zivee x kaido - “alone”

Norwegian singer zivve has released his newest song “alone” with kaido. The song was first recorded almost a year ago. zivve sat on the open from kaido for several months before recording his verse. kaido’s angelic hook contrasts perfectly with zivve’s low singing voice. zivve took singing lessons when he was 10. This combined with his 3 years of releasing music has come together to formulate this track.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4DNCc8HrB3rGKodalGnGwg?si=53c571831e88400b

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/zivve17/alone-w-kaido-1

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/alone/1659653607?i=1659653608

Vaeo - “the world is ending and i can’t stop crying over these frog boots”

Despite this song’s complicated title, it is simple. The beat is composed of an acoustic loop overlaid with a lively drum pattern. The chorus is repeated 3 times throughout the song as well as being catchy gives it massive replay value. Two verses placed in between each chorus provide a balanced transition between each chorus.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4MQ48t5e8dXrmOWKpJtnIT?si=07219ee9f3554cd4

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vaeo-music/the-world-is-ending-and-i-cant-stop-crying-over-these-fucking-frog-boots

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-world-is-ending-and-i-cant-stop-crying-over/1656537606?i=1656537607

Fijimar X Gurldoll - “rabbit race”

Toronto-based singer Fijimar recently released his newest track with Gurldoll. With over 27K monthly listeners Gurldoll is Fijimar’s second biggest collaboration after Capoxxo. Although “rabbit race” has only been out for about a week it has already seen massive support. In the transition between Fijimar and Gurldoll’s verses there vocals are overlaid. Both voices harmonize perfectly during each chorus. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2r8ZqGKAirrwBmrzXUqpYs?si=8ea5e8e3c63a4e76

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/fijimar/rabbit-race-wgurldoll-siemspark-x-thislandis

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/rabbit-race-feat-gurldoll/1661805812?i=1661805813

funeral - “1221”

North Carolina vocalist and producer funeral ended off 2022 with their newest EP “1221,” Featuring two energetic tracks “i’m wit mental in saks” and “i’ll be back in the morning” bringing back the fast-paced nature of 2020 hyperpop. This is balanced out with two mellow(er) tracks “one day, someday” and “idkwhat” which features a verse from the vocalist mental. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Lx4F78pgUXeIV2JygJhpv?si=5kTHQNpQTDS2upoicN41yg

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/funeral/sets/1221m

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/1221-ep/1660089646

xona x sleepwater - “reflex”

Vocalist and producer xona has been making a name for themself over the past couple of years. Often collaborating with heylog they have built a sizeable discography. sleepwater is another frequent collaborator of xona’s, “reflex” marks their third song together. xona’s production on this song pulls elements from both hyperpop and ambient. Both artists mark a shift within hyperpop and indie-pop towards a more slow-paced/mellow approach.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3kgJVYGkuUsgWIMuLueGHE?si=c5db28bfda74474c

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/xona/redreflex

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reflex-feat-sleepwater-single/1661693725

claude - “backroads”

claude’s song “backroads” is a refreshing innovation to a genre that has seen its fair share of oversaturation. It combines faced-paced pop-punk guitars with bit-crushed vocals. Although this sound has been explored by artists such as Lei, juno, and lieu, “backrooms” complexity in production provides a new take on this style. Coming in at only 1:23 this is an earworm that you can’t help but play on repeat. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/04kJXIRHWzwyrIQT2wBZMT?si=GK0VFMgkTO2s12PyNpF7kQ

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/claudesdiary/backroads

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/backroads/1661789586?i=1661789587

lil g mills - I Followed The River 

A noisy, grimy, visceral album from the experimental trap producer Lil G Mills, with a handpicked feature list of other transfemmes. IFTR does not lack in texture, atmosphere, or emotion; the mainly instrumental album takes the listener on a haunting quest through the terrors of Mills' DAW.

Bandcamp: lil-g-mills.bandcamp.com/album/i-followed-the-river-2 

Tonedeaf - Obelisk 

Washington vocalist and producer returned with one last dreamy and ethereal release of 2022; obelisk continues to build on their ambient, cloud-trap-pop sound. TONEDEAF, with a well curated collab list, has delivered an LP akin to a soft nighttime snowfall. 

YouTube: music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mLjiCXqj2NUEc6RnaRGimDMgBVmrxlGjs 

drama trial - (re) 

 An ep that quickly followed their s/t album, (re) is more of drama trial's take on a blend of digicore & hyperpop, with atypical song structure, and breathtaking sound selection. Each track is a vignette of emotion, and as a whole is composed to repeat seamlessly. 

Bandcamp: dramatrial.bandcamp.com/album/re 

castle rock but smaller - castle rock but smaller 

Co-released by Honey Suckle Records (on CD) and Deapfth Pop (on tape), the acoustic skramz act's debut LP carries the torch of previous waves of the genre with grace and twisted-beauty. Most tracks are accompanied by electronic drums, and all are filled with twinkly riffs and wicked vocals.

Bandcamp: honeysucklerecords.bandcamp.com/album/castle-rock-but-smaller 

deathirl - FRESH FLOWERS FOR ILL FRUIT II 

New Jersey MC's full length sequel to 2021's EP, produced solely by agarrr, is an experimental east-coast hip-hop gem. Deathirl has as many flows as he has bars, keeping each song new, fresh, ear catching and mind boggling.  

Bandcamp: deathirl.bandcamp.com/album/fresh-flowers-for-ill-fruit-ii 

coma regalia - il evectes 

Midwest post-hardcore/screamo act's winter release is explosive, guttural, and hair-raising. Self-record and engineered, il evectes holds true to the genre tonally; every second is raw and intense. 

Bandcamp: middlemanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/il-evectes