Tobias Jesso Jr. – “How Could You Babe”
I’ve been obsessed with this song since the first time I heard it.
When it first starts out, I always think it’s a song I’ve known since my childhood. Just another nostalgic piano ballad…but WAIT — it may start slowly but that just makes his howling with emotion later in the song all the better.
This song will haunt you in the best way. It’s from his forthcoming album “Goon” out in March on True Panther Sounds.
Alina Baraz & Galimatias – “Fantasy”
Alina Baraz is leaving a lot up to our imagination. Her website has nothing but a stream of her single (no photo even!) and links to her socials. But I can’t argue with the idea of hiding behind an excellent song like “Fantasy”, which has racked up over 6 million views since it was posted on Soundcloud four months ago.
As a beach baby, I also can’t resist lyrics like “listen to the waves, let them wash away your pain” and, at the one-minute mark, the track takes an unexpected turn from a lush, acoustic soul track with subtle strings into…well…just listen.
Mocky – “Sweet Things”
Canadian producer/songwriter Dominic Salole, aka Mocky, is known for his work with artists like Feist, Jamie Lidell and Kelela and is preparing the release of his own EP “Living Time”.
The multi-instrumentalist tracked the lead single during a lunch break in a studio session and it’s a simple gem of a song with a great beat called “Sweet Things”.
He now lives in LA full time and I hope there are more feel-good tracks like this on the way!
Courtney Barnett – “Pedestrian at Best”
I unabashedly love Courtney Barnett and have been singing her praises for quite some time.
Her debut LP will be out on March 24 on Mom & Pop Records and the first single is everything I could have hoped for. Her lyrics are ridiculously good and make her one of the most compelling artists out there right now.
And the video is hilarious.
Emile Haynie – “Falling Apart” (Feat Andrew Wyatt And Brian Wilson)
With echoes of Alphaville’s “Forever Young” orchestral opening, a marching band drum beat and lead vocals from Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt AND harmonies by Brian Wilson, there is a lot to like about this song.
Until now, Emile has been best known for his production work (with Lana Del Rey and Eminem, among others) has his solo debut, “We Fall” will be out later this month with a TON of guest appearances.
It was recorded over course of six months at Chateau Marmont and will be out on Interscope.