Atwood Journal's Weekly Roundup: Could 10, 2024

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Each Friday, Atwood Journal’s employees share what they’ve been listening to that week – a track, an album, an artist – no matter’s been having an affect on them, within the second.

This week’s weekly roundup options music by Gracie Abrams, Guster, Lucius & Marcus Mumford, Rum Jungle, Pomme, milk., Valley, NOEL, Sega Bodega, Raghd, Phoebe Go, Kobra Paige, The Howl & The Hum, Lauren Ann, Pete Philly & Perquisite, Egosex, Sam Varga, Sadye, Ceara Cavalieri, Stuffed with Hell, Lisa LeBlanc, & Pocketboy Stable!

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comply with WEEKLY ROUNDUP on Spotify

:: “Threat” – Gracie Abrams ::

Aaron Childree, Ithaca, New York

Last week, singer/songwriter Gracie Abrams launched “Threat,” the primary single from her upcoming album The Secret of Us, which is slated for a June twenty first launch by way of Interscope Data. “Threat is a catchy, upbeat track that explores the joy and anxiousness of leaping into a brand new relationship.

The observe begins with the short strums of a palm-muted acoustic guitar, and the instrumental slowly builds from there. Abrams speeds by means of the lyrics, the fast-moving vocals combining with the crescendo of the band to create a observe that’s continuously propelled ahead. The track’s frantic power skillfully mirrors the anxiousness Abrams is singing about:

God, I’m truly invested
Haven’t even met him
Watch this be the unsuitable factor, traditional
God, I’m leaping within the deep finish
It’s extra enjoyable to swim in
Heard the chance is drowning
However I’m gonna take it

The upcoming The Secret of Us is the follow-up to Abrams’s glorious 2023 album Good Riddance and comes on the heels of her Greatest New Artist Grammy nomination. This primary single units a excessive bar and efficiently builds pleasure for the already highly-anticipated album.

:: “The Elevator” – Guster ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “Go Residence” – Lucius ft. Marcus Mumford ::

Christine Buckley, Connecticut

Last yr marked the tenth anniversary of Lucius’ debut album Wildewoman (pronounced WILL-deh-woman), and Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig have commemorated the groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed work with a brand new track launch, an anniversary tour and new artwork and merch. Now they’ve re-recorded the album, which will probably be launched subsequent week, known as Wildewoman: The New Recordings. This week they launched the re-recording of “Go Residence,” that includes Marcus Mumford.

The unique sluggish, clangy, gut-wrenching tune showcases Wolfe and Laessig’s transcendentally synced vocals, however the addition of Mumford’s distinct vibrant timbre makes it extra chopping, extra biting, extra more likely to slice at your coronary heart – not merely press on it, because the lyrics counsel.

Press on my coronary heart, I’ll say
Press on my coronary heart I’ll say
I don’t want you anyway
I don’t want you, go house
Go house

“We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Marcus Mumford each in Joni’s front room and on many a summer time pageant jam, so this felt like such a pure pairing,” the group wrote on their Instagram. “His fantastically distinct and soulful voice shines so brightly on this track.”

“There’s little or no that provides me extra pleasure on stage than to foghorn my method by means of a Lucius tune…They’re the best on the earth at navigating vocal components, so after they invited me in to re-record ‘Go Residence’ I launched myself on the alternative,” Mumford wrote on his web page.

Look ahead to the brand new Wildewoman: The New Recordings, releasing Could 17.

:: “Did The Morning Let You Down” – Rum Jungle ::

Joe Beer, Surrey, UK

Hailing from Newcastle, Australia, four-piece indie rock band Rum Jungle ship considered one of their most relatable anthems to this point with “Did The Morning Let You Down.” Referring to the significance of resilience within the face of adversity, the band explains the way it’s inevitable that all through life we’ll expertise hurdles and the one factor we are able to do is choose ourselves up and carry on transferring ahead. This uplifting and motivational track encompasses every part we love about Rum Jungle. From the jangly guitars and relaxed vocals, to a toe-tapping beat and infectious melody, there is no such thing as a doubt that “Did The Morning Let You Down” will probably be caught in your head all day lengthy.

