March 24, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

This week on cmd+f, strap in for some extremely talented lady vox and killer guitars. I’ve got five tracks and artists that may have flown under your radar.

Like last week, I’ve recorded another ‘radio show’ on the Anchor app as a companion to this week’s newsletter. Tune in via the link below to hear me talk about the tracks I’ve picked out this week, padded with a little extra information I didn't mention in the letter.

If you’re wondering what Anchor is, it’s a new-ish app that’s essentially a Snapchat for radio - the recordings are only up for 24 hours, so listen to this station as soon as you open this email! (Note: you DON’T have to download the Anchor app if you’re accessing this link on your desktop!)

Click here to visit the cmd+f Anchor station

I absolutely love the fact Anchor has a “Call In” feature. Please take advantage of this wonderful feature and pop on over to drop me a voice note. Has this newsletter helped you discover new artists? I’d love to hear from you, and my readers would love to hear from you, too. We’re all in this new music discovery journey together, y’all.

You can also always get in touch with me on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the tracks I’ve selected this week, too.

As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a veeeeery good chance they’ll see your comments, and from past experience, I know it’ll really make their day.

________________________________________ 

“The Cure” - Rotana | If you follow me on the ‘Gram, you may have noticed I posted a handful of videos on my Instagram Story at the Hotel Cafe. I was there for this gal right here, making her debut live performance. Her first single “Daddy” made an appearance in the second cmd+f letter - and after hearing her perform live, I am HOOKED. “The Cure” is her second single, and I can’t express how excited I am to hear more from her. All of her tracks she performed at Hotel Cafe were incredible. If you’ve watch Mozart in the Jungle, you know how Rodrigo is constantly reminding Hailey she plays the oboe with “the blood?” That’s Rotana - she sings with “the blood.” It’s pure, strong, and hits you right in the gut.  Listen here

“All the Rage” -  Allie X | So... “All the Rage” isn’t a new song at all. Allie X is well loved in the circles of pop-enthusiasts, but I’ll admit I’m a bit late on this train. I’ve been throwing her jams on playlists more and more, especially after news of her new LP COLLXTION II dropping in June. “All the Rage” was birthed from the guts of Annie meets St. Vincent meets good ol’ Charli XCX. Dear Alexxxxxandra crafts an incredible pop track. Can’t wait for COLLXTION II! Listen here

“Silver Heat” -  Ten Tonnes | This guy is going to be EVERYWHERE by the end of this year, mark my words. BBC Radio 1’s been gassing him up, and rightfully so. “Silver Heat” is a wall-to-wall high energy track, oozing with vibrant youth. Keep your eyes out for his new EP out in June! Listen here

“Lit the Fire” - Ralph | “Lit the Fire” is a long lost teen fantasy diary entry. Glistening with smooth confessions of holding onto love, the song simmers with a weighty sting of desperation to cling onto them by any means necessary. This is the sadpop we deserve. Also, check our Ralph’s self-titled EP. Listen here

“Edge of Town” - Middle Kids | I fucking love finding a song I know I’m going to like from the first note. “Edge of Town” fell into my lap by way of an email exchange with a couple PR people. I paid no mind to it at first, but for some reason I kept opening the email up, and eventually opened the video link for this track, and it’s absolutely brilliant. The Sydney trio have been making the rounds with this track for nearly a year now (shame on me), and got a huge boost after Sir Elton John played this track on his Beats 1 show, too. Middle Kids have a full EP up on Spotify - so I’m mostly sharing this track as an appetizer to help guide you to the full EP. Give that a full listen or three after hearing “Edge of Town,” then let me know what you think. Listen here

BONUS

CUE: AN AESTHETICALLY AESTHETIC-ESQUE 8 MINUTE MINI FILM MUSIC VIDEO YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS WEEK

