Liz Cooper, courtesy.

Liz Cooper’s angsty punk anthem, mazie’s nostalgic sound, Chloe Lilac’s dreaminess, Jetta’s philosophical outlook, KROY’s manic energy and Dana Williams’ retro R&B make up our favorite songs of the week.

Chloe Lilac, “Sick” — This biting new single appears on Chloe Lilac’s debut mixtape, when i feel better. Lilac compares toxicity in a relationship to physical sickness. The production gives the song a dreamlike quality that’s in stark contrast with the lyrics. She navigates feelings of inadequacy when her partner would avoid reassuring her feelings and manipulated her throughout the relationship. 

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Liz Cooper, “Hot Sass” — Liz Cooper’s “Hot Sass” is an angsty punk anthem with a splash of rock. The fuzzy guitars are the base of this earworm. The tempo changes are a punk hallmark, which made Cooper’s tune a delight. Is this the same artist who made folky Americana just two years ago? Could have fooled us!

mazie, “people don’t change” — Angeleno mazie wrote this tune about relationships both platonic and romantic, and accepting people for who they are. There’s a nostalgic sound to the song since it starts with a ukulele. That invokes its sense of childlike innocence. She works through the idea that entering a relationship with someone is choosing to accept every part of that person, because they’re doing the same for you. 

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Dana Williams, “Sensitive” — Alt-R&B singer Dana Williams’ “Sensitive” speaks of loneliness and commitment issues. She leans into a retro sound, but it’s her voice that’s so captivating that it’s difficult to pay attention to anything else. The track has a stripped sound that allows you to to fully take in what Williams is singing about. The song’s a back-and-forth of protecting your feelings but still wanting to put yourself out there. 

Jetta, “Honey” — “Honey” is Londoner Jetta’s newest track. The self-produced song conveys the simultaneous feelings of loss and yearning. It’s Jetta’s interpretation of 17th century Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo’s signature line: “A pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” Jetta conveys these feelings in a way where one doesn’t dominate the other, so everyone can feel the limbo of wanting someone but knowing it would end badly. The combination of the piano with the synths adds a new dimension to the song.

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KROY, “Ryan Atwood” —  KROY’s “Ryan Atwood” captures the God complex some people get after consuming drugs or alcohol. The song offers manic energy with all tempo changes, metallic synths, thumping bass and Auto-Tuned vocals. The club bop also has a fun buildup to the drop. KROY’s music tends to be of the dark-pop persuasion and “Ryan Atwood” is no exception, with the glitched-out sound for which the genre is known.

Aarushi’s Pick: My favorite is Liz Cooper’s “Hot Sass.” I love the sound of her voice, which complements the sound so well. I watched “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” recently, and this feels like it would be a great addition to the film’s soundtrack.

Follow Aarushi Nanda at Twitter.com/aarushi_nanda.