VOICE OF BACEPROT, courtesy.

This week we listen to overpowered rock with an important message from Voice of Baceprot, dark pop from Ama Lou, emo pop with a hint of R&B for the lovesick from guccihighwaters, shoegaze from Bleach Lab, psych rock for the summer by Parliamo and a jaunty alternative hip-hop track from Barny Fletcher.

Voice of Baceprot, “The Enemy of Earth is You” — Indonesian rock trio Voice of Baceprot uses high-powered rock to bring awareness to an issue that hits close to home for the all-girl group. Emotionally impacted by the several natural disasters that happened across Indonesia in 2016, VOB voice their pain through this single from their debut album, Retas, out in July. On this track, vocalist-guitarist Marsya isn’t asking listeners to stand with the Earth and be an ally kindly, with her gritty vocals that turn into water-like singing. Nu-metal-style guitars and strong percussion give a ferocious sound to the track, making listeners feel the intensity of VOB’s emotions about the climate crisis.

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Ama Lou, “Caught Me Running” — Singing with a hauntingly beautiful voice, Ama Lou returns with a new single (two years since her last release) that truly showcases the British singer-songwriter’s dark pop influences. Reminiscent of Lana Del Rey, Ama Lou pairs her voice on “Caught Me Running” against downbeat synths and bass for an invigorating song about loneliness.

guccihighwaters, “DON’T TALK ABOUT LOVE” — Emo pop gets a touch of R&B in guccihighwaters’ latest track, “DON’T TALK ABOUT LOVE,” giving the genre some versatility. This was my first time listening to guccihighwaters and I was pleasantly surprised by his incredibly smooth voice and the R&B influences present on this anti-love anthem. The track is guided by dark synths and ends with a piano medley as he sings about the shadow side of love and all the ways it can go wrong.

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Bleach Lab, “All Night” — Blending elements of shoegaze and lo-fi music, U.K.-based group Bleach Lab shares a new single off its upcoming debut album, Lost in a Rush of Emptiness. Singing about the sometimes-blurred lines between romance and obsession, frontwoman Jenna Kyle’s airy vocals grasp the ear beside cheerful guitars. Going from an even-tempo melody to a more powerful instrumental, the band takes listeners on a whirlwind account of what it’s like to have strong feelings for someone.

Parliamo, “Matters Like” — With the increasingly great weather as we quickly approach the summer months, I find myself drawn to psych rock more often and this song by Scottish sextet Parliamo is definitely getting added to my playlist. It has funky bass lines and intense electric guitar parts that vocalist Jack Dailly’s moody tone fits perfectly.

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Barny Fletcher, “WOO!” — This alternative hip-hop track from London artist Barny Fletcher features strong lyrical flow and groovy production. Written while working in Los Angeles, the track clearly has a California vibe with its relaxed tempo and bright hi-hat strikes. Fletcher uses his childlike excitement to carry his flow, providing for a lively song that boasts about the kind of love that makes you feel alive. This is the first single released from Lonestar, Fletcher’s forthcoming debut album.

Italie’s pick: Few bands are doing what Voice of Baceport is and I’m inspired by the all-female-trio from Indonesia. “The Enemy of Earth is You” is a great reminder for all that we need to actively fight against climate change and do our part.

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