We arrive on the next Sunday of the Summer season. And while, here in the UK, things have been a little on and off weather-wise, one thing remains consistent; that being the sheer level of amazing bops we have been blessed with, thanks to the amazing minds of independent artists.
We have a very versatile mix to share with you through this week’s playlist. And in this article, we will be going over 9 of our favourites.
Cerae » Foolishly In Love
Cerae continues to bring a unique element to her R&B inspired style, through the nostalgic yet current feel of her sophomore single.
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Toronto-based artist R&B singer-songwriter Cerae kicked off her discography earlier this year, by injecting her vibrant and soulfully soothing sound into her debut single ‘Clocks (Loving with you)’. It felt apparent from the very get-go, that Cerae has displayed a brand of R&B that feels extremely unique, and we are thrilled to see this sense of innovation flow into her sophomore single so perfectly. Titled ‘Foolishly In Love’, this track carries the glowing warmth of a true summer R&B anthem. Along with this, ‘Foolishly In Love’ manages to combine both nostalgic and current incentives into this one amazing tune. The amount of enjoyment and whimsical vibes we got from this new single, really speaks of how much of a rising star Cerae seems to be.
Alta Falls » Into You
‘Into you’ serves as a fantastic continuation of Alta Falls’ vibrant, wondrous, and warm sound.
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‘Into You’ is the sophomore single release from Brisbane indie-synth outfit Alta Falls, and follows the warm and whimsical sound of their debut single ‘Take me On Down’. We love how ‘Into You’ follows through so well on a stylistic level, while standing out enough as a new vibe from the two. While retaining that upbeat, retro electronic energy, ‘Into you’ also carries a very strong sense of emotiveness in its atmosphere. A song that reflects the idea of two unlikely misfits coming together, we could definitely grasp how ‘Into You’ feels like a love letter to the creative minds that have collaborated to bring Alta Falls to life. We cannot wait to hear more of their vibrant and wondrous alternative sound, in their upcoming EP.
Clare Kelly » No One Is Looking At You
‘No One is Looking At You’ recounts Clare Kelly’s sense of disconnect, but ultimately ends up being a highly engaging tune.
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After a short hiatus in 2020, Leeds-based indie folk-rock artist Clare Kelly has sought to make 2021 a year of intense productivity. Following the release of her first 2021 single ‘Breathe’, and then the dual release of another two tracks, Kelly’s next step forward comes in the form of ‘No One Is Looking At You’. The dramatic, powerful, and almost haunting vocal delivery that Clare Kelly is known and loved for, provides a refreshingly unique juxtaposition, when compared to the earthy, warm, and grounded indie rock sound. Contextually, ‘No One Is Looking At You’ recounts the artist’s own sense of disconnect prior to the impact of lockdown, which oddly enough, sets the stage for a highly engaging and relatable single to many.
Eva Westphal » She’s Mine
‘She’s Mine’ displays Eva Westphal’s sheer level of passion, towards both her partner and her music.
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‘She’s Mine’ is the third single release of 2021 from New York singer-songwriter Eva Wesphal; an artist who has truly pushed her sense of musical intimacy forward this year. That being said, ‘She’s Mine’ especially is a glistening example of said intimacy. We could picture ourselves at a local venue, just soaking up every word and chord from this talented artist. Released just in time for Pride Month, ‘She’s Mine’ is a celebration of Eva Westphal’s girlfriend in the form of a gorgeously warm tune. The pure loveliness of this track’s instrumental is matched by Wesphal’s lyrics, which sees the artist truly pour her heart out. This track simply shows just how much Eva Westphal can inject so much passion into her music.
Flynn Rink » Down
Flynn Rink’s debut single brings a unique accessibility, which feels like something that mainstream artists will adopt in years to come.
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‘Down’ is the debut single release from Boston-based duo Flynn Rink; a musical project composed of song artists, and lifelong friends, Joe Welch and Jack Keating. Combining Welch’s electronic instrumental talent, with Keatings guitar and vocal work, listeners have what feels like a very accessible, yet also very unique single. We may even go as far as to say that ‘Down’ feels like the kind of single that, in a stylistic sense, many mainstream artists may follow in the years to come. There’s a very lustrous and colourful sense of depth that this track wields, while it also has that refreshingly independent and raw feel. We are very excited to see where this dynamic duo ventures next, and what other awesome singles they may have in the works.
Fried Dough » Rinse Repeat
‘Rinse Repeat’ is a summer track more unique than most, that brings forward that sense of warmth in its own ambient way.
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‘Rinse Repeat’ is the first single release of 2021 from the Toronto-based electronic outfit Fried Dough, and follows up from a year in which the group released their debut album, titled Mad Liquid Space. After the dynamic and fluid sound of the aforementioned album, ‘Rinse Repeat’ seems to take a somber, and more stripped-back approach. With this, this new single had little to no trouble having us immersed in the soothing soundscape it creates. These atmospheric elements come together to create a summer track that feels more unique than most, but still carries that sense of warmth in its own ambient way. We are truly impressed by the level of fluidity that Fried Dough brings with their pieces, with ‘Rinse Repeat’ being a great example.
Kai Ono & JaMichael » Our Umbrella
Kai Ono presents an entirely unique addition to his discography, and compliments the aesthetic of JaMichael perfectly in their collaborative effort.
Following the dynamic sounds of the earlier two 2021 single releases, Kai Ono presents an entirely different sound, through his collaboration with Neo-soul / jazz artist JaMichael, which is titled ‘Our Umbrella’. It was clear to us when browsing through Kai Ono’s discography, that the artist is capable of a lot musically. However, the warm and highly soulful feel of this new single really had our attention. We can definitely sense how ‘Our Umbrella’ perfectly catered to the aesthetic that an artist like JaMichael has championed, while also expanding the versatility of Kai Ono’s discography greatly. We were pleasantly surprised to find that ‘Our Umbrella’ was written in only two days, as the sheer level of artistry and musical depth feels truly complete.
MarynCharlie » Ginger Beer
We can imagine ‘Ginger Beer’ as an essential part of anyone’s beach playlist, thanks to its insanely summer-like atmosphere.
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‘Ginger Beer’ is the third single release of 2021 from Amsterdam indie pop artist MarynCharlie. And what we love about this new single, first of all, is how it continues that chain of reflecting the time of its release so brilliantly. While the likes of ‘F.I.M’ had a cold, wintery, and emotive vibe, and ‘Flight Mode’ had a very spring-like and uplifting energy, ‘Ginger Beer’ has a bubbly, warm, and hazy feel, that presents it as a perfect summer bop. A song that lyrically reflects the need to spice up a relationship, and reignite that fire, this sentiment boosts the passionate feel of this tune even further. We can just imagine this track being an essential part of anyone’s beach playlist, thanks to its insanely summer-like atmosphere.
Roos Meijer » In My Name
Roos Meijer succeeds in etching a great deal of empowerment into the highly intimate melody of ‘In My Name’
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2020 saw alternative folk artist Roos Meijer follow up from her 2018 debut EP Maktub, with the release of two more singles. Fast-forward to this week of june 2021, and the intimate and almost mystical aesthetic she has championed lives on in her newest single, and her first release of 2021. Titled ‘In My Name’, this brand new track is the first to tease her upcoming debut LP, which she will be naming Why Don’t We Give It A Try?. But of equal importance to that, ‘In My Name’ serves as a track to empower young activists, with its conception being inspired by Meijer’s own interaction with activist Julia Jowe. We are thoroughly blown away by just how much empowerment has been etched into the stripped-back and intimate melody of this beautiful single.
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