Bôa (Jasmine Rodgers, Alex Caird and Lee Sullivan), courtesy Freddie Stisted.

An introspective orchestral rock ballad from bôa, optimistic campfire jam from Ra Ra Riot, comforting synth-wave from Washed Out, emo rock by Carly Cosgrove, culture-blending electronic dance music from Barry Can’t Swim, late-night surf rock by Thin Lear and a jazz and EDM hybrid by Dex Green are all featured in this week’s Tuesday Tracks.

bôa, “Beautiful & Broken” — A drum-driven song, “Beautiful & Broken” is an honest reflection on one’s imperfections and singer Jasmine Rodgers’ struggles, but with an optimistic perspective. Rodgers, also bôa’s songwriter and guitarist—and daughter of Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers—acknowledges her own trauma and how she’s recovered with an appreciation for the beauty that comes along with the pain in a broken world. The tight beat and clean rolling guitar lines are paired with airy strings and an accenting piano, giving the track its large orchestral sound.

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Ra Ra Riot, “The Wish” — Ra Ra Riot just released its first new music in five years. The New Englanders wrote “The Wish” with veteran producer and former Vampire Weekend member Rostam Batmanglij, a long-time collaborator and friend. This happy tune imagines what life could be. The folky acoustic guitar lines guide us through a comforting image. “And if we could share another hour underneath the blankets that warm us by the fire,” they sing.

Washed Out, “The Hardest Part” — The first peek from Notes from a Quiet Life, out June 28, this song shows Ernest Greene still has his signature sound intact. It’s paired with a fat beat and optimistic-sounding acoustic guitar melody. Like most songs in this style, it’s a great nighttime driving tune. The comforting lyrics make it a little less lonely on those dark, wide open roads. Also of note: The video is the first to use OpenAI’s Sora to generate its visuals.

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Carly Cosgrove, “You Old Dog” — Philadelphia rock band Carly Cosgrove explores how difficult it is to get out of the ruts we put ourselves in; old dogs just don’t want to learn new tricks. The no-nonsense vocals don’t hold back, and they pair well with the grungy bass driving alongside the shredding, slightly scratchy guitar. This creates a sound of frustration that goes along with the lyrics about the obstacles that arise when trying to change later in life.

Barry Can’t Swim, “Kimbara” — This high-energy interpolative track uses repetitive vocal samples—of legendary Cuban artist Celia Cruz on her 1974 recording “Quimbara”—as well as pulsing bass, rising brass and a thumping four-on-the-floor beat with a Latin feel that all comes together to subconsciously make you move. The meaning of the the original song’s title was “having fun,” a thread Barry Can’t Swim’s Joshua Mainnie picks up here with this electronic, culture-blending track.

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Thin Lear, “Bowie’s Ley Lines” — New Jersey artist Matt Longo has said, “This tune chronicles a bleary-eyed night of teenage euphoria on the beach.” The driving distorted guitar lines are the reckless internal motor that drives the song. Add another, cleaner-sounding guitar and etherial keys on top of that to represent the youthful wonder and hope that comes from the whole world waiting to be explored. The song is from his forthcoming EP, A Beach of Nightly Glory. Come for the party, stay for the David Bowie references.

Dex Green, “It’s Only the End of the World” — Nashville’s Dex Green is led by jazzy keys, squishy synth, expressive organ, funky drumming and Green’s soulful vocals. These sounds all join together to create this groovy and a little-bit-out-there dance tune. It’s the first single from his debut album, Imaginary War, out on June 28. Expect more soulful, heart-pounding dance songs to come!

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Peter’s Pick: bôa’s “Beautiful & Broken” is my pick for the first week of May. This single’s large sound pairs perfectly with its heavy subject. Bôa explores some realities while ultimately focuses on the wonderful things that exist alongside the pain. The lyrics and instrumentals both express this dichotomy and allow you to choose the perspective from which you can view the world.