoon Earthquake,” and, although this is only her fourth officially released song, I think it’s her best yet. Blondshell’s style mixes classic indie with more intense rock sounds—gritty guitar solos and hard hitting drums, and this song is no different. Soaring vocals are her strong suit, and they perfectly capture her raw emotion. The lyrics are intoxicating, dramatic and unfiltered, as she wears her heart on her sleeve. Blondshell notes, in an interview with Spotify Artists, “I wanted the earthquake metaphor to be as dramatic as possible, because in real life I was trying to play it cool.” Her music is perfect for music listeners who love a mix of indie with classic rock and who require a good song to have captivating lyrics.
Alice Phoebe Lou: “Glow”
Alice Phoebe Lou is no rookie in the music industry; originally from Cape Town, South Africa, she’s been releasing music for about 8 years, releasing her first album in 2016. However, her most recent albums Glow and Child’s Play are reaching unprecedented success for her as a solo artist. “Glow,” the title track of her second most recent album, has become one of my favorite indie songs over the past few weeks. It starts off with an infectious guitar riff that grabs your attention, her voice following the melody for the rest of the song. It ends with an experimental myriad of sounds, as if the guitar is encountering sharp feedback at a live show. The rest of the album successfully captures Lou’s range, showcasing the many genres that she weaves together in her music and always keeping the listener engaged. Overall, it’s an easily enjoyable indie record, perfect as background music at dinner party or during an evening journaling session. She’s currently on tour and coming to New York City in December,so if you haven’t listened yet, let this be your excuse to catch up!
Mychelle: “Tightrope”
London based singer-songwriter Mychelle reveals her undeniable talents in her new single,“Tightrope,” released just last week. She started releasing music only last year, and has already been featured on some of Spotify’s most popular editorial playlists, such as Fresh Finds R&B and Acoustic Soul. Her most recent single first caught my attention because she has one of those rare voices that is as smooth as butter. Once you listen a bit more closely, you start to appreciate her mixing of genres, mostly R&B and jazz with hints of reggae. Smooth drums and a piano melody that anchor the song, reminding you of your favorite jazz classics while still feeling very of-the-times. The music video for the song effortlessly captures Black joy and community, and I love the celebration of the Black community in all of her artistic ventures. Listening to her music makes you feel like you’re having your favorite glass of wine at a dimly lit jazz club, and after listening to her discography, I think her most recent single captures this vibe best.
MARIS: “Was it a Dream”
Typically, with a discography of only two songs, it’s hard to get a tangible grasp on what an artist is all about; however, MARIS has used those two songs to make a strong debut on her artist project. She originally put herself on the map by touring with Postmodern Jukebox, a collective of artists known for performing covers, after auditioning on American Idol. Now, she’s working on her own music and gearing up to tour her discography as an opening act next year. MARIS has a refreshing take on bedroom pop, especially in the newer of her two singles “Was It a Dream.” This song is full of fun synth scales and arpeggios, the chorus pops with punchy synthetic percussion and guitar riffs, and it reminds me of songs by my favorite women-led pop acts like MUNA and Caroline Polachek. Usually with bedroom pop I’m not expecting to hear vocals that will cause me to rewind and listen closer, but MARIS does just that, adding her vocal riffs and harmonies to a song that doesn’t necessarily need them but thrives because of it. Keep your eye out for her first EP, anticipated to be released in early 2023.
Zoe Kypri: “MAZE”
If you’re looking for an artist that reminds you of the classic R&B your parents would play on Sunday mornings growing up, Zoe Kypri is perfect for you. Collaborating with multi-instrumentalist and producer Jay Wilcox on her most recent single “MAZE,” she releases a song with musicality that touches your core. This song is as classically R&B as it gets, relying on the artist’s soulful voice, a cozy keyboard melody, and soft drums. Her voice, which is really the strong point of this song, rides over a catchy beat that mixes an addictive melodic synthesizer with striking acoustic piano chords. What I love most about this song is just how groovy it is; it makes you want to make a stank face as you sway and bop to the music, and gets your body moving.