Clockwise from top left: Destroy Boys, BLACKSTARKIDS, Reva DeVito, iamnotshane, Hand Habits and Juice.

BLACKSTARKIDS make you feel like you’re the star of your very own coming-of-age movie in this week’s Tuesday Tracks, which also include the airy melodies of Reva DeVito and Midas Hutch, the righteous anger of Destroy Boys, identity questioning of Hand Habits, pop-punk of Juice and a truth bomb by iamnotshane.

iamnotshane, “Punch Me in the Face” — Los Angeles artist iamnotshane’s latest single “Punch Me in the Face,” is a song about needing a real friend to tell you right from wrong. It’s a feeling that a lot of people can relate to—in a world full of fake people, the value of just one real friend is priceless. The indie pop feel is balanced by the upbeat melody and serious lyrics. It’s a really easy song to dance to, with the claps dispersed alongside the funky bass line.

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Juice, “Superimposed” — “Superimposed” is about how difficult it is to ruminate over an ex. The song looks at the issue through 20/20 vision of pandemic isolation. The sentiment of going crazy while remembering lost details of a relationship only exacerbates those same feelings. There are pop-punk influences throughout, with guitar and bass line that reminds me of early Fall Out Boy.

Reva DeVito featuring Midas Hutch, “One Shot” — Reva DeVito and Midas Hutch come together on “One Shot,” driving home the point that you have to live your life to the fullest. It’s the perfect song for summer because of the airy melodies and lyrics that encourage listeners to “shoot their shot.” DeVito’s soulful voice adds another layer to the song. After a whole year of being indoors, it’s easy to convince people to go out and live their life, and this song does just that.

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Destroy Boys, “Locker Room Bully” — Destroy Boys redefine the West Coast punk scene with “Locker Room Bully.” The group is all about social justice, especially about issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community. True to the history of punk, Destroy Boys take a political stand for what they believe in and challenge establishment. The track is a product of the anger and sadness, as front person Alexia Roditis felt this past year. They stay true to punk’s roots with the angry material, fast tempo and guitar riffs. It has such an wrathful sound to it that the lyrics are just begging to be screamed.

BLACKSTARKIDS, “JUNO” — BLACKSTARKIDS’ “JUNO” is a single from their debut album, Puppies Forever. The track has a nostalgic feel since it sounds a lot like it belongs on the soundtrack of an early 2000s coming-of-age movie. The Kansas City band combines classic rock guitar riffs with more modern beats influenced by hip-hop to create their unique sound.

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Hand Habits, “Aquamarine” — Meg Duffy, also known as Hand Habits, announced their upcoming album, Fun House, and released lead single “Aquamarine.” The track covers questions about identity, leaving many unanswered. They layered the vocals with synths to obfuscate from the deeply personal lyrics. It allows people to listen to the song without having to focus and digest the meaning of the words every time they listen. The song may overcome you at times.

Aarushi’s Pick: I loved “JUNO” by BLACKSTARKIDS. Nostalgic songs that remind me of my childhood get a leg up, but “JUNO” especially stood out because of how masterfully the group captured the early 2000s sound. BLACKSTARKIDS are paving the way with their unique way of combining nostalgia with new sounds, making you feel like you’re the star of your very own coming-of-age movie.

Follow reporter Aarushi Nanda at Twitter.com/aarushi_nanda.