Mereba

Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips.

Artists on platforms such as Spotify and Bandcamp are plentiful, and the radio offers a steady deluge of new singles, but who has time to sort through all that? RIFF does!

We pooled our resources to find some of the best new singles from all genres and backgrounds, so you can find your newest earworm without all the drama. Enjoy this week’s hidden gems:

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Haelos, “Buried in the Sand” — Hailing from London, this trip-hop quartet puts a staggered beat and a warbly bass line against solemn synth pads and spectral vocals. The contrast is purposeful. This track deals with the intersection of the digital and real worlds, and how humanity would change if electronics entirely took over its existence. The band deep-dived into its treasure trove of influences, taking from blues, dream pop and everything in between. The title “Buried in the Sand” stems directly from the strange musical amalgamation the band spontaneously created, but the overall concept flows fluidly from the immersive atmosphere.

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Citizen, “Open Your Heart” — This Ohio band effortlessly links distinct passages into a multifaceted emotional rollercoaster. Citizen bulks up its musicality with syncopated rhythmic trickery, gritty tremolo guitar riffs and even an orchestral conclusion. But its songwriting remains rooted in emotional intimacy. The crossover appeal for pop-punk kids and emo revivalists remains evident as intense chords and hard-hitting drums coincide with nuanced arrangements and thoughtful lyrics. It’s not too far outside of the style Citizen does best. But then again, the band didn’t get to the forefront of its scene by simply following the rules.

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Ready the Prince, “Torn Up” — Rock isn’t exactly what it used to be, which is something Toronto’s “new rock mafia” is out to rectify. “Torn Up” kicks in the door like a mob enforcer ready to paint the walls red. The song pairs bared-teeth riffs and bone-crunching grooves with tasteful vocal melodies and intuitive dynamics. Instead of trying to evoke the legends or win over young listeners, these guys double down on hard rock’s most aggressive viscera. The band does what’s expected of it—in the sense that it knows exactly when to drop into mosh-worthy grooves and when to break out sticky vocal hooks.

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Mereba, “Planet U” — The Atlanta maverick has a two-pronged attack of silky melodicism and hard-hitting flow. “Planet U” bridges the gap between trap rap and alt-R&B, crossing the former’s hard-hitting intensity with the latter’s imaginative sonics. Mereba’s spitfire verse comes out of nowhere, but hardly overshadows the dramatic chorus melodies and the brassy synth chords that crop up toward the end. As the beat fluctuates between trap banger and ethereal mood-setting, Mereba juggles her rapping and singing. This song has all the romantic flavor one could want, but her curveball vocal inflections and immersive production embody her more abstract take on love.

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Hotel Mira, “Jungle” — From the moment this cut starts, Hotel Mira embodies the essence of youth without falling into tired tropes. Yes, “Jungle” is about growing up and wanting to leave one’s hometown, but the song’s clever arrangement and lyrics set it apart from the sea of aspiring alt-rockers. The song’s guitar riffs, explosive percussion and warm synths are compelling enough by themselves, but they’re dealt like a good hand of cards—strategically and surprisingly. The song’s deliciously cheesy chorus unites the growing pains each respective verse explores, driven home by exuberant vocals and confident musicianship.

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Max’s Pick: The bodacious riff-mongering of Ready the Prince caught my interest first, but I found myself coming back to Mereba’s intriguing “Planet U” the most. With the lines between rappers and singers becoming increasingly blurred, it’s awesome to hear a singer who can do both very well. Mereba pulls off rapping and silky singing well, and joining the two leads to some incredible rhythmic and melodic synergy. Add to this a unique perspective on love, and Mereba has the perfect single for fans of both hip-hop and R&B.

Follow editor Max Heilman at Twitter.com/madmaxx1995 and Instagram.com/maxlikessound.