The Faves Playlist - September 2023
New music from Cleo Sol, Blush, Ergo, Bria and more. Check out our faves below:
Dua Saleh - daylight falls
Sudanese-American artist Dua Saleh is back with their debut single for Ghostly “daylight falls.” The track was written as a way to support those who most need it. “I was thinking about a point when I was at my lowest, and being a friend for kids who might be feeling the same, at the brink of it, especially with all that’s going on with trans and abortion legislation. Everyone’s going through it,” they explain.
The Seshen - Waiting for Dawn
On their new song “Waiting for Dawn,” Oakland six-piece band The Seshen has what it takes to make it through. The track was written in response to two of the founding members’ split. As vocalist Akiyoshi Ehara offers, "'Waiting for Dawn' is an expression of anticipatory grief - saying goodbye to something you thought you couldn’t live without.” The track is off the band’s upcoming album Nowhere.
Patryk Kania - Gin Mill Club
UK-based songwriter Patryk Kania has released his new EP Gin Mill Club. On the title track, Kania describes the feeling of losing his inhibitions in the comfort of a club, “cause there is no god.” Sonically, the song sits nicely between Pet Shop Boys and Robyn. Kania’s soft vocals only help to conceal what really goes on, and we want in!
Matya - Nobody’s Home
LA-based songwriter Matya reaches for nostalgia on her debut single “Nobody’s Home.” As Matya explains, “The song came from a place of longing for a simpler time. It’s a reminder to stay dreaming.” The indie-rock track starts out with Matya’s honey vocals over a chorus guitar, before it erupts into an all-out bop.
Thunder Club - Try Your Luck
Influenced by bands such as Queens of the Stone Age, Illiterate Light, and Arctic Monkeys, Baltimore’s Thunder Club is all riffs. Their new song “Try Your Luck,” is a 2-minute plea reaching out to those nearest. While discussing the track, the band writes, “the lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and a plea for assistance and guidance from someone they trust and care about.”
Lime Garden - Love Song
After releasing a string of singles over the last few years, Brighton indie rock band Lime Garden has announced their first album One More Thing. Their new single “Love Song,” influenced by dance-punk bands LCD Soundsystem and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, takes on embracing happiness despite the odds. One More Thing is out in early 2024 on So Young Records.
Corinne Bailey Rae - Erasure
Black Rainbows, the new album by songwriter/singer/producer Corinne Bailey Rae is an experimental album that transcends genre. The release was Inspired by objects found at Stony Island State Savings Bank, an abandoned bank saved from demolition by the artist Theaster Gates over ten years ago, On the raw and guitar-heavy art-rock track “Erasure,” Rae exclaims as she recounts the scenes found in old photographs.
Upchuck - Freedoom
Atlanta punk/doom band Upchuck picks up where they left off on their most recent single “Freedoom.” The second single off of their upcoming album Bite The Hand That Feeds, captures a city in despair. As vocalist KT explains, “Trump was up for re-election, COVID had just started, they had just killed Rashard Brooks at the Wendy’s on the south side. And then they started bringing in tanks, which is just crazy to even say – there were tanks in downtown Atlanta. They were driving up kids after curfew, extended school buses full of swat teams, hanging out the windows with rubber-bullet guns just pointing them out at us and laughing. From there they started gassing their own people, who really just wanted justice, and who were tired and fed up.” Bite The Hand That Feeds is out 10/13 on Famous Class.
Illiterate Light - Don’t Settle Down
Virginia/Tennesee rockers Illiterate Light are back with their new EP Aloe. On the anthemic opening track “Don’t Settle Down,” the duo comments, “We wrote ‘Don’t Settle Down’ amidst public political outcry. It’s a song about standing up and taking action for the good of mankind.” The band is touring across the US through the end of the year.
Raisalka - Sugarhole
Brooklyn indie/alt-rock band Raisalka has announced their debut album Auratone On the lead single “Sugarhole,” the band digs into the endless cycle of guilt. As the band explains, “'Sugarhole' was written about intense frustration with my personal relationships and myself. It’s about disappointment in the people you care for and loss of control, like being sucked into a void of relentless lament, and needing reassurance.” The album is available for pre-order on “Nickelodeon Orange” limited-edition cassette from Freeman Street Records.
Meagre Martin - Mountain
Berlin-based trio Meagre Martin has released their new song “Mountain.” The track sees the band looking back at what they’ve left behind. The band describes, “'Mountain‘ is a song in remembrance of things that were once so familiar but whose significance has become unrecognizable, and that familiarity is distant and faded. Landmarks that were once crucial in one's life no longer hold the same emotional ties. The best word to describe this song is 'Saudade.’" Later this year, the band will open for British indie rockers alt-J while they tour across the US.
Patio - Inheritance
Before creating their new album Collections, New York post-punk band Patio assembled a mood board that contained images from pop culture, Renaissance art, film stars, and more. The closing track “Inheritance,” is a culmination of those different resources. “‘Inheritance’ summons the forces of southern Italian folklore, weaving together myths, stories, and allusions to family history, cult 80s punk, and Proto-Renaissance art," the band offers. The album Collections is out now via Fire Talk Records.
On their debut album Ambivert, Houston-based duo Blemishes—comprised of Julienne Ceron and Jessie Huntington—defies easy categorization by blending diverse musical influences and styles. This 50-minute album showcases a spectrum of sounds, from frantic rhythms to gentle instrumentation, reflecting their view of albums as cohesive narratives rather than mere collections of songs. To highlight its various influences, Ceron curated a playlist for us. Read our Q&A with the writer/producer and listen to the playlist.