Lead singer Benny shares, “You’d be mendacity to your self if there hasn’t been a morning in your life that you just’ve not been stoked with the occasions of the evening earlier than or one thing’s weighing you down and that morning it hits you arduous. Errors get made, shit goes unsuitable, every part’s powerful for everybody in their very own relative state. What this one is about although is pickin’ up and rollin’ on and understanding the world is the way in which it’s, and discovering that factor or individual or purpose to cost on with some sonic stability.”

The discharge of “Did The Morning Let You Down” and its vibrant new music video coincides with the bands present UK/EU tour, the place they’re sure to make some waves for his or her addictive dwell efficiency and intoxicating power.

:: “Qui a tué Grand’ Maman” – Pomme ::

Julia Dzurillay, New Jersey

Pomme transported listeners to balmy August, frigid January, and every part in between with 2024’s Saisons — an album that explored the emotions connected to every month. Along with her newest cowl, this artist totally lives as much as her “half-pixie half-human” aesthetic.

“Qui a tué Grand’ Maman” looks like operating by means of a misty forest or flipping by means of water-stained household portraits. It holds the emotional weight just like “If You Need Me” from As soon as the film musical. Sombre, celestial, and sonically fascinating, particularly by ending on a significant chord.

:: “Don’t Miss It.” – milk. ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “When You Know Somebody” – Valley ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “With out Calling” – NOEL ::

Josh Weiner, Washington DC

At the second, the musical information in Sweden is essentially dominated by (what else?) Taylor Swift’s upcoming reveals there and the way so many People are flying to Stockholm to catch the Eras Tour in that metropolis, oftentimes spending much less within the course of than a ticket again house would have been. For these like me, although, who’ve sadly accepted that their piggy banks could not be plump sufficient to see the Eras Tour, overseas or in any other case, we’ll merely have to search out other ways to attach with the present musical ongoings in Sweden.

Fortunately, native artists like NOEL are there to offer us with simply that outlet. This Stockholm native went on a wilderness retreat with a few his associates just lately and, whereas they have been all hanging out of their cabin, they pulled out their guitars and notebooks, then received a handful of tracks composed collectively. “With out Calling” was considered one of them– in its creator’s phrases, this track is “ in regards to the wrestle between doing what you need and what’s proper. On this case it’s about wanting to like however not feeling ok for it, which finally ends up with you distancing your self from it.”

Lyrics like “Did I imply that a lot to you? I’m the thriller nobody’s fixing– You [shouldn’t] love me however you do” drive that principal theme house. Total, it’s a well-crafted track, that includes the identical kind of highly effective vocals and emotional crescendo that has characterised a number of of NOEL’s previous tracks. He’s on an admirable pattern proper now, all issues thought-about.

:: Dennis – Sega Bodega ::

Eric Schuster, Los Angeles, CA

Sega Bodega (Salvador Navarrete) makes music that’s ethereal, fascinating, and progressive. His first album, Salvador, showcased a few of his mesmerising manufacturing talents. Lots of the songs have been club-ready from the leap. Navarrete’s subsequent album, Romeo, felt extra private and fewer like he was making an attempt to make a chart-topping single. The fantastic thing about Salvador’s music is the way in which that it combines acoustic and electrical music so seamlessly.

Navarrete has labored with a few of the most inventive artists within the business. The record contains Caroline Polachek, slowthai, Shygirl, Bjork, and Rosalia. Simply to call a couple of.

Dennis is his first solo launch since 2021. One of many standout tracks on the album is “Deer Enamel,” which demonstrates his potential to weave between sounds with the perfect of them. The track begins with distorted vocal melody’s in an irregular time signature earlier than transitioning to the primary verse of his pitch-altered lyrics. The manufacturing turns into extra conventional, with a drum sample and synthesisers offering the concord. Simply when the listener thinks they’ve gotten their bearings, the beat drops out from underneath them and the track’s closing minute takes us on to a nightclub dance ground, a sound that Navarrete has easily piloted a number of occasions in his illustrious profession.