“Samaritan” - ionnalee | Last week, I was thinking, “wow, I haven’t heard from iamamiwhoami in a while - I wonder if they’ve been teasing new music.” It’s like a piece of my soul has parsed itself within the pixels and bytes of their YouTube channel, because when I did mosey on over I was greeted with a full on 8 minute mini film. For those unfamiliar with iamamiwhoami, it’s an avant-garde pop music project that’s produced and filmed 3 full visual albums (literally every song they’ve released has a music video for it) since 2009. Their initial cryptic, creepy, and cerebral videos sparked a lot of buzz around who the hell was behind the project. When it was revealed Swedish singer-songwriter Jonna Lee decided to overhaul all of her standard pop songs and reinvent herself, the shroud of mystery and awe of the incredible artistry behind iamamwhoami remained. Anyhow, looks like she’s reinvented herself again, channeling the same creepy Bjork au naturale aesthetic, but now goes by ionnalee. For my fashion geeks, dear Jonna is draped in some incredible Comme des Garçons. Feast your eyes on that. Watch here

________________________________________

If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my March 2017 playlist. You can dive into the cmd+f archive to hear what I’ve been listening to in previous months.

A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.

See you next week!

March 17, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Welcome to another exciting week of cmd+f! Not only do I have five incredible new tracks all by duos (except one) waiting for you to dig through, but I’d also like to introduce a whole new component to the newsletter: audio! You heard correctly: this week marks the first time I’ll be tipping off the best new songs/artists of the week through recordings of my very own voice.

Each week, not only will you have a neatly typed newsletter nestled in your inbox, but you can now head over to the cmd+f station via Anchor and hear me gab on about the songs I’ve chosen for the week, and the songs in full. Anchor is a new-ish app that’s essentially a Snapchat for radio - the content is fleeting and disappears after 24 hours, so act fast!  

Click here to visit the cmd+f Anchor station

Another great feature is the “Call In” feature in which you can drop me a voice memo either gushing about how great a particular song is, or even send me song/musician recommendations through the app.

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the tracks we’ve got for this week, and please do send me any finds of your own – let me know what you’re listening to these days.

As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a good chance they’ll see your comments, and it’ll really make their day.

________________________________________ 

“Falling 4 U” - Superbody | Superbody are the cool kind of weird. Like, Wes Anderson weird, not rule 32 weird. Like an acid-dipped Mark Mothersbaugh track found on a long lost, jelly-filled cassette tape, “Falling 4 U” has been looped in my head for days. Listen here

“The City Don’t Care” -  Leon Else feat. Oliver | Holy hell. Shout out to my girl Jess for dropping this one into my lap. This jam builds so effortlessly, is so finely tuned and self-aware. I am OBSESSED with this damn song. The marriage between Leon’s buttery smooth falsetto in the verses and pre-chorus and Oliver’s neon fused synths woven throughout the track. I think my favorite instrumental bits are the bells echoing their way through the chorus. This is a level of pop I fuck with heavily. Listen here

“Heavy” -  POWERS | Once again, my favorite music-based radio show/podcast Popchops come through with another wicked recommendation. As Dan and Andy pointed out, it’s so easy to imagine this as the avenue Gwen Stefani should have walked down for her solo comeback album, but let’s not undercut POWERS. They’re a songwriting duo now based out of LA who’ve penned a handful of hits and racked up millions of spins of their tracks. I promise “Heavy” is going to be rinsing on every party list you compile this year. Listen here

“Burning Echoes” - Storme | Oh my god?? It’s so hard not to draw comparisons to other artists to describe what you’re experiencing, but without a doubt “Burning Echoes” was struck with the same bolt of energy handed over to Kate Bush while she recorded her album Hounds of Love. Balanced in equal parts surreal and wildly, universally appealing, “Burning Echoes” is very much like Bush’s catalogue: it’s a song you can feel rooted in your gut. Fueled with a melodramatic, explosive chorus, Storme’s track came as the biggest surprise of my week. Listen here

“Countryside” - Shadowgraphs | Ever since I went to the Desert Daze show a couple weeks ago and caught Temples live, I’ve been digging 60s rock vibes more and more. Shadowgraphs channel early Pink Floyd vibes, diving into a sound much like a blurred out The Kinks with a knack for throwing down a catchy hook. While the song doesn’t even reach the 2:30 minutes mark, the song still carries a sick guitar solo to melt out over the final minute of the track.  Listen here

________________________________________ 

If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my March 2017 playlist.

A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.

