From the Inbox: 13 Must-Hear Tracks (08/31/20)
Is it September already!?
This summer has flown by despite not being at any concerts or festivals. It feels like forever ago that a live show was a real thing, amirite?
Nevertheless, talented artists and musicians are grinding away at their craft and have been filling my inbox with stellar singles and EPs. I’ve complied a 13 track playlist for this week’s From the Inbox featuring a handful of my favourite tracks of the week.
As always, you can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. You can listen to the entire collection with our handy From the Inbox Spotify playlist or with our Monthly Spotify playlist.
Also, if you’re looking for a steady collection of favourites, follow my ‘Starting Line-Up’ playlist on Spotify to stay up to date on my Top 20 Picks – some of these tracks can be found on there!
Let us know your favourite and more importantly, if there’s something you love, remember to share it around!
Retro Champ – Confidence
St. Louis-based rapper Retro Champ is definitely one to watch. He dropped his second EP F.Y.I. back in July and has been picking up steam since making his debut in 2019. His wordy flow and confident sound collides on the aptly-named hit single “Confidence”. It’s a hard-hitting anthem about keeping your head up and making waves on your own terms, and Retro Champ makes it easy to feel good about yourself on this one.
Find it on my newly updated ‘Starting Line-Up’ Spotify playlist.
London Grammar – Baby It’s You
In case you haven’t been following my Starting Line-Up playlist, London Grammar released an absolutely stellar new single “Baby It’s You” last week. It’s the first new music from them since the 2017 LP Truth Is A Beautiful Thing. Soaring vocals and pulsing rhythms come together for a stunning release.
Find this one still on the ‘Starting Line-Up” playlist, too.
Run the Jewels ft. 2 Chainz – Out of Sight
This is a fun one.
After releasing RTJ4 for free earlier this year, Run the Jewels have been sharing a handful of new music videos, including the silly-heist music video for “Out of Sight” featuring 2 Chainz. Featuring the cast of Amazon Original movie “Get Duked!”, the four friends try to steal a psychedelic gun-and-fist sculpture and diamonds. Other than being a bomb-ass track, the music video is a trippy, comedic adventure.
Synapson ft. Pongo – Lengueno
DJ duo Synapson have been sharing an internationally-inspired collection of singles this year. Their fourth and latest release is “Lengueno”, this time travelling to Portugal to feature Angolan kudoro artist Pongo. It’s infectious melody and beach party rhythms give the electronic track a summery vibe while Pongo’s Portuguese raps add a worldly energy, mixing the Afrobeats of kuduro with Euro-house.
REUNIØN – Way Out West
Renowned producers Jon Green (James Bay, Aquilo, Linkin Park, Lady A) and Eliot James (Two Door Cinema Club, Noah & The Whale, Pêtr Aleksänder) have partnered up to become REUNIØN. Their experience and combined musical influences come together on their new single “Way Out West”, making for a lush electro-pop single that sounds like early Chainsmokers meets nowaday-Coldplay, infused by haunting vocals a là Bon Iver.
Adding to the song’s heartfelt ambience, the accompanying music video was designed by Japanese artist Sonoko Obuchi, about her heartbreaking love story at 18 when her high school sweetheart passed away at 21.
You guessed it – you can find this song on the ‘Starting Line-Up’ playlist.
Public Body – Ask Me Later
Brighton continues to produce some of UK’s best indie bands – including Public Body who first embarked on their journey as a post-punk infused four-piece in 2019. Their new single “Ask Me Later” brings out their cynical, fun-loving side on the anti-day job anthem. Borrowing experimental alt-rock from the Talking Heads and Television, mixed with a contemporary Brit-rock sound like Home Counties and Sports Team. It’s dancy, funky, and perfect for blasting while going through the motions.
“Ask Me Later” is another hit you can find on the ‘Starting Line-Up’ playlist.
Robert Glasper ft. H.E.R. & MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO – Better Than I Imagined
The great Robert Glasper is back with a new single “Better Than I Imagined”, rounded out by the sultry vocals of H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello. As you might expect, Glasper creates a low-key vibe built around jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and soul. It’s a slow-burner but with plenty of details to get lost in.
Ela Minus – el cielo no es de nadie
Colombian/New York-based experimental electronic artist Ela Minus uses hardware and machines to create all of the sounds and details in her music. Her new single “el cielo no es de nadie” (translation: heaven belongs to nobody), is a deep, underground club track complete with hypnotic pulsations and drum patterns. Dizzying strobe lights and colourful rave costumes fit the aesthetic as she sings about everyday acts of love in Spanish.
Black Thought ft. Pusha T, Killer Mike & Swizz Beatz – Good Morning
You may recognize the name Black Thought as the co-founder of the legendary hip-hop ensemble The Roots. The prolific rapper has teamed up with Pusha T, Killer Mike and Swizz Beatz to create the hard-hitting “Good Morning”. It’s the latest single from his upcomoing album Stream of Thoughts Vol. 3 Cane and Able, out September 18th.
Chloe Lilac – DOUCHEBAG
Ever wanted to give a big F-You to an ex?
Brooklyn-based indie pop artist Chloe Lilac has the anthem for you, written after getting her heart broken by the wrong “douchebag”. It’s a catchy pop-punk anthem that calls out all the cliche antics of the good ol’ fuckboy. So a win-win, really. Fans of Bea MIller, Saygrace, and Billie Eilsh will get a kick out of this one.
Sam the Astronaut – High For You
With their new album Midnight Carlight hitting shelves this past Friday, indie electro-pop duo Sam the Astronaut have shared their love-song dance anthem “High For You”. With odes to early 2000s pop and electro-pop influences, “High For You” feels like a modern Savage Garden tune that celebrates the high of romance.
Living Body – I Do
Got a minute to spare? Leeds, UK-based group living Body have shared a new single as part of their “Short Songs” compilation, this one dedicated to the wealthy Jeff Bezos who managed to increase his wealth by $75 billion since COVID. “I Do” is a 59 second critique of the big corporations that have a control on our lives through algorithms, advertising, and shady tactics.
Ezra Collective – Dark Side Riddim
Inspired by the sci-fi genre and Star Wars, London, UK funk-jazz ensemble Ezra Collective have shared their dazzling new single “Dark Side Riddim”. Keeping in line to their expressive, melodic style of performance, the young group have some fun exploring the space of their music and sound with virtuosic instrumentation and jazzy solos. Psychedelic features seep through the cracks on the single, giving it a hazy and atmospheric feel.
