MUST LISTEN 064
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 CHILDCARE, Chuala, and Cookkii. Turn on, tune in, and zone out.
South London-based band CHILDCARE releases its latest single “Little Secret,” a precursor to the group’s sophomore album titled Busy Busy People set to release this September. Inspired by conversations with the band’s friends, the vivacious track is “like a smoothie mix of lots of different people’s secrets, blended for your pleasure.”
With a hook as catchy as ever, Chuala delivers “wake up!” - a satirically written and hypnotizing melody critiquing society’s neverending climb to success and grind culture. “I felt very cynical when writing this song and chose the repetition in the lyrics to showcase the repetitive routines many people follow until they die,” says Chuala. The track is the second single leading up to her forthcoming project, me and chu.
“our love” is the infectious future-pop track we can’t get enough of. Delving into the experience of unrequited love with Y2K realness, the promising artist explains, “The song came from imagining a scenario where a person is so obsessed with someone over social media that they start creating a relationship in their head as a result.” The fun-loving single is the first since the release of her debut project, blossom.
LOVER’s latest single “Palm Reader'' is an ode to the most important people in our lives. The Sydney-based artist shares that, “Lyrically I was thinking about how the people close to you are often way more perceptive to the path you are going down.” Written alongside Nick Ward and produced by Sam Gidley and Les Priest of LANY, the track is accompanied by an equally captivating visual directed, produced, and edited by himself and collaborator Jayemol.
Off his upcoming sophomore EP Cirque du Freak, Junior Mesa shares the second single titled “Paranoia Dreams,” a gritty psychedelic-pop track with fuzzy vocals and heavy percussion. Out via Nice Life Recording Company, “Paranoia Dreams” is a reflection of his experience with anxiety and the overwhelming paranoia that can come along with it.
Ahead of his upcoming 12-track self-titled album, Del Water Gap releases his latest single “Hurting Kind.” Stemming from a heartbreak the singer had once experienced, he dwells on the feelings of being in love and in pain altogether - trying to gain some sense of self back. In addition to the release is a stunning visual in collaboration with Charlie Plummer, located in the mountains of Montana.
The first single off Squirrel Flower’s latest album Planet (i), “Hurt A Fly” is a grungy ballad written from the perspective of a narcissistic and gaslighting lover. “I wanted to see what it was like to be a character trying to skirt around accountability,” she says. “It’s an angry and unhinged song, and for the video, I wanted to be inside a bubble writhing around and trying to get out.”
Joining forces with fellow Australian native KUČKA, flowerkid begins a new era of his artistry through the release of “It’s Happening Again.” Reminiscing on difficult times and feeling out of control, the song comes as a piece of healing for flowerkid. “In the times of finding myself, I’ve had to lose myself first. And I’ve finally found that this loss of control was absolutely necessary.”
Brooklyn-based artist Spencer. shares his latest single “Lonely as I Ever was” alongside the announcement of his debut album Are U Down? via label 4AD. Referencing Erykah Badu’s “Next Lifetime,” Spencer. assumes the other position of her story, “begging someone in a relationship to consider a relationship with you”. Integrating elements of neo-soul, pop, and hip-hop, Spencer. tells a story all too familiar of chasing unrequited love.