See you next week!

March 10, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

I’ve truly outdone myself: six tracks AND three album recommendations are packed into today’s letter. Unlike last week, I’ve been much better about keeping this week more under wraps. I actually had 12 tracks lined up initially, and weeded out half because, really? Would you even bother with that much text? This is already getting out of control.

I also have a very special project in the works to accompany cmd+f sometime next week….keep your eyes peeled on my socials (re: Twitter) to see when I’m harking the good news.

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the tracks we’ve got for this week, and please do send me any finds of your own – let me know what you’re listening to these days.

As always, you know the drill: if you like what you hear, spread the cheer. Tell your friends about the songs you liked in this letter, but most importantly, let the artists know. There’s a good chance they’ll see your comments, and it’ll really make their day.

________________________________________

“What You Want” - Zuzu | Firstly, I’d like to give a huuuuge thank you to my friend Chris for tipping me off to Zuzu. From the first note, I was craving more. “What You Want” is only her second official single she’s released, and both tracks warrant much hype. Dancing between shredding guitars and a chorus that’ll eat away at your eardrums, Zuzu’s absolutely carving her mark out on 2017.  Listen here

“Isabel” -  Gold Connections | “Isabel” sounds like the feeling I get remembering the times I’d sit in my apartment while living in Seattle, refreshing my Tumblr dashboard for 3 hours straight while avoiding a mid-term research paper. Now that I’ve read that description back, it makes the song sound potentially awful, but here’s what I mean: I found a lot of solace in my solitude through those hours of procrastination. I spent a lot of it wired into my headphones, plopping random lo-fi dreampop tracks into playlists fit for very niche emotive states (exhibit A, exhibit B). Back to “Isabel” - the entire mood of the track, plotted with peaks and valleys, veiled in softness yet freckled with bits of ferocity that punch through the atmosphere. The most magical part of the song is it’s relentless commitment to staying in 4/4 time, no matter how distorted and bitter the instrumentals swirl into themselves throughout the last third of the track. Listen here

“Breathe” -  Astrid S | So, Astrid S is a big deal in Norway. As we know, the Scandinavians fucking adore their pop music, and they’re so damn good at making it. Astrid’s dropped an endless string of singles the past few years, all solid efforts, and with the right PR team/strategy, “Breathe” could help Astrid tap into a broader, global audience a la neighboring rising Swedish superstar Zara Larsson. “Breathe” has all of the right elements of that darkpop vibe that’s creeping onto the radio here, at least Stateside. It’s a future hit, y’all. Listen here

“Sports” - Fufanu | This song is on here for two very particular reasons: audible Joy Division cosplay, and ‘Fufanu’ is reeeeeally fun to say. Go ahead; say Fufanu out loud, I’ll give you a moment. Let it roll off your tongue. Yeah? Great. Now that that’s aside, let me tell you why “Sports” is in here this week: Fufanu are an Icelandic band who started out producing techno music, but have since evolved into a really sick rock band. As noted above, their newer music truly sounds like audible Joy Division cosplay - down to the frantic drums and two tons of reverb caked over the vocal stems. The title track and opener to their latest album Sports is a fucking ride, so strap in. Listen here

“Don’t Ya Feel Better?” - The Velveteins | Now to bob you back up to the surface with a lighter track, “Don’t Ya Feel Better?” is pure summer, like that sheen of sweat cooling on your skin in the breeze whilst on your back in the grass with your shoes kicked off and you’re wiggling your toes and trying to find your slowly warming can of blood orange San Pellegrino to quench yourself in the midst of some primo cloud watching. Yeah. That’s exact kind of summertimeness this sounds like. Listen here

“Fuck Right Off Back to LA” - GIRLI | If you can’t tell by the title, this track is NSFW solely based on the fact it’s littered with a robust helping of “fuck you’s” in the chorus, and that’s not even accounting for the amount of fucks given in the verses. “Fuck Right Off Back to LA” is the sonic equivalent of trying to be cordial and smile through a really shitty break up. After blowing through the first two seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in the last two weeks, I’m pretty sure I’m finding traces of Rebecca’s crazy ass in this song. If you haven’t seen Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, do yourself a solid and watch the pilot episode at the least, and then you’ll fully understand what I’m talking about when you head this track. The contrast of cotton candy production paired with the most abrasive middle finger is easily the most relatable song I’ve posted on cmd+f to date. Fans of Charli XCX will especially enjoy GIRLI. Listen here

