Bug Crush, courtesy.

This week’s edition contains a diverse mix with garage rock from bug crush, warm dub from Pachyman, soulful R&B by Naomi Sharon, an alternative jam by Jawny, uplifting outdoor disco from Poolside and Satin Jackets, modern jazz fusion by corto.alto and a contemporary rendition of a Thai folk song by Salin.

bug crush, “Mikey Told Me” — Brooklyn band bug crush delivers a catchy garage rock tune with “Mikey Told Me.” Carolyn Fahrner’s lyrics reflect on repeatedly going around in circles with someone, or just with life in general. She’s said the song “ended up being a reflection of my experiences in the world.” Lyrics like, “I don’t want to battle, I just want to be me for now,” stick in my mind. The easygoing vocals hold subdued energy, perfectly paired with fuzzy guitars and heavy drumming. The song is from upcoming EP Somehow I Go in Circles All The Time.

Pachyman, “In Love” — The warm dub sound of Pachy Garcia (Pachyman) radiates through the speakers on his newest song. There’s a circular motion to it, passed through the dreamy-sounding instrumental. Garcia’s echoing voice sounds distant, adding to the hazy feel. The tone stays warm, evoking the euphoric daze that love can create. It’s easy to drift away to “In Love” and let it guide you to another place.

The latest from upcoming album Another Place does justice to the title. The album is set to release on May 23. Pachyman kicks off a handful of North American dates with Darkside on Friday at the Roseland in Portland before heading overseas in May and June.

Naomi Sharon, “Can We Do This Over” — A slow acoustic guitar opens this tune, soon joined by punchy snare strikes and Naomi Sharon’s disarming voice, setting a vulnerable tone. She co-wrote it with prolific contributor Justin Tranter. The lyrics are straightforward: “Can we do this over? Because I don’t want closure/ Let your heart soften, I’ll give you my shoulder.” Born and raised in the Netherlands, Sharon pulls influence from her Dutch and Caribbean heritage, creating a unique flavor of R&B. Her soft, yet powerful voice easily gets you invested into this emotional plea.

Catch Naomi Sharon at Outside Lands in August.

Jawny, “Control” — The first taste of an upcoming record by East Bay native Jacob Sullenger, better known as Jawny, marks the artist’s return to music. For a time, he was pursuing other interests like screenwriting, painting and traveling. Now he’s back, and he says that “Control” is the perfect song to represent this new chapter. A song about how everything eventually has to change, the song features squishy-sounding guitar strums, a fast beat, dampened piano and a mix of crystal-clear and lo-fi vocals. It all comes together to make for an infectious track.

Poolside and Satin Jackets, “Pull Together,” — Poolside (Jeffrey Paradise) lost his home and recording studio in the Malibu Hills during L.A.’s Franklin Fire. He’d recorded his 2023 album, Blame It All On Love, there. “Pull Together” is his first song since then, and it drives home the importance of support and resilience. Poolside teamed up with the German producer Satin Jackets to create this uplifting track. “Pull Together” features his signature daytime disco vibe, driven by a grooving beat, infectious brass hits, catchy guitar loops, low-buzzing bass and echoing keys.

corto.alto, “31. Bleep (01)” — As corto.alto, Glasgow composer Liam Shortall makes fuses jazz, dub, electronica, hip-hop, broken beat and punk. His latest is a perfect example. This modern jazz fusion track pulls inspiration from dub and hip-hop, with syncopated beats, looping guitars licks, spiraling keys melodies and dynamic trombone and saxophone contributions that lead you on a journey.

Shortall challenged himself to record 108 tracks, and he released 30 of them over 30 days on 2024 collection 30/108. Although it wasn’t included on the album, “31. Bleep (01)” was the spark that started the entire project.

Salin, “Rammana” — Funk drummer Salin’s new song, the title track from her newly released album, pulls inspiration from a folk song of the Urak Lawoi, sea nomads of South Thailand, to mark the beginning and end of the rainy season. The folk song is an integral part of ceremonies, invoking the spirits with its hypnotic rhythms. This song has funky guitar chords, tight brass, mood-setting strings and chanting vocals that blend together under Salin’s mesmerizing percussion.

The album pays homage to her Thai heritage, blending traditional sounds with West African psychedelia. Salin kicks off a short string of shows at the Lodge Room in L.A. on June 15.

Peter’s pick: The clever songwriting and soft vocals on the new bug crush song blend together seamlessly with the grainy instrumental. This fuzzy rock track has been stuck in my head all week. It’s a testament to how well the different elements in “Mikey Told Me” are put together.