MUST LISTEN 069
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 Beauty Queen, David Gabriel Thorpe, and Lewis OfMan. Turn on, tune in, and zone out.
Queen delivers a shoe-gazy dreamy post-break anthem with “Real Life.” The song reflects the real, emotional struggles we all go through when dealing with romantic relationships, each lyric sounding so personal yet relatable; a beautiful feat of songwriting and production.
“Summer Rain” is exactly what you think it sounds like: a reverbed mellow guitar and vocal line with a slick bassline slides through like rain boots on wet ground. Near the end of the song, we are introduced to a synth faintly chirping away in the background before the second guitar comes in to provide the chillest outro melody.
Producer Lewis OfMan’s “Siesta Freestyle” is the perfect bit of bedroom dream-pop for your summer Sundays playlist. A gentle but groovy tune that mixes influences from dance, pop, and bossa nova, to a unique Spanish-sung song about speaking to a lover in the form of beach-related similes.
LA group Crygeyser’s single “Too Much” off of their latest album Love is Land, is a unique yet familiar track that synthesizes new and old to create a hazy yet upbeat tune that both losses you and keeps your attention through its length. Pulling you to sonic peaks and valleys, as the vocals slowly float up and down the track with the backbeat of the drums and ghostly guitars, with synths that elevate you even higher before crashing back for the drop.
“Jackie” is reminiscent of early 2000s alt-rock but with impressively more stellar guitar riffs and solos to back. The video packs a unique punch as well, being increasingly weird, darling, and perplexing while visually communicating this twisted love song. As mentioned, the most stellar portions are when the guitar lets it rip and explodes with color and flare.
“Dig Up My Ex” by Song House Live contestant Caroline Carr is the third offering from the live-streamed music creator competition. Caroline Carr, a.k.a. @YeahImCaroline, is a 19-year-old content creator based in Dallas, Texas. Confident and in charge throughout the song with her laid-back approach, the singer’s vocals glide over the guitar and drum-heavy R&B swing.
When speaking about her music Racquel stated: “It’s a unique voice but one that anyone can understand. It’s the voice of undiplomatic gritty intelligence, relatable to all cultures, transcending pop cultural vernacular and ‘waves’. It’s the voice of powerful women made to feel powerless.” The video for her “Hurt” features Racquel painting an original piece of art on canvas including a time-lapse and a great display of the powerful finished piece at the end - all while simultaneously playing out a poignant relationship narrative.
Afro-American New Yorkers Bebi Monsuta aka ‘baby monster’ in Japanese - pull inspiration from their Caribbean roots and Japanese and Portuguese-Brazilian heritage. Their newest song, “808” pays homage to old school R&B, with layered melodies over a playful production paired with grainy, film-like visuals that bring the essence of the song into a full circle.
“16” is about BAYLI's mother's experience moving from the UK to NYC at a young age and the hardships she experienced through this process. The New York-based singer reminisces about the important lessons she was taught on an equally meaningful and beautiful song. Both Black and queer, BAYLI is a powerful voice for her communities.