Oh, and one last thing:

ALBUMS/MIXTAPES YOU SHOULD RINSE THIS WEEK WITH NO EXPLANATION BEYOND ME CONFIRMING THEY WILL NOT BE A WASTE OF YOUR TIME:

Volcano - Temples | Listen here

Number 1 Angel - Charli XCX | Listen here

Feel Infinite - Jacques Greene | Listen here

________________________________________

If you’re interested in hearing what else I’ve been rinsing this month (aside from the tracks listed above), peep my March 2017 playlist.

A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.

See you next week!

March 3, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

This week's batch has been the most difficult week for me to keep under wraps simply because I’ve fallen neck deep into these tracks. I’m pretty sure I’ve shared half of them to a handful of people sometime this week because I couldn’t contain myself, but kanyeshrug.gif.
As usual, I’ve got five tracks by five artists that may have flown under your radar. Grab a coffee, kick your feet up, and enjoy the tunes!

You may have also noticed the header is different this week. I decided to dig through thousands of digital scans of film photos I’ve taken and decided to put them to good use. The photo above is from FYF Fest last summer when I fell to my knees outside the Cafe Bustelo sponsored booth and went to embarrassing lengths to swipe up some coffee swag. It’s not a paid endorsement, but if they happen to see this, please know I start my day with a cup of Bustelo black every morning.

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the recommendations below, and please do send me any finds of your own – I get really pumped. Last weekend I was at a bougie grocery store in Venice Beach, and the cashier gave me a music recommendation after noticing my Prince badge on my backpack. It took every fiber of my being to act casual about it. When I had one foot out the market, I whipped my phone out and immediately started dragging the recommended artist’s tracks into playlist. Help make this happen more often! Shoot me some suggestions.

If you like any of the songs mentioned in this letter, tell your friends about it, but most importantly let the artists know, too! They work really hard on helping evolve the culture.

________________________________________

“The World’s Best American Band” - White Reaper | HELL YEAH! What a fucking jam. This song was obviously made with a live show in mind: the guitars shred start to finish, the production on the reverb is fuckin’ crisp enough for you to get the gist of the words well enough to scream along in a sweat-drenched crowd with someone else’s arm hair stuck to your cheek. Solid 10/10 from start to finish. White Reaper are upping the stakes for their new album, and I’m loving what I’m hearing in this track. No joke, I'm putting a sticky note up in every room of my house to remind myself to catch them live this year. Listen here

“Bellyache” -  Billie Eilish | Not going to front: the reason I initially listened to this song was because I read her name as “Billy Elliot” and thought, “why not?” The first time you listen to “Bellyache,” the opening minute and a half is rather disorienting. You’re waiting for a chorus to drop, but instead Billie is circling around trying to get her head in the damn song, and SUDDENLY!  After enduring two pre-chorus and verses, we’re rewarded with a chorus when the song is half way over! You’d think that’d bring some relief, but no, we too are left with a bellyache. Every aspect of this tune leaves you hanging. The strange composition of this song really sold me on it. Oh, and when you find out the song is about a psychopath attempting to come to terms with going on a murdering spree, you may recognize that as the “aha” moment you were waiting to drop the whole song. Listen here

“Money” -  That Poppy | I feel into a That Poppy black hole this week after seeing a retweet from her account, which led me to her YouTube channel, which led me to a whole mess of conspiracy videos about who the hell That Poppy is and.... Jeez. I’m two years late to this game, and it turns out That Poppy is like some pop music creepypasta story of an ambiguously aged girl/woman who may be 15 or possibly 25?? Her aesthetic is very Suburban Late Teen Instagram Influencer Raids Forever 21 and Feeds Off Sanrio Candy. That aside, the phenomenon reminded me of when iamamiwhoami first broke out with their cryptic video series. With That Poppy though, her music is straight up top 40 pop. Out of all her tracks under her belt so far, “Money” is my absolute favorite - I can totally hear singers from the likes of Annie or Marina and the Diamonds singing. Also, the lyrics are hilariously, intentionally juvenile. Listen here

