From the Inbox: 25 New Songs of the Week

Last week, I was thinking I was crazy for writing about 23 singles.

I’m pretty sure it was a new record for From the Inbox. But as my email submissions continue to grow, I guess 25 is the new 15. Welcome to the new normal.

For those that are new, ‘From the Inbox’ is the place where I round-up a handful of my favourite single releases from the week. And everyone else, hello again.

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 (it’s also embedded at the bottom of the post).

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, I’ve introduced a monthly newsletter and visit our Patreon account if you’d like to show your support! If you subscribe to our Patreon, I’ll personally make a handcrafted mix CD and mail it to you as a thank you!

Let us know your favourite by tagging us and sharing your thoughts! More importantly, if there’s something you love, remember to share it around!

Passenger – A Song For The Drunk and Broken Hearted

Mike Rosenberg, better known as Passenger, will be releasing his 13th (!!!) studio album Songs For the Drunk and Broken Hearted on January 8th. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has shared the new music video for the title track, featuring him as a sad clown with his band. As per usual, Passenger finds a balance between melancholic, sad, hopeful, and inspiring, and although the new record was finished pre-COVID, it was written following a break-up, it’s still heartbreaking.

Ben Wolf – Ultraviolet

Earlier this year, UK indie pop artist Ben Wolf was sitting in a university auditorium studying medicine. His New Years resolution was to pursue music instead, and well, he’s debuted his first single “Ultraviolet” just last week. Pulling together sounds of Twenty One Pilots and Lukas Graham, “Ultraviolet” is a pulsating electro-pop tune that is impressively compelling for a debut release.

Pinkshift – Rainwalk

Baltimore four-piece Pinkshift are new to the scene, but already making waves with their fem-fronted style of ’90s grunge-meets-No Doubt-meets-Paramore pop punk. The young group formed out of college, adding on their bassist through a Tinder match, and now onto their third release of the year, “Rainwalk” is certainly one of their biggest, with its driving attitude and explosive breakdown.

Keep an eye out for these guys.

Phantom Atlantic – No Way To Live

Toronto alternative rock group Phantom Atlantic released their new single “No Way To Live” earlier this week. With hints of Billy Talent, and Finger Eleven coming through its electrifying energy, “No Way To Live” is a more modern alt-rock song that won’t be ignored with its captivating chorus, lead by frontman Kyle Brunet’s powerful vocals.

Pelé & Rodrigo y Gabriela – Acredita no Véio

I know what you’re thinking – is that Pelé the famous soccer player? Yes, yes it is. He’s also been a musician his entire life, but as he puts it, ““I didn’t want the public to make the comparison between Pelé the composer and Pelé the footballer. That would have been a huge injustice – in football my talent was a gift from God, music was just for fun.”

But now that football/soccer is behind him, he’s released a groovy Brazilian folk-pop song “Acredita no Véio”, which roughly translates to “Listen to the Old Man”. Filled with wisdom and an uplifting spirit, the song is a feel-good tune as Pelé celebrated his 80th birthday this past weekend.

Sierra Ferrell – Why’d Ya Do It

And now for something completely different. West Virginia country-folk artist Sierra Ferrell has shared two new singles, “Jeremiah” and “Why’d Ya Do It”, the latter combining the worlds of bluegrass, country, tango, and calypso for a timeless story of heartbreak. Her voice is enthralling, and the blend of genres is eeriely fun and moody.

LOVA – Lonely Ones

Considering human connection is a scarce and difficult thing nowadays, Swedish pop singer LOVA has the perfect ballad to help make things a little easier. Her stunning and heartwarming vocals sweep across a dramatic piano ballad as she sings the anthem for being lonely. LOVA is yet another fantastic young pop star emerging from Scandinavia, and it’ll be interesting to see the support she will get following a debut full-length.

Moscow Apartment – Meredith Palmer

Moscow Apartment, the duo of Brighid Fry and Pascale Padilla, are two teenagers making impressively strong-footed and well-rounded indie bedroom pop music. On their new single “Meredith Palmer”, the pair of friends collaborated with fellow high schoolers Wyatt and Liv McNeil to produce their new music video. Keeping the adults out of it, it’s simple, reflective and well executed.

(I should also point out, Liv McNeil recently shared her short film “numb”, which has been seen over 1 million times – watch it here).

Begonia – Fear

Last week, Winnipeg indie singer/songwriter Begonia dropped her new music video for the title track from her 2019 Polaris Music Prize Long-list album Fear. Building on the song’s haunting and eerie style, Begonia’s exceptionally powerful voice is put in front of an empty auditorium for a oddly off-putting visual accompaniment. Read more about the video here.

What a voice.

Arlo Parks – Green Eyes

It’s official: Arlo Parks will be releasing her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams in January. The young London-based singer-songwriter made the announcement alongside the new single “Green Eyes”, another sad out-of-love indie rock-R&B song anchored by Parks’ heartfelt voice and honest lyrics.

Nilüfer Yanya – Crash

British singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya is set to release her new EP Feeling Lucky? on December 11th. With a voice similar to Annie Lennox, and a hint of Imogen Heap, her new single “Crash” is a ’00’s alt-pop revival fronted by frizzy guitar riffs and bass-heavy beats.

ABISHA – Time Alone

Alt-R&B pop artist ABISHA wrote “Time Alone” after feeling overwhelmed with her busy lifestyle. The Afrobeat-infused single is a reminder to find time for self-care and to take our individual mental health seriously. Without being preachy or redundant, “Time Alone” is a gentle and feel-good song that will help dance away the stress.

