Bek Allenson - "Jetta" ft. Alan6333 (self-released)
Bek Allenson is a new songwriter and producer based in Andover; "Jetta" is his second single.
"Jetta" is a skeletal electro song, matching scattershot production with Allenson's resonant voice. Despite the title, he sings of lost love and the arduous process of trying to move on. A sideways glance, a missed phone call, general emptiness — the gang's all here. Allenson layers his production piece by piece, adding in synth lines here or plunging bass notes there.
Things stay relatively subtle until the song crescendos with arpeggiated synths into a brief verse from Alan Coronado aka Alan6333. Coronado continues with Allenson's themes, but adds some punchlines for good measure. He's cut off mid-line, like he was forcibly yanked away from the mic. Like it was depending on his presence to continue, the song subsequently dissolves into a sea of bass.
Listen to "Jetta" below.
KYM - Not 4 U EP (self-released)
I always find myself writing about summery releases more frequently during the colder months (and now that it's warming up, we're stuck inside). Since we can't enjoy KYM's debut EP Not 4 U in the same ways we might normally have, might I suggest an indoor dance party?
KYM is Kim Schneider, a Minneapolis-based songwriter and dancer. Her first collection of tracks is a refreshing blast of 00's pop and rock. The guitar lines are jaunty and the basslines (provided by Drew d'Lakes) dance around. Instrumentation couches Schneider's voice as she molds it to fit the song in front of her, whether it's melismatic or nearly spoken. Her lyrics dive right into relatable tales of daily life: self-love ("Roots"), comparing a relationship to video games ("Robot"), and female empowerment ("Powaaa"), among others.
Love and empowerment run through every song on Not 4 U like a double helix. They collide most on the title track (which comes along with a shining music video). Schneider reclaims everything that men try to take from femme individuals, one by one. It's an assertive, smart pop song that redirects all the negative energy into defiant, gleaming sunshine.
Listen to Not 4 U below.
KYM is Kim Schneider, a Minneapolis-based songwriter and dancer. Her first collection of tracks is a refreshing blast of 00's pop and rock. The guitar lines are jaunty and the basslines (provided by Drew d'Lakes) dance around. Instrumentation couches Schneider's voice as she molds it to fit the song in front of her, whether it's melismatic or nearly spoken. Her lyrics dive right into relatable tales of daily life: self-love ("Roots"), comparing a relationship to video games ("Robot"), and female empowerment ("Powaaa"), among others.
Love and empowerment run through every song on Not 4 U like a double helix. They collide most on the title track (which comes along with a shining music video). Schneider reclaims everything that men try to take from femme individuals, one by one. It's an assertive, smart pop song that redirects all the negative energy into defiant, gleaming sunshine.
Listen to Not 4 U below.
Sarlas - Montana EP (self-released)
Every time we've covered the music of Dom Winterbauer, I find myself writing about how prolific they are. They're in two (semi-)active bands and put out two solo albums last year. Other than a fantastic single from Miloe, Winterbauer has taken their time in 2020 (even pre-quarantine). Their new 3-song EP under the name Sarlas luxuriates in that time instead of rushing through it.
Montana succeeds in presenting that patience and purpose in just under six minutes. Instead of the pillowy dream pop of prior album, it opts for a hushed, bedroom recording style of acoustic songcraft. Winterbauer's lyrics are impressionistic and gentle (with a possible Arcade Fire reference on the title track). The lack of embellishment puts a spotlight on their equally tender vocals. While "Montana" evokes a washed-out watercolor fantasia, "Holiday" is a completed painting, despite its short runtime.
If every forthcoming lo-fi acoustic quarantine EP is as good as Montana, we're in for an absolute deluge of good music. In the meantime, listen to these songs and remember what it feels like to see the rising dawn.
Listen to Montana below.
Montana succeeds in presenting that patience and purpose in just under six minutes. Instead of the pillowy dream pop of prior album, it opts for a hushed, bedroom recording style of acoustic songcraft. Winterbauer's lyrics are impressionistic and gentle (with a possible Arcade Fire reference on the title track). The lack of embellishment puts a spotlight on their equally tender vocals. While "Montana" evokes a washed-out watercolor fantasia, "Holiday" is a completed painting, despite its short runtime.
If every forthcoming lo-fi acoustic quarantine EP is as good as Montana, we're in for an absolute deluge of good music. In the meantime, listen to these songs and remember what it feels like to see the rising dawn.
Listen to Montana below.
Admiral Fox - Nowhere is Safe EP (self-released)
It seems like every new song takes on a new prescience during this age of quarantine. We only perceive music after it's been refracted through the prism of coronavirus. More often than not, it's forced and does the art a disservice. That's not the case for Nowhere is Safe, the new EP from Minneapolis alt-rock quartet Admiral Fox.
There are two contexts for the EP, both of which elevate it. There's the closing moments of 2019, when the songs were written, and there's now, a lovely time of pandemic and economic collapse (woo!).
Opener "Forest Dweller" touches on themes of commitment and environmentalism ("why can't the humans leave beautiful things alone?") and "Salamander" is a punchy, hook-laden punk explosion. "Lift My Spirit" is the connector between the two contexts. Depression didn't suddenly appear as soon as we're all stuck at home; it's a day-to-day struggle faced by millions of people that has only flourished as of late. Lyricist/vocalist Dan DeMarco aims the song at anyone who makes light of mental illness, especially as a source of artistic inspiration. The expectation to create has only grown more burdensome in the past month, lending the song an extra burst of poignancy.
Nowhere is Safe's final two songs embrace anxiety wholeheartedly. "Pictures of Drones" encapsulates the specific fear of living in what amounts to a surveillance state. It's also a purely anthemic rock song, with beautiful synths, ascending tremolo guitars, and DeMarco's most ecstatic vocal performance. Closer "So Proud" is DeMarco's address to future children and future generations, imploring them to enact revolution and overthrow the government. Anxiety is converted to action as the band makes a desperate last call for survival, even if it doesn't come around until the next generation.
Listen to Nowhere is Safe below.
There are two contexts for the EP, both of which elevate it. There's the closing moments of 2019, when the songs were written, and there's now, a lovely time of pandemic and economic collapse (woo!).
Opener "Forest Dweller" touches on themes of commitment and environmentalism ("why can't the humans leave beautiful things alone?") and "Salamander" is a punchy, hook-laden punk explosion. "Lift My Spirit" is the connector between the two contexts. Depression didn't suddenly appear as soon as we're all stuck at home; it's a day-to-day struggle faced by millions of people that has only flourished as of late. Lyricist/vocalist Dan DeMarco aims the song at anyone who makes light of mental illness, especially as a source of artistic inspiration. The expectation to create has only grown more burdensome in the past month, lending the song an extra burst of poignancy.
Nowhere is Safe's final two songs embrace anxiety wholeheartedly. "Pictures of Drones" encapsulates the specific fear of living in what amounts to a surveillance state. It's also a purely anthemic rock song, with beautiful synths, ascending tremolo guitars, and DeMarco's most ecstatic vocal performance. Closer "So Proud" is DeMarco's address to future children and future generations, imploring them to enact revolution and overthrow the government. Anxiety is converted to action as the band makes a desperate last call for survival, even if it doesn't come around until the next generation.
Listen to Nowhere is Safe below.
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