:: “Straightforward Go!” – Raghd ::

Liv Goodbody, Brighton, UK

Raghd’s glittery, bite-sized single “Straightforward Go!” integrates intoxicatingly languid jungle with recent and susceptible lyrics, creating an addictive dance observe certain to be on repeat for the foreseeable.

Launched by the Swedish artist in April 2023, “Straightforward Go!” has change into an immediate favorite of mine by means of her curation of a distinctively progressive sound, fueled by high-energy perspective and sustained by melodic, irresistible vocals. Raghd’s enterprise down this amalgamation of digital avenues brings to thoughts the work Nia Archives. Each younger feminine artists efficiently mix daring, distracting drumbeats with surprisingly sincere lyrics, leading to music that indulges a need to maneuver while feeling extra honest and complicated than your common dance observe.

Raghd reveals she wrote this track “about and for” herself to articulate the dangers she needed to take to put money into her musical tasks. Her experiences of vulnerability and rejection clarify her candid lyrics: “even when I get like, 100 extra no’s, in fact I’m gonna go”, while her self-assurance and persistence is mirrored in her tenacious breakbeats.

In an interview for Vogue Scandinavia, Raghd cites British punk-rock and Baltimore Membership as influential genres, explaining her aptitude for combining genres in her personal music. Personally, I’m changing into more and more drawn to bop music that follows the unconventional system of blending noisy breakbeats with confessional lyricism. I really feel it creates a brand new class of dance which feels progressive inside the style while much less historically male-dominated.

The one criticism I might have of Raghd is that aside from her 2023 EP A Good Pal, her discography stays fairly mild. Nonetheless, the artist’s rising status within the underground Scandi scene and her genuine dance tracks depart me very excited to see what this artist will launch subsequent.

:: “Silly” – Phoebe Go ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “Hott”- Kobra Paige ::

Julius Robinson, California

With social media consuming our lives, it could actually typically take a toll on our psychological well being. We comply with these influencers that seem to have this image good life. They’re enticing, rich and appear to have all of it found out. Kobra Paige’s new single and video for “Hott” reminds us to not play the poisonous comparability recreation and settle for ourselves flaws and all. Within the imaginative visuals she checks herself right into a made-up clinic known as ‘Dr. Worthlove’s Heart for Self-Confidence.’ They declare to have the miracle treatment for all of your blotches and blemishes, however self-love is about embracing these imperfections.

The Canadian artist creates seductive music with an edge. Paige is making ready for her second undertaking specializing in subjects of social change. Her work captivates listeners deeply as she writes brave messages we are able to hook up with. In search of a societal shift, she leads the dialog as a voice for change. “Hott” is a daring step in the direction of that transformation.

:: “Similar Mistake Twice” – The Howl & The Hum ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “BITE” – Lauren Ann ::

Joe Beer, Surrey, UK

Irish various indie artist Lauren Ann serves up chapter two of her upcoming EP. With the idea of the discharge detailing every of the seven lethal sins, her newest single “BITE” focuses on wrath. Sonically “BITE” completely captures the feelings that include wrath, that includes intense, distorted instrumentation and highly effective vocals that emit a rigidity and unease all through the observe.

The Belfast based mostly artist shares, “In a method I’ve created a personality or alter ego who experiences all the sins not directly. Among the songs are additionally in regards to the various kinds of individuals I’ve met in my very own life. I really feel like everybody has encountered unfavourable emotions of greed, wrath, delight and so forth. in some unspecified time in the future of their life.”

Paying homage to the likes of Deftones, The Smashing Pumpkins and Gap, Lauren Ann has crafted a hypnotic sound, colliding storage rock with grunge components and pop gildings. With the addition of refined nods to the ’90s, “BITE” is a powerful launch that units the tone for the rest of the EP.

