LISTEN: NEW MUSIC ROUNDUP 8/6 – Top 10 Tracks

With so much new music coming out every week, it can be hard to know what to listen to first. Every week, we highlight some of our favorite tracks to kick off your weekend. The best way to keep up with our selections is by following our ‘New Music On-Repeat’ playlist on Spotify. This week’s picks include tracks from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Holly Humberstone, mehro, and more!

1. 1. Nessa Barrett – “I hope ur miserable until ur dead”

TikTok star Nessa Barrett has become a rare gem in the wave of TikTokers-turned-musicians. She’s been releasing a string of alt-rock/pop singles since late last year that have surprised us with their quality and likability. This new track is a bitter revenge anthem, where Nessa shows absolutely no mercy in her ill-will towards her ex. Her high-pitched, sweet vocals create a bit of irony in the song as she sings about how she hopes “you never fall in love again” and of course are “miserable until you’re dead”.

1. 1. 2. ElyOtto – “Profane”

ElyOtto is one of the most exciting young faces in music, crafting vivacious, riveting hyperpop tracks that push the boundaries of what pop music can be. You may know him from his track “SugarCrash!” which went viral on TikTok earlier this year, but with each subsequent single ElyOtto proves he’s here to stay. This track has the same frenzied catchiness we loved on “SugarCrash!”, but with more of an industrial techno atmosphere underpinning it.

1. 1. 2. 3. Mehro – “Coastline”

Rising LA-singer-songwriter mehro just released his debut project ‘SKY IS ON FIRE’ and is already back to dropping new music! This song oozes with sunshine thanks to a subtle surf-inspired guitar riff, and mehro’s distant vocal adds a cinematic touch.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. Maty Noyes – “California Sun”

Maty Noyes’ refreshing vocals have probably been featured on one of your favorite songs, whether it be her guest appearance on the Weeknd’s ‘Beauty Behind The Madness’ or her gorgeous collaboration with Kygo on the song “Stay”. But Noyes is a powerhouse in her own right, which “California Sun” totally demonstrates. Sunny, carefree, and breezy, this track will teleport you into to the Golden State’s state of mind.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Alaina Castillo – “wish you were here”

This is the first new release from Mexican-American singer-songwriter Alaina Castillo since her debut album ‘parallel universe pt. 1’. This is a song about longing for someone, which Castillo wrote in quarantine upon realizing how much she needed this person in her life. It’s a song about missing someone that doesn’t wallow in itself, making it effortlessly listenable.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Holly Humberstone – “Please Don’t Leave Just Yet”

We are beyond excited for Holly Humberstone’s upcoming sophomore EP ‘The Walls Are Way Too Thin’, which is set for release on November 5^th. This track was co-produced by the 1975’s Matt Healy, whose influence shines through in the twinkling yet grand atmosphere of the track. Humberstone’s writing is precise and heartbreaking, as she begs the person she loves to stay. It’s a song that’s as gut-wrenching as it is gorgeous, and solidifies Humberstone’s status as one of the most exciting newcomers in alt-pop.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Wet – “Larabar”

NYC trio Wet has just announced their third studio album, which will feature their reunion with founding guitarist Marty Sulkow. To coincide with the release they’ve released this piano-led ballad that tackles the sometimes cyclical nature of relationships. This song has a mix of tender folksy melodies with electronic distortion that reminds me of Bon Iver’s 22, A Million. This sprawling song is rich in texture and emotion, and definitely earned a spot in this week’s Top 10.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Luz – “permanent +1”

“I always make the same face in your family photos, they say we’ll take a better one next year,” Irish singer-songwriter sings in the first line of her new single “permanent +1”. The song is a celebration of steadfast, solid relationships. Luz doesn’t just celebrate the person who comes to every wedding or party, but the person who is always there for the mundane parts of life, grocery shopping, doing laundry together, and simply enjoying one another’s company.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Nation of Language – “This Fractured Mind”

Brooklyn indie-pop band Nation of Language has gifted us with this delightful song about the period of confusion and indecision that comes before self-acceptance. This song is best described as electronic shoegaze, with influences of LCD Soundsystem and The Smiths coming through. Ambient, boppy, and effortlessly cool, this song needs to be the newest addition to your playlists.

1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “That Life”

Unknown Mortal Orchestra are experts at crafting ethereal songs with a soulful core, and on “That Life” they show us what they do best. Frontman Ruban Nielson was inspired when he, “saw this painting by Hieronymus Bosch called The Garden of Earthly Delights and in the painting there was a mixture of crazy stuff going on, representing heaven, earth, and hell. When I was writing this song, ‘That Life,’ I was imaging the same kind of ‘Where’s Waldo’ (or ‘Where’s Wally’ as we call it in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK) of contrasting scenes and multiple characters all engaged in that same perverse mixture of luxury, reverie, damnation, in the landscape of America. Somewhere on holiday under a vengeful sun.” What results is a laid-back, funky song with a tinge of danger.