Read the full article here.

daysormay – Holding My Tongue

Vancouver-based indie pop trio daysormay are continuing to impress with their growing discography. Their new single “Holding My Tongue” was actually written in 2014, but its theme of standing up and speaking your mind is exceptionally relevant in 2020. As the band now enter into their 20s, their synth-rock sound is bigger than ever, and once again, daysormay know how to write a damn good hook.

Find this one on my ‘Starting Line-Up’ playlist.

Noah Malcolm – If Not

Toronto-based, PEI-bred singer-songwriter Noah Malcom combines the feel-good components of folk, pop, and rock for his new sinlg’e If Not”, that makes fun of being self-evolved. It has a hint of musical theatre to it, with its warm chord progression and monologue-style lyrics.

Kyd the Band – Make It In America

Alternative pop artist Devon Guisande recently shared his new EP Season 3: The Realization, and from the album comes “Make It In America”, a wonderfully expressive and reflective song about the importance of family and love over material things. After the 2008 U.S. recession, Guisande’s family lost everything, and at the age of 16, he realized how quickly the world can change. His refreshing take on pop music combines something inspiringly personal and still universally enjoyable.

Tokio Hotel – Monsoon 2020

If you think back to the year 2005, the name Tokio Hotel might ring some bells. The German alternative pop group took over radio waves with their hit “Monsoon” and while they found continued success with future releases, nothing quite made a mark as much as their hit single. 15 years later, they’ve shared a synth-pop redux, turning “Monsoon” into a futuristic, slow-burning pop tune. Guess it wasn’t just a phase.

Luna Li – Afterglow

Toronto art-pop artist Luna Lia teamed up with HUH, a multi-disciplinary art collective that connects artists from around the world, for her new music video for “Afterglow”. The fluttering new single showcases Li’s fairy-like style, hypnotizing listeners with her glowing sound and hazy, ethereal dream-pop, while artists paint self-portraits before ridding themselves of self-inflicting critique.

Nuit Oceān – Fire Divine

My first reaction was “Oh, he sounds just like James Blake”. Downtempo producer Steve Mesmin creates atmospheric and textured music as Nuit Oceān from his home in Bordeaux, France. His new single “Fire Divine” is the title track from his recently dropped EP, and captures his dark-pop side with its moody and transfixing flame, as his effect-touched vocals sing overtop.

For Those I Love – Top Scheme

With one of the most compelling styles, Irish multi-instrumentalist Dave Balfe combines electronica with spoken word on his new single “Top Scheme”, a frustrated cry against the corrupted rich of Ireland. As For Those I Love, Balfe produces music that is true to his mind and spirit, capturing the attention of those who will listen along the way.

Frequent Traveller – The Devil’s Trying To Break Us Down

Using 360-degree bianural sound, producer Stevie Spiro (Frequent Traveller) was able to capture the sounds of his travels with the accuracy of the human ear. On his new single “The Devil’s Trying to Break Us Down”, Spiro combines West Coast hip-hop and sounds from Los Angeles – street preachers, military presence, and conversations fill the background of the trip-hop track. While the collection of sounds fill the mind, the accompanying music video is a sight for the eyes, as footage from around U.S. show the tumultuous climate of the country.

Run the Jewels – Yankee and the Brave (ep.4)

Following their stellar fourth album RTJ4 earlier this year, hip-hop duo Run the Jewels have been sharing new music videos for a handful of new singles. The latest is the car chase clip for “Yankee and the Brave (ep.4)”, as El-P and Killer Mike drive around the city escaping robot police.

Pa Salieu – B***K

Once again, Pa Salieu is back with another hard-hitting track, this time with the anti-racism tune “B***K”. With UK celebrating their Black History Month, his new song is a celebration of Black identity, tying together grime, Afrobeat, and reggaeton for a short but powerful tune.

Rahli – Do Dirt Alone ft. Kevin Gates

St.Louis rapper Rahli released his latest album Still Big Rallo From Lorna earlier this year, and from the release came the gritty trap track “Do Dirt Alone”. With a new mixtape on the way, Rahli has teamed up with Kevin Gates to drop an extended version of the lead single.

Chester Watson – Life Wrote Itself

Multi-disciplinary artist Chester Watson is dropping his new album A Japanese Horror Film on October 31st. Inspired by the Japanese horror classics, astrology, and folklore, the collection’s first look “Life Wrote Itself” is a trippy, creeping track about the universe. Its steady beat and haunting details mix well with Watson’s growling delivery.

Snotty Nose Rez Kids & Drezus – Where They At

Having already released their new EP Born Deadly earlier this year, Indigenous hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids have teamed up with fellow Indigenous rapper Drezus for another new release. “Where They At” is about leaving haters in the dust, and the animated visual even features Yung Trybez’s dog, Chauncey, who recently died.

Trans Trenderz – Splash

Trans Trenderz is a Montreal-based indie label focused on signing Trans and non gender conforming artists. After a mixtape in 2014 featuring 14 Trans artist made waves, producer and label owner Blxck Cxsper decided to take things further with his mission.

Featuring Blxck Cxsper, Jae, Jupiter Gray, Heather Hills, and Lady Londyn, the new single “Splash” from indie label Trans Trenderz is a fast-firing celebration of Black Trans women. Directed by Lady Londyn, the accompanying music video features the artists from Times Square in New York, while Blxck Cxsper controls the action from his home in Montreal. The interchanging verses between the rappers and the song’s hard-hitting beat makes for one kick-ass tune that is hard to ignore.