“Some” - Steve Lacy | Imagine Raphael Saadiq and Mac DeMarco produced a song together. Imagine no more: Steve Lacy is realizing this concept through soulful, sexy, melodic vocal arrangements over low-fi, drunk guitar riffs in 4/4 time. I have a good hunch about Steve, and great things are going to be happening around his name this year. You should really check out his entire new demo/EP. “Some” is a great intro to his music. Listen here

“Matter” - Shallows | Some may have forgotten my most gassed track of 2016 was a quiet little pop number dropped at the tail end of 2015 called “Summer Sucks,” and to this day it is pure heat. The duo behind my de facto Song of the Year 2016 have put out a new single “Matter,” and it’s a tightly produced track extracted from a1980s Junior Prom dance floor, gnarly guitar solo and all. Shallows are one of my favorite acts from LA at the moment producing thoughtful, well crafted indie pop. The world needs more of THIS. Listen here

________________________________________

It’s a new month! I’ve already started throwing things into my March 2017 playlist. Feel free to take a peak or follow to keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month.

A(lmost a)ll of the tracks I’ve shared this week and past cmd+f newsletters are archived into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here. You’re welcome.

See you next week!

February 24, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Happy Friday, y’all. I’ve plucked six new tracks you may have overlooked–enjoy!

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the recommendations below, and please do send me any finds of your own. If you like any of the songs mentioned in this letter, tell your friends about it, but most importantly let the artists know, too! They work really hard on helping evolve the culture.

________________________________________

“There’s a Honey” - Pale Waves | Love at first note. “There’s a Honey” is the quality evolution of guitar-driven pop I wish to hear in the world, and thank god it has arrived. Hands down going to be an insta-fav for fans of The 1975 (+ the track was produced by Matty and George). I can’t wait to hear more from Pale Waves this year.  Listen here

“Charm Assault” -  Ride | Between news of a Kanye West makeup line and Future releasing two albums a week apart, news of Ride’s return were gravely overlooked this week. And this is fucking huge – over 20 years ago, this band had major ass beef and split after crippling record sales (could you imagine having your label telling you they want you to be the ‘new Oasis’ all the time?), and probably other drama, but they’ve been in the studio with Erol Alkan (yaaas keep those kid dancing, Erol), and plopped down the incredibly fresh “Charm Assault.” Good to have you back, fellas.  Listen here

“Temple” -  BF/C | “Temple” is the soundtrack of Black Mirror episode, pitched in darkness like a ghost breathing down your neck. There isn’t much information about BF/C out there, aside from a Facebook page about Californiaman from Sweden??? Either way, very into this. Listen here

“Restless” - darkDARK feat. Haley Bonar | “Restless” reminds me of early Zola Jesus, verging onto more power-pop production. It’s luxe, sultry, and velvety. Listen here

“take me on” - joan | The first time I heard “take me on,” my initial thought was, “what are the odds I’ll hear this on a TV show?” Maybe I’ve been getting way too into Riverdale every week, but this track is soaked in the kind of teen lust you’d expect to hear on a primetime soap.  Listen here

“5 fine frøkner” -  Gabrielle | I’m including this track as a Bat Signal more than anything. For those who obsessively followed the wildly popular third season of Norway’s teen drama TV show Skam late last year, you’ll know fans outside of Scandinavia kept trying to track down the song Isak and Even danced to in the kitchen one episode. And when they did manage to track a recording down, many were sorely disappointed to only find low quality rips on YouTube. Look no further: Gabrielle’s 2014 sapphic Norwegian club banger is officially up on streaming sites! Listen here

________________________________________

 To keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month, please feel free to follow my monthly Spotify playlist for February 2017 here.

I’m also adding all of the tracks I post in the cmd+f newsletters into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here and listen at your leisure.

Thank you so much for subscribing and all of your feedback.

See you next week!

