Blind Equation - never getting better 

Blind Equation’s single, never getting better, from their upcoming Prosthetic Records release: LIFE IS PAIN is a trippy joyride of underground internet music. The happy hardcore arpeggiated synths contrasted with the fry screams gives the song some shock value, and for virgin ears this song may be a little too out there. However, the way they put all these disparate styles together is a testament to their creativity, and I am eagerly awaiting the full length release. When I first heard a cybergrind project back in 2022, specifically Rat Jesu’s Prepared to Die, I fell in love with the style immediately. There’s something about autotuned fry screams, guitar, and live drums that only make sense in our underground current music climate.

Bandcamp: blindequation.bandcamp.com/track/never-getting-better 

MOH BARETTA - ANCHORMAN

Anchorman by Moh Baretta, produced by DJH and cutspace is a collaboration I didn’t expect to happen, but the resulting track is so impenetrably ethereal and satisfying to listen to. During the intro of the beat, I really wasn’t sure how Moh would flow on it, but the SURF GANG member is so seasoned at this point he could get on anything. DJH is a European producer known primarily for their future forward UK Bass, and their collaborative album with sv1 is a great introduction to their music. cutspace and xxhang put out one of the most abstract projects this year, The Angels Floss Their Teeth With My Bones, and cutspace is currently working on a project with sv1 according to their twitter interactions.

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/brandnewbaretta/anchorman?si=dc78ee0d2dcc4b53ab2d1d72367f11f5&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing 

Ren Haze - Post Crush

Post-Crush by Ren Haze is one of the most futuristic nostalgia trips to come out this year. I’ve been listening to the front half of this project on repeat for the past month, and the quality of the mixing, melodies, and lyrics have kept me around. The autotune vocals sound so warm and breathy while still being robotic. And the guitar juxtaposed with the synths makes this project one of contrasts. The lyrics center around benders, relationships, and powders, which is indicative nowadays of early to mid 20s lifestyles.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/7kYTYHEWOtErMgNNJ60OEV?si=jQcE4OC6QLGwr-AzoHbLBw 

umru - MOLLY 

I had the pleasure of seeing and meeting umru in Atlanta earlier last year during Hyd’s nationwide tour where he played this track during his set. I thought initially it was from the #SONGMusicCypher, which the verse is the same, but apparently umru made it into its own track. It’s in the same cunty vein of Shygirl, girl_irl, etc, but the bass and the pace make it stand out from the others.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/2RjhHJoNeRTYm3LTWvR8Xb?si=yND4YfwkRlqRzPvxVrxOHg 

FiFi Zhang - So Beautiful, So Lonely

FiFi Zhang released So Beautiful So Lonely in March of this year on gum.mp3’s label Gum Lab, and the eldia crew hopped on remixes for the project. She’s got a very somber voice, and a great sense of melody which makes these original tracks ripe for the remixing. Some standouts to me are the Replay - Trance Mix, which really captures the 90s rave sound, as well as dazegxd’s jersey club remix of Nobody.

All Platforms: ffm.to/epsbsl.bio 

JHL - Sudden Death

Sudden Death by JHL is a powerful reconstructed club track, using glitches and distortions to structure their vocals. JHL’s vocal range is incredible, wielding a beautiful falsetto with rubbery elasticity between notes. It’s a wonderful thing to hear an artist not use autotune and produce their own beats. The confidence and vulnerability in this track really allows JHL’s lyrics to hit home.

Bandcamp: soulfeeder.bandcamp.com/track/sudden-death 

arcuti - pinnacle mountain road

arcuti is a producer and vocalist from Nutley, New Jersey. Member of the collective Seraphim, arcuti has racked up collaborations with HUNN, mothgirl, and Shabibs. His sound is heavily inspired by pop punk and midwest emo. The beginning of ‘pinnacle mountain trail’ is a simple plucked guitar riff but soon jumps straight into pop punk. The guitar's tone has a fuzzy effect that compliments the mic’s distortion. It’s a feel-good hit that fits with the current nostalgia crave 2000s-era emo music. 

Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/614luvGsoQsvdw1CkKYxTk?si=r6W07_rTTDOJXmUGl5y9jA 

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/arcuti/pinnacle?si=7193af8ff8cf4f4ebf23878ab525cccf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing 

byekento x zivve - waste of time

byekento teamed up with Norwegian singer zivve to create ‘waste of time,’ This track was released in celebration of byekento reaching 900 followers on SoundCloud. Producers drma and mcx created a hyperpop guitar instrumental, the drums are comparable to brakence’s production style. byekento and zivve’s vocal styles complement eachother, byekento sings powerful high notes with a catchy rhythm. zivve calm and angelic singing is a perfect bridge between byekento’s choruses.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/0OfbLybeuZo2GbVw7z6WNi?si=2xjDLhY-R82wlY_CFy24HQ 

Soundcloud: on.soundcloud.com/ENvZ5PD8vpvgHu4W7 

jnhygs x 9lives - JERK!

jnhygs is an up-and-coming female singer in the sigilkore scene. She teamed up with Auckland, New Zeeland based producer 9lives. 9lives has produced for people such as Odetari, Kanii, and Luci4. They’re also part of the collective Jewelxxet. jnhygs first popped off with her hit ‘SMOKE IT OFF!’, this track helped set the standard for the current wave of sigikore which was popularized by Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Just Wanna Rock,’ ‘JERK!’ has the energy of a futuristic club hit, it’s catchy and can be played on repeat for hours. jnhygs is known for her signature sped-up and high-pitched rapping/singing.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/6FRiFD0r9Mnv9VFnW4A7wB?si=RMqe1SuLRkqQI3FIDwM3IA 

Soundcloud: on.soundcloud.com/MwTZCE1A5CB6AgYL7 

Sadsvit - Квіти (Flowers)

Hailing from the Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk, Boden Rozvadovskyi (professionally known as Sadsvit) is a 19 year old singer and producer. Sadsvit first gained prominence after a military footage edit was made to his song ‘Касета (Casette)’ and was spread on Azov telegram channels. Sadsvit melancholy post-punk perfectly fits with the emotions of the Russo-Ukrainian war. During the majority of ʼКвітиʼ Sadsvit is accompanied with background singer Maria Lisovska. This song follows a basic chorus verse chorus pattern with the second verse being sung by Maria herself.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/1BBXxqH8gdhsic0GeKD11U?si=iX1MiUk3R1Sh9QUiRSjnNA 

Soundcloud: on.soundcloud.com/sUr4ASebQefauNxAA 

checkerboi23 - unknown

checkerboi23 (aka ch3ckr) is a 17 year old singer and producer from Michigan. They got their start in producing when they were just 13. Following the Covid-19 lockdowns they went into overdrive with their music, releasing their first album ‘all in my head’ in early 2021. This was soon followed by the album ‘lost not found’ plus their EPs ‘tracy’ and ‘neutrality!,’ Their latest album is fully self produced with features from heartstopmiami and Axil. ‘unkown’ primary is depressive pluggnb album, this can be seen in songs like ‘minee’, ‘insanee’, and ‘elementt,’ This cadence is occasionally intermittent with fast paced hyperpop tracks like ‘2highh’ and skinn,’ ‘consciouss’ stands out from the rest of the album with its bitcrushed guitar melody, a kin to new wave pop punk.

Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/2KVVOEWLC6rObwbhCdFBdC?si=HKLRXzZ3QiKTa32zYgKAoQ 

Soundcloud: on.soundcloud.com/UA1EiTwiEMeW5i3P9