Get ready for another episode of top new artist releases in our New Music Friday [College Edition] playlist 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 New York-based indie-folk artist Vincent Lima's latest single "Meant For This." The track's confessional style vocals provide a deep resonating vulnerability delivered over three simple piano chords. Lima's highly personal songwriting cuts straight to the soul on this one. In 2006, the now notable John Mayer was battling against the constraints of being a one-dimensional acoustic act, so he released Continuum, a bold record that allowed the multi-talented artist to flex his more pop-leaning songwriting capabilities. For 22-year-old Nashville-based artist and producer Ben Kessler, I found his latest offering "Known Like This" to be a reminiscent display of that multi-dimensional production that effortlessly blends soft vocals with a keen eye for groovy guitar lines, but still never holding back on an eruptive pop chorus. Watson Maack delivers a dazzling performance in "Lucinda", impassioned vocals join alongside a dynamic electric guitar performance that pirouettes between heavy arena-rock, to light Brit Pop guitar plucks, all the while a chest-thumping bass drum keeps you locked in your seat for an incredible journey of pure alt-rock sound at its finest.
REDWOOD's "Work" featuring Brandon Rose is a dynamic Madlib-esque genre-defying blend of fast-paced poetic spoken lyricism delivered over an upbeat melody that fuses classic R&B and hip-hop. Take a dash of Kid Cudi's effortless vocal delivery and sprinkle that over a funky summery Pharrell cut, and you wouldn't be too far from Brendan Bennett's "Dreams Die." We're keeping that deep bass pulsating throughout this week's playlist with Raneem's sultry new single "Feel Bad." Combining a catchy repetitive chorus, Raneem injects a subtle level of brutally honest lyrical attitude into each line as her vocal range effortlessly scales from breathy intimacy to high octave cries.
A sparkling synth key melody shines through Wiill's "Mood Swings" in this seamless blend of R&B and Pop. This latest single is a hazy, sun-soaked gospel that's perfect for any summertime playlist. Magnuk's Bloom EP is a stunning showcase of modern electronica, R&B, and Indie-Pop that hits almost every level of danceability. Each track drips with an untouchable rhythm accompanied by snappy beats, charming vocals, and bright synth work. Tracks like "Waiting on The Moon" create an unimaginable intersection between the atmospheric electronic sounds of artists like San Holo with the vocal down-tempo vulnerability of Moses Sumney.
Whatcha know about that Pacific Northwest lo-fi? Apparently, not enough, as Portland producer and artist Yoggi sets the mood just right in his latest track "Sa,mmy." The hypnotizing guitar melody over the delicious static feedback makes me want to kick back, turn on the record player, spark a fun one, and just watch the clouds through my window drift away with my troubles.
That's it for today's roundup but please make sure to check out the Spotify link for even more incredible new music released by other talented artists this week. Check out my editor's pick from this week's playlist below:
Editor's top pick of the week:
Rightfield – "Racing"
Would it be possible to blend together the explosive alt-pop of The 1975 and Panic at the Disco, and still have room to turn the rock level up seven more notches? The high-octane guitar shredding in Rightfield's latest single "Racing" is somehow polished and unrefined at the same time. Providing a few strategic moments for downtempo pauses, it's an ambitious alt-rock performance that provides deep atmospheric backing guitars, sultry vocals that cry out for you to instantly fall in love with, and relentless drumming that provides a listening experience that demands the volume be turned up all the way and have you unbashfully rocking out to in your room.
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