Clockwise from top left: LOLAA, Kyle Lux, Beanz, Spacey Jane, Salt Ashes, and BAYLI with ILoveMakonnen.

LOLAA collaborates with Sin Color’s Crisia Regalado to create “Bésame,” a song about the beginning stages of a new relationship, while we round out the best new music of the week with Beanz’s early aughts hip-hop, the synth-pop serenade of Salt Ashes and awesome tracks by Kyle Lux, Spacey Jane and BAYLI. Here are this week’s gems.

Salt Ashes, “Too Many Times” — Synth-pop artist Salt Ashes released her newest song “Too Many Times” to talk about her personal anxieties. It’s almost like she’s trapped inside her own head and can’t get out, causing her to spiral into oblivion. The track’s rhythm is similar to that of a musical jewelry box, with porcelain ballerinas that would spin around in circles endlessly. At one point, it even sounds like the clicking key that comes from winding up a music box. The song takes a darker turn in terms of the instrumentation close to the end, evocative of those used in horror movies while ending on the same high note on which the song starts. 

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Beanz featuring Benny The Butcher, “As Seen on TV” — Beanz channels early 2000s hip-hop on her new single, “As Seen on TV.” The collaboration with Benny The Butcher came out of mutual respect for each other from shared experience in the East Coast underground rap scene. Both artists talk about how what you see is what you get with them; no hidden agendas. They flow through the horns on the track with ease, creating a back-and-forth between them and the brass.

Kyle Lux, “I Went Out” — Kyle Lux celebrates being able to go out and see friends again with “I Went Out.” His love for funk really comes out on the track with the beat and synths. The song carries elements of house music, too, in the vocals. Sometimes they’re layered on top of each other; other times they sound staticky, almost like Kyle Lux is singing to you over the phone. He heads into a lighter feel with the song, which reflects a lot of people’s feelings about things starting to return to normal. Finally being able to go out with your friends after so long is something we can all celebrate, and this song is the perfect sound for it.

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Spacey Jane, “Lots of Nothing” — Spacey Jane’s “Lots of Nothing” is about working through the parts you don’t like about yourself and trying to find peace with who you are. The track has a nostalgic, comforting quality to it with guitar riffs that are reminiscent of summer, balanced with the punchy drumming. The group created a song to which many can relate—especially during the pandemic—since a lot of us had more time to reflect internally and try to figure out who we want to be. The song helps make listeners feel less lonely because it’s reassuring to hear that you aren’t the only one going through this period of growth. 

LOLAA featuring Crisia Regalado, “Bésame” — “Bésame” is perfect for your next dance party, whether it’s solo or with friends. Sisters Lex Valentine and Nadia Valerie King, along with Sin Color’s Crisia Regalado, sing the entire song in Spanish. “Kiss Me” (the title’s translation) is all about the beginning of a relationship, when two people are trying to figure each other out. It’s about dancing that line between protecting your feelings while letting someone in. “Bésame” carries an ’80s aesthetic with the use of synths throughout. The percussion make it hard to not at least bop your head.

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BAYLI featuring ILoveMakonnen, “SICK!” — Brooklyn native BAYLI “SICK!” precedes her debut EP, stories from new york. She worked with ILoveMakonnen to create a track, inspired by New York Fashion Week, about being the freshest and coolest one around. It has a unique sound with pulsing bass and flute and you’ll have a hard time getting this out of your head after the first listen. The lyrics are filled with so many double entendres that each listen reveals a new meaning, making it a different experience.

Aarushi’s Pick: My favorite this week is “Bésame” by LOLAA and Crisia Regalado. Their voices are so unique and work together so well that I can’t get enough of this song. Even though I might not be able to fully understand the lyrics in Spanish, I’ve caught myself humming this song while doing my work. It feels like the perfect song for this summer, especially since disco and the ’80s are cool again with people bringing back rollerskating and the fashion trends of that time.