Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7dIqIbPP6oab6YzuGDORF8 

Jacob’s picks

1. Kacy Hill – “Just To Say”
2. Jarhead Fertilizer – “Life is a Prison” 
3. Tyler, The Creator, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ty Dolla $ign – “WUSYANAME”
4. Cerebral Rot – “Excretion of Mortality” 

It’s a shame more people haven’t discovered singer and songwriter Kacy Hill. Hill’s discography is full of relatable lyrics and soundscapes that never fail to tug at a listener’s heartstrings. “Just To Say” is a somber and soothing track that places the listener in a low-key music club with smoke in the air as Hill shows off her beautiful singing voice. 

The brand of death metal Jarhead Fertilizer has conjured up is simple and nasty. Slow chugging guitar riffs with toxic vocals make “Life is a Prison” feel ignorant and demeaning in a good and groovy way that gets the head moving. 

The magic of spending quality time with that one special person in everyone’s lives is translated perfectly into a song with Tyler, The Creator’s “WUSYANAME.” Reminiscent of the love language music greats like Marvin Gaye used to create, “WUSYANAME” shows Tyler, The Creator’s evolution as an artist. One of the best things about this track is YoungBoy’s standout verse. YoungBoy’s career so far hasn’t been anything to write home about, but Tyler has managed to show YoungBoy’s potential with one track.  

Cerebral Rot has carved its spot in the death metal underground with tracks that reek of swamp decomposition. “Excretion of Mortality” takes that statement to another level as the band has managed to make its instrumentation even more vile and the vocals even more putrid. 

Madelaine’s picks

1. Steve Lacy – “Dark Red”
2. MyKey – “Was It Something I Said”
3. Cass McCombs – “Morning Star”
4. CASTLEBEAT, Sonia Gadhia – “Telephone”

“Dark Red” is without a doubt the best song off of alternative R&B artist Steve Lacy’s first EP. The funky baseline throughout the song compliments the soulful melody and Lacy’s incredible vocal range. 

Alternative pop-rock artist MyKey’s “Was It Something I Said,” which has over 18 million streams on Spotify, starts off with an instrumental intro that turns into lyrics about a rocky relationship. MyKey’s soft singing and guitar gives this song a gloomy feeling. 

The fourth track off of Cass McCombs’ seventh album is “Morning Star,” a song filled with offbeat lyrics that allow the listener to visualize what McCombs is singing about. The guitar is soft and McCombs’ relaxing voice glides throughout the song. This song is perfect for listening on a rainy day.

“Telephone” by alternative indie artist CASTLEBEAT, featuring bedroom pop artist Sonia Gadhia, sounds very dreamlike. The vocals are light, breathy and soft throughout, while the grunge-inspired guitar and instrumental track are a bit heavier.  

Brandon’s picks

1. Weston Estate- “Pears”
2. Big Thief – “Shark Smile-Edit”
3. Brian Fallon- “Vincent” 
4. Blis.- “Bad Weather”

Self-described as “ya aunty’s favorite boy band,” North Carolina’s Weston Estate has gone viral with its latest single “Pears.” The song blew up on social media having garnered 1.4 million views after a clip from the band’s acoustic rendition was posted. The track well-deserves the attention as it is a head-bobbing listen with the group’s harmonious vocals and the smooth production. 

 “Shark Smile-Edit” is a 2017 track from Brooklyn indie-rock band Big Thief. The band draws from folk inspirations on this track with simplistic bouncing drums, warm acoustic rhythm guitar and lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s vocals delivered with vibrato and twang. The track’s final chorus is the selling point because it builds with a loud, shimmering lead guitar. 

The track “Vincent” comes off of the record “Local Honey,” the third studio album from New Jersey singer and songwriter Brian Fallon. Fallon, more popularly known for being the frontman for American rock band The Gaslight Anthem, always delivers a change of pace with his solo work. This album is no different as “Vincent” is a slow, country-folk ballad that takes the perspective of a woman in an abusive relationship who looks for an escape, eventually killing her abuser. 

Atlanta indie-rock band Blis. packs a powerful, nostalgic punch in its track “Bad Weather.” The track’s intro is eerily reminiscent of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979,” with its washed out, alternating hi-hat and tom drum groove.The similarities stop there as “Bad Weather” turns into a subdued emo-rock track complete with a catchy chorus with overdriven guitar and belted vocals.