:: “My Stereo” – Pete Philly & Perquisite ::

Josh Weiner, Washington DC

I love a very good hip-hop comeback story, however I additionally know to not take them with no consideration, since a number of occasions they only don’t occur (as an example, am I nonetheless clinging to hope that sooner or later there could also be a brand new Fugees, D-12, or G-Unit album? Errrr not all that tightly). So once more, that’s what makes it tremendous fulfilling to witness those that do work out, which is the case for Dutch hip-hop duo Pete Philly & Perquisite. Though they’d not made any new music collectively because the late finish of the George W. Bush administration, the pair did reunite for a present on the AFAS Reside live performance corridor of their native Amsterdam this previous fall. That have evidently energized them into finishing their comeback by recording some new music. This contains their official “comeback single,” entitled “My Stereo.”

Regardless of branding themselves as a hip-hop duo, there isn’t actually any rapping executed on “My Stereo”– I’ll have to present the newly launched accompanying album Eon a take heed to see what different new tracks of theirs might certainly characteristic some MC’ing. However Pete Philly & Perquisite (whose actual names are Pedro Philip Monzon and Pieter Perquin, respectively) toss in another key musical parts, together with some melodious chanting, lyrics that embody the love of their craft– “It’s good to know that my stereo solely performs songs that’re from the soul”– and a soulful, funky beat to associate with all of it.

“This can be a new chapter in our story, however a continuation of our sound,” Perquisite says of his duo’s new releases. “On the entire, it looks like a extra grounded, balanced sound.” After a 15-odd yr hiatus, it’s superior that he and Pete Philly received to attain simply that upon their return to the studio.

:: “Similar Mouth” – Egosex ::

Mitch Mosk, Beacon, New York

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:: “Jim Carrey” – Sam Varga ::

Julius Robinson, California

People typically use humor as a strategy to deflect. Many occasions a joke may be employed to masks darker feelings buried underneath the floor. Sam Varga’s new track “Jim Carrey” makes use of the well-known comic/actor as an example how he handles sure conditions. He recollects within the piece a time when he was seven and he prevented an argument between his dad and mom by making them giggle. It’s straightforward to get trapped in that cycle of utilizing jokes in severe occasions, however it’s not all the time a laughing matter. His emotive Blink-182 fashion tone sings strains that actually ring a bell. “It felt protected to be the punch line. A job that I used to be born to play. I bought my soul out for the grins. I suppose I all the time love the stage.” It’s fascinating how his vocals have an alt/emo high quality whereas the backdrop emits a folks/nation taste including one other layer of depth to the observe.

The Kentucky native creates music that resonates profoundly with all who hear. His willingness to utterly open up in his releases offers an area for others to be susceptible as nicely. He reveals his most genuine self with every flaw on full show. “Jim Carrey” is off of his upcoming album Shadow Work. The composition’s title is becoming as this single reveals his private shadow work.

:: “The Joke Is On Me” – Sadye ::

Chloe Robinson, California

They say… “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Although that expression can ring true, one other phrase could possibly be “What doesn’t kill you simply makes you extra tousled”. Sadye’s single “The Joke Is On Me” offers with an incredible hardship she confronted and remains to be extraordinarily scarred due to it. The singer reveals, “Your complete essence of the track is within the first two strains. It’s an concept that has haunted me lots—bodily surviving however changing into type of mentally ruined. I had a number of questions within the wake of what I went by means of and even years later. I put them into this file.” The observe is impressed by her most cancers battle and the upbeat soundscapes create the proper juxtaposition.

The daring darkish alt-pop artist tends to make use of sarcasm as a type of launch. Her music facilities on heavy themes akin to poisonous relationships and therapeutic intense wounds but additionally depicts issues like discovering her self-worth. With every catchy melody we’re drawn deeper into her story. “The Joke Is On Me” is one other one that may get you hooked.

