Disco Hue — Weekly Finds

As one of the biggest contributors to my new music discoveries this year–particularly Spanish-speaking acts, and a ton of great pop female vocalists–Kimmie is busy as all HECK.

The number one hustler has also managed to get promoted at work this year, be accepted into a graduate studies program, and find a way to regularly discover new music. Perhaps this is a sign Kimmie holds the secret to work-life balance, or maybe my threshold for handling most situations is extremely low.

Day 2 of the 2018 cmd+vent calendar is brought to you by my second pair of eyes.

Kim combs through my weekly letters (remember when I used to regularly churn those out every Friday?) before I send them off to your inboxes. Now the tables have turned, the editor has been edited, and she is here to share five fresh tunes by emerging artists from this year.

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If there’s one thing I’m really great at, it’s making promises to myself that I don’t keep. I couldn’t tell you how many blogs I’ve left abandoned around the internet, how many half-baked podcast ideas sit unrecorded in the depths of my Google Drive. (Hey, at least I’m consistent!)

In my cmd+vent calendar letter last year, I mentioned that I wanted to see more lady-led rock bands in 2018. I’m happy to say that while I decidedly did not stick to my workout regimen and my meal prep plan has fallen by the wayside, this is one thing I actually stuck to. That’s what we in the flake business call progress, baby.

Let’s get to the music, shall we?

“Last One” – The Aces

I’ll be honest and say The Aces’ debut album When My Heart Felt Volcanic was my absolute favorite album of the year. It’s 13 tracks of shimmery, sugary pop songs that will stay in your head for hours. “Last One” is no exception, with it’s foot stomping beat and insanely catchy chorus. It’s easy to forget that you’re singing about a love turned sour.

“Fascination” – The Beaches

If my life was actually a 90s rom-com (my favorite genre of movie), then this song would be playing in the background of a whirlwind romp in an impossibly old city. True to the band’s signature sound, this track is youthful, energetic, and slightly manic in the very best way. It’s everything a young, naive Kim (the one who didn’t know about taxes or health insurance) thought being in your 20s would be. Turn this one up loud and live in that fantasy for 3 blissful minutes.

“Fool Moon” – Anteros

Many of us (myself included) first got a taste of this London band when their song “Drunk” was featured on the soundtrack of the summertime Netflix hit movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. “Fool Moon” is the third single leading up to their first full album, out next year. The track buzzes and sizzles, and feels like disco and 80s synth pop had a baby that’s way cooler than I’ll ever be.

“Can’t Be Mine” – Disco Hue

Two years after their debut EP, Disco Hue is back and more gloriously 80s than ever. The Singapore based group delivered us a wonderfully synthy love song that sounds genuine and far from contrived. This song is modern, yet still somehow feels like it would be right at home in the background of a Stranger Things episode.

“Something to Believe In” – The New Respects

This band is actually the one that inspired this whole quest to begin with when I featured their rambunctious tune “Frightening Lightning” in last year’s letter. Earlier in 2018 they blessed us with an entire album full of funky basslines and powerhouse vocals. This track showcases everything I love about this band and is sure to leave you wanting more.

“Golden Prophet” – Roxiny

In this track, Roxiny shares her own story of surviving sexual abuse, and hopes to aid others in their own roads to recovery. This song is eerie and heartfelt, with her voice barely containing the power and anger in her words as she sings. Roxiny, who is Dominican-American, shied away from becoming the Latina pop star her first record label originally wanted her to be, and instead is using her creative control to not only create glam indie rock music, but also infuse her own feminism and activism into all of her ventures.

I hope you have as much fun listening to these artists as I did! I put them all in a playlist (plus a few extras!) here. Happy listening!

You can find Kim tweeting between her Dole Whip breaks on Twitter: @sportsbruja

The 3rd day of cmd+vent is tomorrow!

Hallelujah, it’s a long weekend ahead of us!

I’m going to keep all of this brief, as this week the spotlight is off of me, and instead I handed over the reigns to cmd+f’s very first guest contributor, Agnes! I’m thrilled to deliver a fresh voice and perspective to help spruce up your personal playlists. I can’t thank her enough for taking the helm of this newly instated monthly feature of the newsletter, and expanding cmd+f’s mission of fostering a community that supports emerging musical talent!

If you’re interested in contributing to cmd+f, please see the end of the letter for more information.

Remember: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about these artists and share the love.

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Hello everyone, it is I, the harbinger of sad jams, graciously allowed back to cmd+f to give you all some more recs! This summer has been a weird one for me, to be honest, and now, at its twilight, I can see that I spent most of it just trying to make it through one day to the next. This is pretty clearly reflected in my listening history, as the last 3 months are full of sugary K-pop and radio friendly bangers. I’m sure we all devoured and clung to the hope and earnestness of the new Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande, and of course, Robyn, and who could blame us! This year was shit! And although I adore some sad pop, it’s hard not to feel like we’re being inundated with music trying too hard to speak to the anxiety of the times. What feels radical and refreshing right now is joy. So take my hand, let me guide you through some uplifting deep cuts to get you through these dog days of summer unscathed, or at least jamming.

