Greetings friends! I hope everyone is happy and healthy. I’ve got ten active and healthy New Music picks ready to go!
I was unable to find a single to adequately start this week’s findings, but an EP from a new artist I just noticed this morning. Toronto-born Saya Gray has just released her sophomore effort; a seven-track release called QWERTY. Arpeggiated piano dissolves into wonky Drum & Bass beats, which greet Gray’s soft and inviting voice at the top of the record. This is a mini-adventure of challenging beats and disjointed aural candy.
American West Coast Hip-Hop Producer Mon$rock caught my ear back in October and has returned. Joining him is MC Mattie Bush on FOH, a banger of a ten-track album, with literate and sharp rhymes, and slapping production.
Arlo Parks’ second full-length My Soft Machine was released this morning. It is a triumphant follow-up to a promising debut that demonstrates the confidence of the young writer and musician. Pop bumps into bedroom poetry in full blossom.
The country of Brazil has won my heart with their consistently terrific Musicians and Artists. One such Artist is Iara Rennó. The Grammy-nominated Singer/Songwriter and Producer has released a new album that sparkles and shines. Orí Okàn is eleven beautiful tracks that spotlight Rennó’s versatile and provocative voice. If someone could invent the Babelfish so I could understand what she is singing, I would appreciate it.
IzangoMa is a fifteen-piece ensemble comprised of musicians from Mozambique and South Africa. Their debut album, Ngo Ma, is eleven tracks steeped in rhythm and unidentifiable sound that conjure jungle imagery. Jazz meets the unknown.
An interesting clash of styles meets you on the new full-length from an anonymous Artist from The Netherlands. Coconuts by ThorHighHeels brings together wailing shoegaze guitars with Hip-Hop beats and samples. And it rocks.
Kassa Overall is a Musician, MC, and Producer from Seattle. His new album, ANIMALS, merges Jazz and Hip-Hop in a wholly future-forward soundscape. Includes a feature from my man Danny Brown.
A duo from Brooklyn has caught my attention this week. Releasing their first album for Matador Records is Water From Your Eyes. Everyone’s Crushed features the dry and direct vocals of Rachel Brown, atop high quality Electronic production.
Stuck is a quartet from Chicago that tangle with New Wave-inspired angular beats and fascinating vocals of a David Byrne ilk. ‘Sweaty bar’-ready with mosh-friendly bops is what you’ll find on Freak Frequency.
My Feature Pick for this week comes for an Artist that’s new to me, but comes with a major heavyweight in his corner. Clark has been performing and recording Electronic Music for over twenty years, I’m told, and has released ten albums for Warp Records. His latest, Sus Dog is “Executive Produced By” Thom Yorke of Radiohead and The Smile. Clark’s voice reminds me of Yorke’s falsetto, but the production is unique, from Rave to Chillout Room. Brilliant.
I do hope you’ve found something to your liking. I try so hard. I know of your demands for satisfaction, and I can only try my best to find the Music that I love, and pass it on to you in the spirit of giving.
I’m just messing with you. This is all for me.
Be kind to yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 