Tuesday Tracks: Your Weekly New Music Discovery – March 10
Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips.
Artists on platforms like 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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Hazel English, “Combat” — English’s vocals are a mix of country and mild electro-pop, while the instrumentation emphasize an electric-guitar-centered soft rock vibe. Featured on her forthcoming album, Wake Up!, this single vocalizes relationship struggles endured by the Australian-born and Angelino who called Oakland home for a while. A continuous argument makes English feel as though she is “facing everything” on her own, feeling love and trust slipping through her fingers. The musical style recalls the mid-2000s material of Taylor Swift. English maintains a sweet resonance while revealing inner brokenness and the loss of the fluttery side of love.
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Katie Malco, “Animal” — After a seven-year hiatus, Malco is back on the radar as she releases her intense, high-energy single. The singer-songwriter displays vulnerability as she faces the anxiety and neuroticism triggered by life’s difficulties. The track opens with a brief sprinkling of piano phrases before reality hits as earthy electric guitar riffs dominate the rest of the song. Malco’s powerful vocals bring a sense of hope within the relatable theme, balanced with the loneliness of dark times as she reaches out for someone to carry her home when she can’t breathe.
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Angelica Vila featuring Jacquees, “Why” — In an age where many relationships are formed inorganically through dating apps, this song highlights the new problem of many first dates within this context, all leading nowhere. Vila sets the tone of a first date with her sassy and romantic R&B vibes, layered with contemporary hip-hop percussion styles and soulful singing. Lyrics like, “Can’t waste my energy on you/ And I can’t find a reason why I should,” imply that online dating culture is a disappointing waste of time and effort. Vila’s sound gives a unique twist on both Alicia Keys and Camila Cabello, both in lyrics and musicality.
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The Aces, “Daydream” — The song brings a bubbly and adventurous feel with bursts of electric guitar, a heavy bass line and electronic percussive undertones. The vocals, led by Cristal Ramirez and Katie Henderson, tell a story of missing people while the band is traveling the world on tour. They ask those loved ones to think of them while they’re away. In between vocal breaks, Ramirez and Henderson allow their guitars to take over and complete the electro-pop dance rock vibe. Percussion by Alisa Ramirez brings a head-bopping vibe throughout the song as well for this Utah-formed band.
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All We Are, “Bad Advice” — This track immediately kicks off with an ’80s psychedelic vibe. Heavy bass and electronic undertone set a surreal stage with synths and technicolor motion. Vocalists Guro Gikling and Richard O’Flynn are each featured in a solo verse before coming together in the chorus to complement each other’s gentle yet strong presence. This creates a mesmerizing nostalgic feel, as they talk about regrets of listening to someone’s ill-informed advice. This track brings the past into the present, modernizing retro pop with a post-punk spin.
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Diet Cig, “Thriving” — This rock track packs a lot of punk energy. It showcases the solid vivacious vocals of Alex Luciano, paired with her lively guitar riffs. Meanwhile, Noah Bowman puts the finishing touches on this rebellious and liberating powerhouse anthem with his whacking rhythms. Lyrics like “I will never hate myself the way you want me to/ And I am tired of playing by all your rules” put adversaries in their place. Luciano breaks free and becomes who she wants without someone else holding her back.
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Amelia’s pick — I enjoyed all of these new tracks, but I’m giving the extra props to “Daydream” by The Aces. This song’s vocals performances are absolutely stunning, and the percussion kept my head bopping the whole time. It also has an endearing message. Even within jam-packed touring schedule, the band’s loved ones never leave their thoughts. This fun, energetic and romantic dance anthem made me want to keep pressing the “play’” button again and again.
Follow writer Amelia Parreira at Twitter.com/AmeliaParreira.