From the Inbox: Heartbreak & Breakups (07/05/20)
Don’t worry, I’m fine.
The theme of heartbreaks and breakups on this week’s From the Inbox was more of a coincidence than a cry for help. (I don’t exactly have anything to lament about but that’s a different story). Instead, maybe we should be asking these artists if they’re alright.
This week, I go through the latest Z-Day single from The Zolas, Z Berg and Deza long for long distance lovers, and things get loud with pun group Tough Age and French alternative group Atalhante – plus much more.
As always, don’t forget to follow us across social media. You can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find these tracks and more on From the Inbox Spotify playlist or with our Monthly Spotify playlist.
And more importantly, if there’s something you love, remember to share it around!
Z Berg – To Forget You
The classic trope of Paris and romance go hand in hand. But other than the locals, very few get to experience that sentimental fairytale for themselves. Los Angeles- based singer-songwriter Z Berg was swept off her feet during a trip to Paris and returned home to write “To Forget You”, a song written in the middle of being overwhelmingly love-stricken. You can feel the romance and melancholy in the rawness of her voice; it is magnetic and soothing, making it difficult to let go.
“To Forget You” is the lead single from her upcoming album Get Z To A Nunnery, out Friday July 10th.
Deza – June
After spending a year in Norway, indie electro-pop singer Deza fell in love with a Norwegian boy. Another classic love affair with time and distance inevitably getting in the way. Her new single June” reflects on her relationship and knowing she’ll be back on a plane to the States at the end of June.
She combines her unfiltered emotion with ear-worm pop hooks on the new single, making for something both deeply personal and ununiversally enjoyable.
Blue Stragglers – All Mine (Sometimes)
London-based alternative rock quintet Blue Stragglers recorded their upcoming EP on a boat: The Lightship 95 at Soup Studios, a houseboat turned recording studio docked on the Thames in East London. You can’t quite hear it, but I’m sure the sensation of bobbing on the water has found its way into the music. Either way, their new single “All Mine (Sometimes)” is as exciting as the recording space. Hints of fellow UK rock groups Royal Blood and Blur come to mind on “All Mine”, as the band crush through their exciting hooks and loud, crunchy riffs.
Maisie Peters – Sad Girl Summer
While I can’t personally relate to having a “sad girl” summer, getting over a breakup is a universal rite of passage. Indie pop songwriter Maisie Peters has given the freedom of letting go an irresistible anthem with “Sad Girl Summer”. The crisp pop production and empowering lyrics make it hard not to sing along.
Atalhante – Yellow Devil
Inspired by the Jean Vigo film “L’Atalante” and the likes of Radiohead, Black Keys, and The Pixies, French alternative rock group Atalhante find a captivating balance between expressionism and heavy music. Their new single “Yellow Devil” and its accompanying music video/short film is an exciting taste of what the band is capable of, exploring the themes of jealousy and pain, ushered through by the yellow devil himself. The bilingual song teeters between the grittiness of English and the sultriness of French, giving the band a worldly edge.
ABISHA – One Night
Growing up as one of the only both Black and queer kids in her hometown of Devon, ABISHA had always felt out of place and different. After breaking into the music scene in 2017, the British alt-pop singer has found her voice and is confidently standing out with her new single “One Night”. Her sultry voice match the song’s neo-R&B production as she longs for one more night with an ex.
The Zolas – Come Back To Life
Last month, Vancouver indie rock trio The Zolas announced they’d be celebrating “Z Days” by releasing new music for the rest of the summer. Their second Z Day single is “Come Back To Life”, an anthem about being resilient in making the world a better place. Its uplifting hooks and energizing melodies are in true Zolas fashion, making an irresistible call to action:
“Come Back To Life” is a reminder to keep fighting for change.
We can’t let ourselves despair and sink back into apathy.
We can’t be drawn in by the cozy siren song of pop culture oblivion.
Yes, it’s a heavy current we’re facing with climate change and decolonization.
Yes, our arms are burning.
Yes, we gotta keep swimming.
All the best to you,
Zach, Dwi, Coco
Human Barbie – GET a LIFE
“Get a life and watch it burn” opens the new single from Christopher Leopold, also known as Human Barbie. It may sound pessimistic, but “Get a Life” is, in a way, a hopeful acknowledgement of the resolution from confusion, sadness, and lack of direction. Leopold’s soothing, melancholic voice guides the listener when things are tough to come out stronger on the other side.
Owen Meany’s Batting Stance – He(art) Attack
The stages between a break up and moving on are a blurred, confusing wash of mixed emotions and readjustments. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and at times, feels endless. Halifax-based singer-songwriter Daniel Walker guides the listener through the experience as Owen Meany’s Batting Stance on his new single “He(art) Attack”. His lyrical storytelling gives a relatable interpretation of heartbreak, using poetic humour and unfiltered vocals to break the fall.
Tiny Stills – Craigslist Bed
Sleeping in a bed off Craigslist for the first time is a weird feeling – especially if it’s also the first night in your new apartment after a breakup. Fortunately for Tiny Stills frontwoman Kailynn West, the bed turned out to be pretty comfy and inspired her new single “Craigslist Bed”.
Written about the rollercoaster of emotions following a breakup, the new single puts the pop in pop punk and adds a bubblegum flare to an otherwise sad song about being lonely.
Johnny Ashby – Born Again
Inspired by the likes of Coldplay, Damon Albarn, and Kings of Leon, London-born, Los Angeles-based indie songwriter Johnny Ashby aims to create bigger than life songs that are meant to be enjoyed live. The result is a captivating and refreshing listening experience , focusing on his voice and atmospheric production. On his new single “Born Again”, you an almost imagine Ashby singing on the main stage of a festival just before sunset.
AMAARA – Gone
After performing with Reuben and the Dark for over five years, Kaelen Ohm decided to step into solo work under the name AMAARA. The actress/filmmaker/musician will be releasing her multimedia project Heartbreak on August 14th, combining her skills into an art piece on self-reflection, grief, and healing. From the release is the new music video for “Gone”, shot over two nights to capture the desert sunrise. Fusing together electronic textures with her folk songwriting, she sings about “when time has passed and the heart starts to heal, anger as a phase of grief takes rise and there can be a lot to say.”
Tough Age – My Life’s A Joke & I’m Throwing It Away
Self-deprecating humour mixed with self-sabotage will always make for a great punk song. Toronto’s Tough Age take on the task with “My Life’s A Joke & I’m Throwing It Away”, building a story around a protagonist who hates his life, gets thrown into the life of a new person, and inevitably ends up at the same place. It’s like a loud, abrasive Coen Brother’s film.
