Sly5thAve, courtesy.

Paula Cole and Sly5thAve pay tribute to their mentors and friends, August Charles presents a soulful examination of isolation, benches play dirty alt-rock, SG Lewis and Chloé Caillet go clubbing, Blue Lab Beats whip up feel-good jazz fusion, and Bibi Club and Nightbus showcase their takes on psychedelic rock.

Sly5thAve featuring Daniel Wytanis, “Big Brother” — Brooklyn composer Slyvester Onyejiaka, aka Sly5thAve, takes us on an emotional journey with “Big Brother.” The song is a tribute to his mentors Robert “Sput” Searlight and Nate Werth, the percussion duo from Snarky Puppy, as well as Ghost Note member and engineer Ben Burget. Searlight and Werth play on the track. You hear them kick the song off with their bright conga strikes alongside the strings and keys. Coming full circle, “Big Brother” peaks with a smooth and heavy-hitting trombone solo by Sly5thAve’s own pupil, Daniel Wytanis.

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August Charles, “I Can See” — This is the the final single from August Charles’ debut EP, Blessed. He’s said it “addresses both the pain and anger associated with being perceived as different from a young age.” Born in Zambia and raised in England, he’s describing the isolation he felt as a kid. August’s deeply soulful vocals cut right through you, highlighted by simple yet meaningful piano notes and guitar chords. This is his first EP, but with how clearly his voice expresses his feelings, it sounds like August Charles has been singing forever.

benches, “Native” — SoCal dirty rock band benches says, “Our heart is rooted in defining the sound of bittersweet.” The punchy beat and fuzzy bass lines of “Native” present that euphoric rock feeling. On the other hand, the squealing guitar and whining vocals counter with a sense of anxiety and sadness. The end result is perfectly bittersweet. Benches will be coming to San Francisco’s August Hall on April 24 (supporting I don’t Know How But they Found Me).

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SG Lewis featuring Chloé Caillet, “Costa” — SG Lewis premiered his new record label Forever Days with a disco house collaboration with Chloé Caillet. “Costa” is the perfect way to kick off his dance imprint. The four-on-the-floor beat paired with wobbling bass and hopping synth creates the perfect club track that doesn’t try to do too much but stays interesting.

Blue Lab Beats, “Guava” — This Caribbean-influenced jazz fusion cut is full of feel-good sounds. “Guava” is one half of a double single, along with “Take Time,” from their upcoming album, Blue Eclipse. The climbing guitar riff locks you in while the uplifting brass gets you moving. The horns and the sax are the leads of “Guava.” Their back-and-forth is a satisfying listen with every note coming out so clean.

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Paula Cole, “The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr” — Paula Cole’s new album, Lo, is examination of life and the hardships we go through. She explores how we can handle it by getting vulnerable.  The song is a tribute to mentor, producer and friend, the late Mark Hutchins. Cole reflects on how she wishes she didn’t lose him so soon. She wants to pay him back for all he showed her, and play him the music she’s made. The folky percussion, paired with bluesy guitar and organ, express her longing without her having to sing a word.

Bibi Club, “L’île aux bleuets” — Montreal Francophile duo Bibi Club’s new song is from its next album, Feu de garde. This psychedelic industrial rock track has an infectious, driving beat, with 808s galore. The guitar lines pick up the melody and the two sounds blend together. Adèle Trottier-Rivard’s soothing vocals fit nicely over this rock track.

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Nightbus, “Average Boy” — The new tune by England’s Nightbus brings psychedelic rock together with electronic production. It’s the perfect song to put on for a late-night drive with its dark, calming tones. The receptive, dreamy riffs capture the song’s theme of being lost trying to find yourself among the noise. “Average Boy” encourages you to take that drive and reflect on what it is you’re working toward.

Peter’s Pick: The arrangement and instrumentals on the cool jazz track by Sly5thAve and Daniel Wytanis make for such an entertaining listen. The strings, percussion, keys, sax and brass come together and complement each other so well.