EARMILK's Top Tracks: New Music Friday Playlist [College Edition]

Get ready for another episode of top new artist releases in our New Music Friday [College Edition] in partnership with Quadio—the college/post-grad creative network and app fostering an incredible community of young creatives from various colleges and cities around the world. Each week, the editorial team at EARMILK carefully reviews fresh new tracks submitted through the Quadio network and picks out a handful of music from students and young independent artists that are defining the sounds of tomorrow.

We kick things off this week with Back to Yours' "Blue" which features a feel-good '60s surf-rock guitar strumming with an inviting early '80s English alt-rock storytelling lyrical structure. The fun-spirited energy never loses pace and invites everyone to get up and dance along. Hero Magnus' "Yours First" is a catchy indie-folk acoustic guitar tune that features '90s coffee-house storytelling vocals making us miss the old days of Jewel and Elliot Smith. Turn the bass up as Neuhaus' crackling yet evocative vocals deliver a stunning electro-pop and dance performance in his latest release "Okay, Maybe Not."

What is good North Carolina?! The rising hip-hop group Rebels No Savage are delivering some serious heat with their latest single "Wayback." The new release features a captivating sound full of snappy trap beats and smooth vocal melodies making this duo a serious new act to watch out for. 

A steady pulse of sparkling guitar melodies pirouette throughout Piper Higgins' indie-rock ballad "Lift Me Up." With a catchy pace and easy rhythm, BB Bean weaves together a captivating tale in his latest single "Alone" that left us in our seats hanging onto every word till the very end. A jazzy chanteuse bewitches us over subtle bluesy-rock sounds and soaring intimate vocals in Thea Mundy's latest release "Gemini." The relaxed and intimate bluesy tone draws you in at the start as the jazzy cabaret adds these eclectic layers of hypnotic sound. 

That's it for today's roundup but make sure to check out the Spotify link above for even more incredible new music from emerging artists that were included in this week's playlist. Check out my top 3 editor picks from this week's playlist below: 

Munn – "Empty Eyes"

Poetic lyricism pours out from the heart of Munn in the passionate new indie-pop ballad "Empty Eyes." The Indiana-bred Nashville-based singer-songwriter brings a colossal voice to the table and in his latest single, the true depth of both his songwriting and vocal delivery are on full display. A simple guitar riff keeps the melody light and gentle as the orchestral builds alongside hard-hitting percussions. But the track is truly driven by Munn's dynamic vocals—vocals that switch between intimate croons to fiery eruptions of cosmic cries.

Dad Bod – "4/9"

Olafur Arnolds meets boygenius in Dad Bod's latest single "4/9." The Minneapolis-based indie rock outfit deliver a dazzling performance to create an ambient indie backdrop for airy breathy vocals to whisper out and carry listener's across the stars. The cinematic guitar work and orchestral percussions are simply mesmerizing and produce an introspective undertone that carries throughout the track. To pair all of that alongside a heartbreakingly vulnerable vocal performance, well, it just makes you want to surrender a river of tears to a project that's so candid, so pure, and just so beautiful. 

Gina Brooklyn – "Selfish Air"

Deep smoky vocals quickly burst into warbling falsettos that wrap listeners in a beautiful shroud of tamed chaos in Gina Brooklyn's new single "Selfish Air." The singer's seamless transition from somber and hazy reflections to explosive outward declarations creates an effect that's both wild and honest. "Selfish Air" is a truly stunning track that features an explosive sound with earnest songwriting that obliterates the sounds from other pop music coming out right now. 

Are you a college student or young independent artist looking to be featured in our New Music Friday playlist? Join the Quadio college network HERE or follow them online via: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram