From the Inbox: Have Some Fun With 20 Of the Week’s Best Singles (09/21/20)
Welcome back to another weekly round-up, courtesy of my jam-packed inbox. If you’re new, ‘From the Inbox’ is a collection of some of my favourite songs from the past week freshly picked from my garden of emails. And you’re old, better schedule a check-up.
September and October hare always bountiful months for new releases and so I’m excited to share with you 20 of this week’s best singles and music videos!
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.
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!
And lastly, we’re introducing a monthly newsletter and visit our Patreon account if you’d like to show your support!
Let us know your favourite and more importantly, if there’s something you love, remember to share it around!
Junior Mesa – Live From Boyle Heights
This is a little different than what’s normally featured on ‘From the Inbox’, but I couldn’t resist sharing this fantastic live performance from Bakersfield multi-instrumentalist Junior Mesa. Featuring two of his hit singles (“All Or Nothing & “Losing My Grip”) and the unreleased “Recess Fight”, “Live From Boyle Heights” really helps bring out his personality as an entertainer and gives a small taste of what we’ve all been craving these last few months.
Rich Aucoin – Walls
Let’s keep the fun going.
Halifax indie superstar Rich Aucoin dropped his politically-amped album United States this past Friday, as well as the hommage-on-steriods music video for “Walls”. While his other videos have been heavy with news footage and critique, this time he pays tribute to over 22 classic music videos, making for an amusing and lighthearted clip with a few nostalgic cameos.
Cayley Thomas – Do It All With You
Edmonton sweethearts Cayley Thomas and Connor Snell are using their chemistry for the greater good with their new music video for “Do It All With You”. Sung and performed by Cayley, the folk-pop/singer-songwriter brings along her collaborator and partner for the lovebug tune and music video. The pair take their kitchen-dancing moves to the great outdoors in fun locations, as she sings about doing it all with you (Connor).
Julian Lamadrid – Patience
Raised by Mexican parents in Dubai, Julian Lamadrid eventually left for New York City at 18 to study film. He has since made the jump into music, and following his 2019 release Mala Noche, has shared the minimalist electro-dance track “Patience”. Its simplicity and groove help bring out his self-assuring lyrics about not taking life too seriously. Adding to the introspective vibe, his new music video features him dancing alone in bare feet against a colour-changing backdrop, somehow roping you in without needing fancy tricks.
Kasbo – Staying In Love
Quickly becoming one of my favourite songs of the year, “Staying In Love” is the latest release from Swedish producer Kasbo. It’ll be on his new album The Making of A Pracosm out October 23rd, and is one piece of his diverse electronic production style. Its pop-forward melodies seep into the big-room, ethereal beat, turning into a speaker-blasting cinematic and emotive track about coming to terms with the hardships of a relationship. Circa-2010 Porter Robinson, Avicci, and Martin Garrix come to mind.
You can hear the song on my “Starting Line-Up” playlist, or read more about it HERE.
Will Butler – Bethlehem
We all know and love Will Butler for his time with Arcade Fire, but his solo work is also noteworthy as an alternative songwriting powerhouse. His sophomore solo album Generations comes out this Friday, and he has shared the Midsommar-stirring music video for “Bethlehem”. Sharp lighting and ghoulish feast preparation gives off an uneasy energy while his alt-rock song gradually builds into a chaotic finish as he questions his place in America’s timeline.
Nané – Clementine Tree
Austin rock group Nané are back with yet another fantastic release, this time in the shape of the lustful, soulful track “Clementine Tree”. Frontman Daniel Sahad is an absolute powerhouse and is making waves with his giant vocal presence, deservingly so.
You can also find this song on my “Starting Line-Up” playlist with more of my favourites.
We the Commas – Pissed Off
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. SoCal brother-trio We The Commas are the family boyband of 2020.
Composed of Lenny, Jordy, and Cam Comma, the breakout act are releasing their debut EP SARB this October. Their previous tracks have taken listeners to the wavy days at the beach (“Sherry”) or stirred up love-me-tender-R&B-vibes (“Custom Made”), but on their new release “Pissed Off”, they lean into alternative rock with blasting instrumentation and amped-up hooks. Plus, the brothers get themselves into an action-packed chase scene for the desert-rock. Mad Max-meets-Tarantino music video.
I.Am.Tru.Starr – Something’s Gotta Change
Soul-hop artist I.Am.Tru.Starr is adding to the conversation with his powerful new single “Something’s Gotta Change”. As The BLM Movement powers forward, his new single is an anthem to fuel change and discussion. It’s a funk-forward, slow-burning groove that makes room for contemplation and attentive listening as he draws you in with his soulful backdrop. His forthcoming album VIVA is out this fall and is a collection of songs driven by his personal experience as a Black man in America.
