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a screengrab from jae stephens’s ‘afterbody’ music video
from pop excellence to groovy indie soundscapes, this august was a significant month for new music. we could go on forever about all of the great songs that dropped in the last few weeks, but that’d most definitely be a challenge that even we couldn’t tackle.
so, we simply had to forgo our usual five-track rule and list out six of our absolute favourites instead.
check ’em out below.
JAE STEPHENS — afterbody
catchy, compelling, and adventurous. that’s exactly what jae stephens’s new single ‘afterbody’ sounds like. the synth-forward, club-ready track exudes unparalleled confidence – the california-based singer’s self-worth isn’t up for debate, and neither should be yours.
‘afterbody’ is one of those tracks that transcends time. it seamlessly echoes the y2k sound without losing its modern touch – stephen’s experience as a songwriter shines extra bright here, allowing the song to blend a variety of genres with cutting-edge lyricism.
STEVIE BILL — SHIRT
a sonically dynamic track at its core, ‘shirt’ takes stevie bill on a reminiscent journey of perseverance. sometimes, things must fall apart before they can fall into place. and it seems that the amsterdam-born, new york-based musician knows this all too well – “got a new shirt but it’s inside out / doesn’t quite fit, it’s inside out,” she sings in the sparkly single.
sombre, reflective, and heartfelt lyrics combined with a gripping production? yep, we’ll have that on repeat for the foreseeable.
SOMBR — 12 TO 12
speaking of sombre – ahem, sombr – music, the american singer-songwriter’s latest offering is anything but.
the sophomore track on sombr’s debut album i barely know her, ’12 to 12′ is an infectious, funk-inspired banger of a song that’ll get you dancing no matter where you are: in the kitchen, walking alongside a beach on a sunny summer eve, or even at a café in paris (catch the reference).
LAICA — SILENCE
it’s getting groooooooovy up in here! la’s superstar on the rise laica stuns in ‘silence’ – an enticing, laid-back musical odyssey that reveals fleeting moments of summer romance.
it’s the perfect addition to your playlist when falling for someone gives you butterflies, or when those same butterflies suddenly make their red flags seem a little bit less alarming.
SIGRID — FORT KNOX
pop powerhouse sigrid’s latest drop ‘fort knox’ sees her channel heartache into an euphoric triumph.
it’s a musical victory in which the norwegian artist takes back control and allows herself to indulge in this new-found freedom.
released alongside the announcement of sigrid’s highly-anticipated third studio album, There’s Always More That I Could Say, ‘fort knox’ perfectly sets the tone for the forthcoming project; october 24th can’t come soon enough.
Sofia & The Antoinettes — overwhelming fear
feeling forgotten, or the sole fear of finding yourself in that unfortunate position, is a concept many of us have had to confront at least once in our lives.
but within that confrontation, there’s a lurking opportunity for much-needed contemplation – and sofia & the antoinettes seizes it with a raw new track, ‘overwhelming fear’.
“I have an overwhelming fear of old friends forgetting me, the audience forgetting the show they’re watching, family members I don’t speak to enough forgetting me – or worse, feeling forgotten by me,” says the london-based musician.
“And of myself forgetting about me, and all the moments I have on my own, of which I’m the only person there to remember,” sofia then continues.
against the backdrop of alluring guitar riffs and Resonant vocals, the song offers solace to those who seek comfort in their own journey towards belonging.
echowave 