February 20, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Hi! I’m back with five new tracks a few days late, but who’s really counting? This week I unintentionally show some major California love with tracks by four acts from my hometown of Los Angeles, and one from New York (it’s still good).

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the recommendations below, and please do send me any finds of your own. If you like any of the songs mentioned in this letter, tell your friends about it, but most importantly let the artists know, too! They work really hard on helping evolve the culture.

________________________________________ 

“Further Away” - Satchmode | Lush dream-pop goodness. I caught them at a tiny bar show in Highland Park a couple weeks ago and their live shows sound nothing like their studio recordings, but they’re still fantastic. The live shows ooze more of a California beach rock vibe with more stress on the guitars, whereas their studio tracks play heavy on the reverb to melt into that dreamlike quality. Armed with neon synths, “Further Away” and a handful of other tracks from Satchmode’s debut album Love Hz would fit in on a Drive 2 soundtrack.  Listen here

“Until Tomorrow” -  Groundislava feat. Jake Weary | A new track from the Wedidit crew. With brisk synths and vast harmonies, “Until Tomorrow” is audible heartache. Listen here

“I Don’t Wanna Love” -  Melanie Pfirrman | Holy shit. This song was so clearly crafted in a blender. I get more obsessed with it each time I rinse it, which has been a healthy amount the past week. It’s a pop brunch buffet of Shawn Mendes’ “Treat You Better” stuttering through guitar loops as Melanie serves some Ariana Grande levels of ‘aah aahs’ that linger in the background of her verses. It sounds like it was written for a pop group (without a doubt), but Melanie’s holding her own and busting through the gates at breakneck speed. “I Don’t Wanna Love” sounds especially good turned up extremely loud in your car speakers or headphones. Girl absolutely slays her runs at the end. Listen here

“We Gon Make It” - Cam & China | Cam & China are raw AF. They’re twin sisters from Inglewood and are currently my favorite rising rap act from LA, and they have the bars to fuck up the entire industry. “We Gon Make It” is different from the rest of their catalogue, but what sets it apart is when you hear Cam & China spit, you know they are fucking hungry. 🔥🔥🔥 Listen here

“Pull Me Under” -  Kevin Garrett | I know what you’re thinking: another singer songwriter. Okay. But Kevin Garrett has written for Beyonce. I only found out he co-produced “Pray You Catch Me” on Lemonade after I listened to “Pull Me Under” a gazillion times. His tracks are more cerebral and sexy, a la Jamie Woon circa Mirrorwriting. Listen here

________________________________________ 

To keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month, please feel free to follow my monthly Spotify playlist for February 2017 here.

I’m also adding all of the tracks I post in the cmd+f newsletters into a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here and listen at your leisure.

See you next week!

February 10, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Hello hello! I’m back with five tracks this week that may have slipped past your radar. The tracks are all lower energy, perhaps subconsciously my response to all that’s happening around us in The World right now. Hopefully all of them can take you to a state of much needed zen.

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the recommendations below, and please do send me any finds of your own. If you like any of the songs mentioned in this letter, tell your friends about it, but most importantly let the artists know, too! They work really hard on helping evolve the culture.

________________________________________

“Face Like Thunder” - The Japanese House | The Japanese House are a sonic blend of the two most exciting pop acts in my atmosphere at the moment: The 1975 and MUNA. That aside, The Japanese House really do hold their own presence in their music, blushing with a tinge of  melancholic beauty. The first time you hear “Face Like Thunder,” will catch you breathless with the thrill of not knowing which way the melodies will turn.   Listen here

“Renita” -  Pavan | “Renita”’s composition is one of my favorite types of songs – the Slow Build. It starts off on a heartbeat, pulsing low and steadily. Each measure builds, winding up delicately with new ticks and “Ooohs” before abruptly folding in on itself. Sublime. Listen here

“Vessels” -  Rationale | Rationale has one of my favorite voices of the moment – a thick, syrupy richness on par with Tracy Chapman. Rationale’s debut LP is slated for a release in March, and if the tracks off the Vessels EP are any indication, it’ll rip your heart out. Listen here