Love Mansuy – Thrill
Montreal-born/New Jersey-raised R&B artist Love Mansuy (his actual birthname by the way), dropped the first half of his double-sided mon-swee EP this weekend. The latest single “Thrill” gives you a taste of his rich, soulful voice as you’ll be asking for seconds.
Saiah – (BLACK)PLANET
After bouncing between Arizona and Pittsburgh following a track scholarship in college, alternative hip-hop artist Saiah decided he wanted to devote his life to making music instead. His new single “(BLACK)PLANET” is the 21 year old’s biggest hit yet, combing laid-back bedroom pop beats with his self-love lyrics for an anthem about equality and resilience.
Sam DeRosa – 321
Indie pop singer-songwriter Sam DeRosa took the plunge from behind-the-scenes contributor to frontwoman back in 2018 after her appearance on NBC’s Songland, leading to a record deal with Sony. Her new single “321” is adding to her growing discography of anthemic, relatable pop hits, giving the theme of hopeless romantic a fresh sound and animated personality.
Sufjan Stevens – Sugar
With his eigth studio album The Ascencion hitting shelves on October 2nd, singer-songwirter Sufjan Stevens released his captivating new music video for “Sugar”. Its haunting, minimalist electronic foundation gives his vocal performance an equally alluring sound. Add in the beautifully choreographed music video about a family collapsing, and you’ve got yourself an artistic jackpot.
Read more about the single and upcoming album HERE.
The OBGMs – Outsah
I’m proud to say I’ve been a fan of these guys since their outstanding 2017 self-titled debut album The OBGMs. The Toronto punk trio are gearing up to release their Dave Schiffman-produced follow-up The Ends on October 30th and have dropped their new single and video “Outsah” to tease the release. In true OBGMs fashion, it’s hard-hitting, in-your-face and strictly their own, with brash, groovy riffs and distorted vocals slamming through your speakers.
Learn more about the single and the upcoming album HERE.
Mike Edel – Good About Everything
In line with this week’s plethora of awesome music videos, indie pop artist Mike Edel is joining the pack with his new clip for “Good About Everything”. The song’s upbeat and optimistic meaning gets its visual pairing in the form of a comedic-breakdown courtesy of “director” “Mike-romanage”. Despite his toxic, self-destructive set, the song is a feel-good tune that eventually takes a positive turn at the end.
Hawksley Workman – Dwindling Beauty (Let’s Fake Our Deaths Together)
From what I’ve heard from Hawksley Workman in the past, his new single “Dwindling Beauty” is a lot darker than usual. “I think the universe is trying to tell me nothing” opens the song, overtop a moody, hypnotic minimalist beat. While it might not be the most uplifting song, the pessimistic anthem is still somehow captivating, breaking out into a crushing alternative rock hit for each chorus as he looks through the lens of dread.
Parker Graye – Do Over
Vancouver-based country-pop artist Parker Graye has officially made her debut with “Do Over”. Having helped co-write over 20 country pop songs as an emering songwriting talent, the Orillia-native has taken her talents on her own journey. Originally inspired by a break-up, “Do Over” eventually took shape after writing sessions over Zoom from St. Louis and a week spent in Nashville. The result highlights Graye’s radio-ready vocal style as the melancholic lost-love story brings out her influences of Maddie & Tae and early Taylor Swift.
Psymon Spine – Milk
Not only is the song an easy-going indie pop tune, but the accompanying music video is just too great not to include in this week’s round-up. Created using Animal Crossing: New Horizons, its turns Brooklyn-based indie dance troupe Psymon Spine into villagers as they explore the island. The idea came after the band were stuck in different parts oft he world and wanted to make a music video, so they all logged on together and this was the aesthetically-charming result.
David Vertesi – It’s Hard To Make Art
Hey Ocean! guitarist David Vertesi shared his new album Life Ghouls this weekend and his new music video for the single “It’s Hard To Make Art”. Poking fun at the new world of Zoom calls, the music video is a collection of his closest “friends” on a call as he tries to understand why he’s actually happy for once as an artist. It’s witty, emotionally relatable, and his rich baritone is exceptionally easy on the ears.
Ilithios – Florist
Brooklyn-based experimental pop act Ilithios (meaning “idiot” in Greek), explore themes of identity, fitting in and self-discovery on their upcoming album Florist. Out on October 23rd, the group have shared its lead single and title track, along with its masked-music video. Ilithios, fronted by DIY-scene veteran Manny Nomikos, create boundary-pushing pop-rock, combining influences of dance, ’80s-synth, and post-punk, with more emotive pop and rock channels in line with bands such as Interpol and Duran Duran.
