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Showing posts from November, 2022

"Made of Sugar" - Jacklen Ro

If you're looking for some sunny indie pop, I am happy to tell you that "Made of Sugar" lives up to its name. This new single from the duo Jacklen Ro clocks in at under 3 minutes of pure joy. And not shockingly, the twee-esque song is off their debut LP which is also titled "Sunshine I'm Counting on You." Although the song might seem like a light and feel-good throwback, don't be deceived! The band explained what they intended with the song, saying "'Made of Sugar' is about an on-and-off relationship from the perspective of someone who wants to get to the next level and be committed. It's the feeling of being let down by someone you thought you knew and could trust. It's the cycle of addiction to empty validation." We've all been there, I'm sure! I know I have.  "Sunshine I'm Counting on You" is out now on Lollipop Records.

"Don't Be Late for the End of the World" - Jin Woo

This is by far a vastly different track than what I normally share, but it's a fun one. I'm not the biggest D&B/jungle fan in the world, but "Don't Be Late for the End of the World" is pretty chill. Listen to it below:  Jin Woo has certainly had one hell of a trajectory in his current work as a DJ. A former soccer and football player who played the violin as a child, he got interested in becoming a DJ partially thanks to a chance encounter (involving gambling) with producer Justin Raisen, who has previously collaborated with Sky Ferreira. His debut single "Don't Be Late for the End of the World" is intended to save the kids, and after a few listens, you'll figure it out. Expect more from Jin Woo later this fall! 

"Nostalgia" - Suki Waterhouse

Just wanted to give a quick nod to a song that's been out for a while now I've enjoyed. I didn't actually realize Suki Waterhouse had a musical career until I saw she was opening for Father John Misty when he came through Phoenix this past summer. Then I checked out the wonderfully melancholic "Nostalgia," which didn't let me down (listen and watch the video below!)  She's got a nice folk touch, which makes sense as to why Father John chose her as an opener. Definitely one of my favorite tracks of 2022 (so far!), and an artist I'm keeping more of an eye on these days as she's clearly talented with a memorable voice. Her debut album, "I Can't Let Go," was released earlier this year. 

"Sensational" - Portland (you need to hear this!)

Step into another world with dream pop duo Portland's "Sensational" (despite their name, Portland is NOT from Portland, and actually Belgian!) The single is off their sophomore album "Departures," slated for a March 2023 release.  And although Portland is primarily a dreampop act, I definitely hear twee snippets come across, at least in "Sensational." The band themselves acknowledged the song can sound melancholic, but as member Sarah Pepels explained, "If you listen to the lyrics, they're quite hopeful. It's the ideal combination of a modern song. It's about not giving up." The song is reminscient a bit of bands like Kisses and In Coma, with maybe a touch of Wild Nothing thrown in for good measure.  As for the band's name, that comes from the duo Pepels and Jente Pironet's love of Portland-based singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Their debum album, "Your Colours Will Stain," was released in 2019 to much critical a