“Hopeless Romantic” - Michelle Branch | Did you know Michelle Branch is back? And she’s got her Lana Del Rey on? Well, she’s had a song here or there and other music projects crop up since her last full studio album release of Hotel Paper in 2003, but she’s been so wrapped up in running her music label, raising her daughter, divorcing her husband... that she ultimately put solo work on pause. Michelle’s been in the studio with Patrick Carney of the Black Keys (her new partner), bringing her songwriting forward into the current musical climate. Her new album is out in April, and “Hopeless Romantic” has got me so hype. Listen here

“Technically Single” (Lenno Remix) -  Tayler Buono | BOP ALERT! The unremixed version of this track has racked up an impressive 20 million+ spins on Spotify, and I suspect it’s the result of being strategically placed into so many official Spotify playlists, thus fading into the background of so many lifeless H&M shopping trips. “Technically Single” deserves better! We already know somebody out there is working hard to make Tayler Buono happen, and her songs are great. This Lenno remix fills in a lot of the vast space that makes the original song fall on the wayside of Retail Radio Anonymity. Perhaps Tay can link up with Lenno for some of her future tracks??? I’ve got my eyes and ears on you, Tayler. Listen here

________________________________________

To keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month, please feel free to follow up my monthly Spotify playlist for February 2017 here.

I’ll also be adding all of the tracks I post in the cmd+f newsletters to a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here and listen at your leisure.

See you next week!

February 3, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Happy February! I got overzealous this week and have plucked 6 tracks and a full album recommendation. I hope you enjoy!

Hit me up on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt with your thoughts about any of the recommendations below, and please do send me any finds of your own. If you like any of the songs mentioned in this letter, tell your friends about it, but most importantly let the artists know, too! They work really hard on helping evolve the culture.

________________________________________

“Ultra Love” - Brödet | You know that point in your dreams when deep in your gut you know it’s about to turn south? That sinister itch you try to stave off so desperately? And you can’t even wake yourself up in the midst of it happening? That’s what “Ultra Friend” sounds like. In contrast, it also sounds a lot like the first time I went into a sensory deprivation tank for an hour –soothing, serene, yet an edge of uneasiness having to confront some serious ass feelings.  Listen here

“Thumbs” -  Sabrina Carpenter | I love me a Disney Channel star leading her way into a music career. I’ve said this several times, but I have an inkling that Sabrina’s going to have a Selena-esque career trajectory. Sabrina’s debut LP EVOLution is stacked with some bangers. “Thumbs” is gaining traction on the US radio at the moment – and rightfully so. The chorus is catchy, and it’s the kind of campy conscious pop we need in these trying political times. The bridge says it all “Don't believe everything that you hear/ Let it go through your left and right ear / Don't just march to the beat of that drum / Don't be one of them people just twiddling them thumbs.” What a nice way to remind us to get off our asses and make our way through the world! Listen here

“Daddy” -  Rotana | This one came to me via press email, and PHEW! “Daddy” is how we thought Gaga’s JOANNE would sound like: a powerhouse intersection of dark pop production overlaid with solid country pop-like vocals. This is the only song under Rotana’s profile at the moment, but according to her release she made her debut performance at Sundance last month. I’m intrigued to see what else she’s going to deliver.  “Daddy” is a solid introduction.  Listen here

“Love is the Beast” - ROMANS, Avelino | I’m praying 2017 is the year for both of these artists. ROMANS is an incredibly talented UK songwriter who’s penned some tracks for Alicia Keys, Disclosure, and Mary J Blige (look at his own Spotify playlist to get a grasp; CHOONS ON CHOONS) - alas he’s signed to Roc Nation. We must not let him pitter off our radars. Meanwhile Avelino is rising the ranks and paving a path for UK hip hop (not Grime!!) with some of the smoothest bars in the game. Would not surprise me if Drake’s snatched him up for whatever new project Drake’s working on now.   Listen here

“Little Black Book” -  PUZZLE | Okay, the chorus is totally channeling some maaaajor Debbie Deb vibessssssss. Whew! I need more acts to pluck that Freestyle essence and punch them into their production – “Little Black Book” has just enough to have you groove and jam with ease. Listen here

