MUST LISTEN 043
Every week, we’ll be bringing you Must Listen: a series that's a compilation of rising artists along with songs that must be added to your everyday playlist. This week’s playlist consists of emerging acts like Sam Wave, Shinichiro Yokota, and Molly Burch. Turn up, tune in, and tune out!
Sam Wave - Yaya
“Yaya” or “You as You are” is Sam Wave’s latest single about which he states, “The one-take lyric made me feel like a foreigner when I first listened. I soon understood why it is called “You as You are.” The track, introspective yet sharp, is composed of twangy guitars, a moody keyboard, slow pulsating synth chords, and a driving drum set that keeps the rhythm going and your ears pleased.
Shinichiro Yokota - Do it Again
Japanese DJ, Shinichiro Yokota delivers a track fit for any runway show. The upbeat yet ethereal, serious yet glam essence of the song lends itself to be perfect for a fashion affair, a 90s Electronic house party, or just a nice night of work with some deep house adjacent music.
Touched - True Love
Touched has all the staples for a vintage classic: A 60s soft rock reminiscent track with a catchy smooth guitar riff, gorgeous soft keys, and drums that give it the glue loosed enough to make the record feel both grounded and out there at the same time. “True Love” on the back half does a gorgeous instrumental switch, bringing in reverbed horns and keys to play a melody introduced earlier in the song but without vocals, faintly driving the track home.
Molly Burch - Emotion (feat. Wild Nothing)
With the instrumental assistance of Wild Nothings, Molly Burch’s voice flies with the retro keys and electronic drum set, as she speaks of her experience on the timeless emotion of love which we eventually succumb to; a glitter-pop song that sounds like prom night all over again.
Zuli Jr. - How to Feel
Delivering compelling vocals over a pop-orientated trap beat, Zuli Jr. manages to tap into the best of both aforementioned worlds. A love song about growing from heartbreak; the visuals portray a man singing and dancing through a VR headset, matching well with the mood of the track.
Cherokee - Feel Good
Cherokee is a group of producers/DJs from France that created work under the French Wave genre, often credited with fusing elements of deep & french house. The influence is apparent in this latest release, “Feel Good” with the four on the floor kick drum, looping sample, and vocoder for good measure.
Linkwood & Other Lands - Meet in the Middle
Newly formed electronic/producer duo Linkwood & Other Lands deliver a soothing laid-back anthem. The low hum of percussion creates an auditory baseline, while the reverbed guitars and vocals echo throughout and fill in the track, with stammers of keys mocking the hook to echo the change in melody. This track is off Linkwood & Other Lands’s new record, Face the Facts.
Ray Alex - FADE EVENTUALLY
Ray Alex seems to take cues from pop/R&B artists of the early 2000s in his delivery of falsetto vocals, while his production takes cues from both Timbaland and underground producers like Oddisee. The hazy vocals are a nice juxtaposition to the jittery drums, and the smooth horns alongside the haunting backing vocals round out the track.
Tems- The Key
Fast-rising singer, songwriter, and producer Tems has premiered an out-of-this-world video for "The Key." Taken from her critically adored debut EP, For Broken Ears, the cinematic UAX-directed visual finds the Nigerian songstress as our triumphant leader on a mission to save the world.