:: “That’s My Bitch”- Ceara Cavalieri ::

Chloe Robinson, California

Ceara Cavalieri’s assured anthem “That’s My Bitch,” reminds us that all of us might use a hype man/girl in our lives. She created the infectious single for a buddy who had simply gotten out of a poisonous relationship. In that sort of romance it may be straightforward to lose your sense of self. Cavalieri helps that individual rediscover simply how bad-ass they honestly are. Her fierce vocals float over gritty preparations to concoct the final word punchy pop-rock observe.

The artist is a southern California native whose love of music blossomed from an early age. She discovered her voice at simply three years previous and has been continuously singing ever since. For Cavalieri, singing/songwriting has all the time been a type of catharsis. That emotional discharge is felt deeply in each piece of labor. This providing is not any completely different.

:: Coagulated Bliss – Stuffed with Hell ::

Will Yarbrough, Philadelphia, PA

Conventional knowledge says a band has to be taught the foundations with a view to break them. That’s typically the case with nice pop music, however it’s very true of utmost metallic.

` nonetheless qualifies as grindcore. The beats blast. The riffs spaz. Dylan Walker shrieks like a fire-breathing pterodactyl. There’s a track known as “Vomiting Glass.” Had you began listening on the high of this week’s roundup, then “Malformed Ligature” would simply be clawing towards the album’s tattered and bloodied end line.

In fact, at any second, Coagulated Bliss can twist into a special grotesque form. Clanking industrial, alien synth drones, one dying saxophone and a title observe that might cross for indie sleaze’s mutant cousin are all churned into the combination. However that chaotic style mix isn’t stunning. It’s been 15 odd years since Stuffed with Hell took root they usually’ve but to decide on anyone stylistic floor.

Stuffed with Hell already made unusual bedfellows with doomsaying neanderthals and a Japanese noise pioneer, however it was their newest collaboration that prodded Coagulated Bliss in a very sudden route. Final yr, the band launched a joint album with Nothing, who found heavy shoegaze a couple of decade too early. In case you haven’t heard When No Birds Sang, then verify that one out, too. For a hybrid idea album about 9/11, it’s about as near a mainstream crossover as anybody’s going to get. “Spend the Grace” fucks me up good. Apparently, it additionally f*ed up Stuffed with Hell.

Coagulated Bliss is billed because the band’s most accessible, pop-minded album. Superb; perhaps I’m stretching the reality right here. The press launch does harp on how they “acknowledged that there was worth in pop music”, however High 40 radio would by no means contact one thing that’s so deranged as “Doorways to Psychological Agony.”

Nonetheless, there’s a way to their insanity. Stuffed with Hell perceive that lots of people get into heavy music to flee feeling powerless. “A thousand lifeless ends / A thousand lifeless associates / I hear their howling / I hear their weeping” Walker screams over a comparatively tame hardcore stomp. After doing that factor all good grindcore does — the place the track’s rhythm will get turned the other way up sooner than your abdomen on a rollercoaster — “Doorways to Psychological Agony” braces for a breakdown. The drums kick, as if testing the audio system, whereas the bass line descends like a spider from its internet.

What follows is one thing much more visceral. I received’t destroy the shock. You’ll have to look at the video. Simply have a trash can helpful. You’ll want it to mop your brains off the ground.

:: Lisa LeBlanc ::

Oliver Criminal, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Chiac is outlined as “is a patois of Acadian French spoken principally in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada.” It’s a part of the wealthy, vibrant and delightful tradition of the Acadians, of which Lisa Leblanc is a proud member—and considered one of their most profitable exports. Whereas she doesn’t possess a foul album, 2022’s Chiac Disco—recorded and launched on the pinnacle of pandemic lockdown, following some boisterous Zoom concert events LeBlanc and associates placed on—is a celebration not simply of tradition, however of life. It’s vibrant and enjoyable, skilled with the tongue firmly in cheek however by no means shortchanging the music. It’s an album that retains the bass strains transferring, the melodies hypnotically repetitive, and the nice occasions rolling. An album finest loved with a buddy within the sunshine.