“In The Air” -  Ten Fé | For those who crave a bit of UK indie rock, Ten Fé absolutely nail modernizing the Madchester scene. The harmonies during the chorus of “In The Air” are simply divine. They dropped their debut LP Hit the Light today, so give that a rinse if you dig this track.  Listen here

FULL ALBUM REC: About U - MUNA | I’ve been waiting for this album all damn year, and it’s finally here, living up to every ounce of expectation I set for it. I heard all the new songs for the first time Wednesday night when I saw them kick off their first headline tour at the Teragram Ballroom in LA, swiped up an early copy of the album to blast on the way home, and it’s honestly already ranked up on my AOTY list - and it’s only February. DEFINITELY LISTEN HERE

________________________________________

To keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month, please feel free to follow up my monthly Spotify playlist for February 2017 here.

I’ll also be adding all of the tracks I post in the cmd+f newsletters to a single playlist on Spotify for you to follow here and listen at your leisure.

See you next week!

January 27, 2017

This is an archived post originally sent out via the cmd+f weekly newsletter

Hello! This is the first issue of cmd+f, a splinter project from my collaborative music sharing project What’s Poppin’? I was hosting every other week with my friend Chris. Since that’s gone on hiatus and I’ve missed having a concrete way of sharing music recommendations, I’ve set up cmd+f as a means to quench that urge to introduce friends to new tunes.

Most of my day is spent listening to ad free radio, thumbing through press release emails, and stumbling across some incredible emerging artists. I’m committing to sharing at least five of my favorite tracks that have entered my life weekly with all of you.

If you like what you hear, let me and the artist know! Gas these artists up, dive into whatever discography they may have. Please share me your favorite songs of the moment, too! You can find me on Twitter at @hellogoodbritt.

Strap in! Here are five songs I’m really digging at the moment:

________________________________________

“Shock Horror” - Shy Luv, JONES | BOP ALERT! Doused in early Calvin Harris neu-disco vibes with substantially more appealing vocals, “Shock Horror” is a dizzying accident I found while dicking around on YouTube. The music video is fucking bizarre–part Hot Chip, part Metronomy–but it definitely works. Listen here

“Oslo” -  Anna of the North | Sublime. Sounds like the morning sunlight filtering through the frost on your windows in the middle of winter. Listen here

“Now & Then” -  Sjowgren | I always think I’m going to get over indie pop, but then a song like this sweeps by and I’m mesmerized – it was the harmonies in the chorus that suckered me in. There’s very little information floating around on the net about Sjowgren, and I’m proud to say they’re a three-piece from (Northern) California. This song is paired best with a cup of coffee and feet kicked up on the desk. Listen here

“Waiting” - Betsy | Betsy is my girl. Truly. I continually refer to her as the second coming of Cher. Not only does she sound very similar to the pop icon, she’s also got glitz and glamour to flaunt, all the while still coming across authentic as hell. It’s very easy to spot artists who help craft their own stylized image versus the ones who’ve been signed, locked away and processed in a label laboratory with a management team for a year. With one of the biggest voices in pop at the moment, each Betsy release has me foaming at the mouth for another EP or an album announcement. Listen here

“Back In The Room” -  KLP | Pop connoisseurs are making up for their severe lack of attention to the talent flooding out of Australia at the moment (we’re all stuck on Troye Sivan’s Blue Neighbourhood LP, soz) - and it’ officially our duty to get the word out about KLP ASAP. “Back In The Room” was tipped to me via one of my favorite music podcasts Popchops, hosted by pop enthusiasts Dan and Andy from Down Under, and they both always bring forward a few pop perspective. After listening to their interview with KLP (who I learnt is not only pursuing a pop music career, but is also a radio/dance music DJ, and worked with Julian Hamilton of The Presets – and immediately I knew this project was gonna be mega), I immediately rinsed her Ember EP which dropped last October a few times. It’s absolutely incredible - and I’m ashamed so many of us have slept on it for so long. Better late than never! Listen here

________________________________________

To keep up with everything I’ve been listening to this month, please feel free to follow up my monthly Spotify playlist for January 2017 here.

Uncork your finest and raise your glass ‘cause the weekend is basically here.

Cheers to a happy Friday and see you next week!