Tuesday Tracks: Florrie, French Cassettes and Sam Evian
This week in Tuesday Tracks, we bring you soul from Genia, pop and rock by Sam Evian, Imogen Clark, French Cassettes and Florrie, and the return of Scottish band Travis!
Genia, “Let Me Wander” – Genia was working at Walmart and studying to be a nurse when lockdowns interrupted her plans. She was posting covers on TikTok when her take on Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” went viral. On “Let Me Wander,” she raps and she sings (she hits some Beyoncé level notes here) over a skipping beat. She calls it an “anthem for the stuck.” It will definitely get stuck in your head! Genia is only going to get bigger from here. She’s been working with Grammy-winning producer and engineer Jaycen Joshua and says more new music is on the way.
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Sam Evian, “Jacket” – Sam Evian has worked with Big Thief, Blonde Redhead, Cass McCombs and more in his Catskills studio as a producer and engineer. Now he’s made his own album, recording with friends live to tape for that warm fuzzy sound. “Jacket” has a definite Beatles-esque sound with its fuzzy guitar playing and backing vocals. Overall, it’s a delightful little slice of baroque pop. His album, Plunge, (so named because he and the band took daily cold plunges during recording) is out now.
Imogen Clark, “Squinters” – Imogen Clark says that in her native Australia, some commuters in West Sydney are called “squinters” because they’re forced to stare into the sun on their way home. “Squinters” is about the life she could have led if she hadn’t found the courage to leave her hometown to pursue her music dreams. She started studying opera singing at 8, and though by 12 she’d switched her focus to guitar and piano, you can definitely hear it in her voice. The Art of Getting Through is out on May 31.
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French Cassettes, “White Noise” – San Francisco’s French Cassettes are back with a new drummer and a new album. They’re one of the Bay Area’s best live rock bands – if you haven’t heard them yet, click and be swept away by their charm! Full of melody and guitar jangle, their sound is irresistible and fun. Their third album, Benzene, is out June 7.
Travis, “Gaslight” – Scottish band Travis returns with a new album this summer, working with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air, Phoenix). Singer Fran Healy said he wrote this song after hearing that “gaslight” was the most searched word in the world: “I’ll be doing fine until you shine,” Healy sings in character as the gaslighter on the chorus. With piano and horns, the music is sunny even while the topic is a little dark – classic Travis. L.A. Times is out July 12.
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Florrie, “The Lost Ones” – Florrie has been part of Xenomania, the English songwriting and production team, since 2010. She says her debut album has been “12 years in the making,” and it sounds like it’s going to be worth the wait. “The Lost Ones” has a perfect pop sound, with synths, guitar and upbeat drumming. With inspirational lyrics like: “We’re the lost ones, yeah/ It’s a jungle, yeah/ Our thorns are buried deep but we see beauty in our dreams/ And we’re broken yeah/ But we’re hopeful yeah,” many will relate to this tune. The Lost Ones is due out June 14.
Rachel’s pick: Florrie, “The Lost Ones” – This song is so uplifting and catchy! When you hear that Florrie is part of the production group behind multiple U.K. hit songs for artists like Girls Aloud and Kylie Minogue, it all makes sense. Also, the video is interspersed with clips of Florrie singing and playing music as a kid, which is really cool to see.
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