“Is Now a Good Time to Ruin Your Life?” – Bloodboy | Self-declared “eager OC girl who wanted very badly to GTFO of the electronic music world and be in a #postpunk band,” Bloodboy is a solo project by part time school teacher and all around badass Lexie Papilion. By fusing the sweeping guitars and drama of glam rock and post punk with her distinctly pop sensibilities, Bloodpop feels on the cusp of becoming the next big name in angry girl pop. “Is Now a Good Time” has all the bluster and bravado of a 70s rock record but still feels distinctly of the moment, largely due to Papilion’s powerful vocals. Listen here

“Can’t Be Mine” – Disco Hue | The 80s may have permanently altered the fabric of American culture for the worse (see the success of 45), but no one can deny that those drum loops are perhaps the best thing that’s ever happened to music. Singaporean synth-pop quartet, Disco Hue, seem to be of the same mind, and this first single off of their upcoming record is awash in them. I dare you not to break out into a Rosie Perez style dance solo when this bop comes on. Their full album is due for release June 2019, so we will be FLUSH with summer jams. Listen here

“Forbidden Fruit” – Gabriela Francesca | This sun-drenched bop about wanting what you can’t have comes from Chicago native Gabriela Francesca. Her brand is danceable tongue-in-cheek, most notably her song “Kris Jenner” where she prays to our mighty overlord for success and riches, but “Forbidden Fruit” has the syncopated reggae beat and splash of big band to become your ultimate poolside anthem. Be a slut! Do whatever you want! Listen here

“Retro Future” – Triple H | You want 90s hip-hop infused dance-pop by way of Korea? You want quirky pseudo-polyamorous vibes? You want real life dating gossip? Meet Triple H, the Cube entertainment formed co-ed K-pop trio of Hyuna, Hui, and E’Dawn. It was recently made public that Hyuna and E’Dawn have been a couple for 2 years, which, if you know anything about K-pop, you know is a major scandal but spicy tidbits aside, the group is fun and sexy and flush with bops. If you have a convertible, may I recommend blasting this with the top down? Listen here

“Daytime” – Lunar Vacation | Now to pivot and wind down, we’ve got a bit of dreamy “pool rock” to finish off this list. Lunar Vacation are an Atlanta based band fresh out of high school and already crafting dreamy indie rock jams perfect for that last morning of vacation. Their vocals and chord progressions have dashes of Beach House and Best Coast so I was shocked to find out this band had no ties to the west coast, but what they are deeply connected to is that hazy feeling of a summer afternoon coming to an end. Listen here

Some honorable mentions: “Leaving” – MILKK, “Mercedes Benz” – Harry Teardrop, “u never did that 4 me” – Sage Charmaine, “Notice” – Boy Blue

You can find Agnes on Twitter and Instagram

New Music Friday Selects

Troye Sivan’s highly anticipated sophomore album Bloom is now out in the world!! First impression: it’s the white boy Channel Orange, including all the critical praise and clout Listen here
NCT Dream, my absolute favorite group making waves in the K-pop circuit have returned for a jovial, late-summer bop, “We Go Up.” They’ve dropped the music video ahead of their third “mini album” (K-pop code for EP) Go Up, out MONDAY!! Watch here
Lord! MNEK’s debut album drops next Friday and I am NOT READY. He’s dropped “Correct” as our final taste before Language is out, and honey, I am BALD. Listen here
Dreampop outfit Wild Nothing’s fourth studio album Indigo is out! Listen here
As the Number 1 Sucker for Boy Bands, I can’t not alert you about Why Don’t We’s new, cleverly titles 8-track album 8 Letters -- so good! Listen here
cmd+f alum No Rome has dropped his first EP, RIP Indo Hisashi, which includes the track “Narcissist” featuring The 1975 Listen here
Nothing But Thieves have a fiery new single, “Forever & Ever More” Listen here
UK glam rock quartet The Struts dropped their rambunctious new single “Body Talks” featuring Kesha Listen here
Doja Cat’s viral “MOOO!” is finally on Spotify Listen here
Everybody’s fav neo R&B singer Gallant has graced us with a smooth new jam, “Haha No One Can Hear You!” Listen here

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All of the tracks Agnes has shared in this week’s letter, and previous cmd+f letters, are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here.

Subscribe to that playlist, share it with friends, or take some inspiration from the ever growing list to compile some of your own.

If you’re interested in listening to what I’m rinsing this month, you can follow my August 2018 playlist here. There I will dump a hodgepodge of new and old songs that fit my mood and the trends of the month. Having a personal monthly playlist makes a year in review so easy. Share your playlists with me!

See you next week!

P.S. If you’re interested in contributing to cmd+f like Agnes did this week, please be sure you’re subscribed to the cmd+f newsletter and reply to the email in your inbox!