ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC

By Mustafa Abubaker

I’mma keep it so real. When I got an e-mail stating 24 year old Brooklyn based singer /songwriter Emma Jayne drew inspiration from the one and only Carole King, I knew right then and there I was going to dig her music without even hearing a second of it. I mean… Carole King. There was a time in my life when all that mattered to me was “Bitter With The Sweet.”

Emma Jayne’s new single “Analysis” gets a lot done in three minutes. It brings you into a world where innocent, childlike bike rides, ice cream cones, and calling your friend’s mom’s house on the home phone to see if she can play are all that matters. I get a vibe of a summer afternoon just before sunset and it’s just rained all day, so the air is fresh and all the lawns in suburbia are all dewy as dew gets.

It’s a feel good pop song pairing modern production with interesting, pointed lyricism. Emma Jayne’s stated that the track is about “honoring your inner child… it’s about thinking you are the only one in the world who isn’t affected by your attachments and your childhood… it’s about being stubborn and not moving on from something even though it’s time”.

By Jacob Ezra

Los Angeles’ rimhan and dask have shared a new single called “neighborhood watch”. With this new single, rimhan and dask present a soulful, refreshing cut with charisma and a certain weightlessness that make for an engaging listen. The warm single captures classic West Coast feels while adding both artists’ unique spin, as rimhan flows sleekly atop dask’s sunny, lo-fi chops with clarity. Bolstered by a bubbling rhythm section and airy vocal samples, “neighborhood watch” is a track that knows what it wants to accomplish. Give it a listen HERE now and support the artists directly via BandCamp.

By Jacob Ezra

Meechy718 has shared a new song called “ON MY SOUL(e)”, produced by INSID3. Meechy718 is a Brooklyn-based rapper who has been making waves in New York’s underground music scene since his debut Soundcloud EP, More Love, Less Hate, in 2018. Blending East Coast roots with West Coast vibes and incorporating elements of Jazz and Drill, Meechy718 has cultivated a unique sound that has garnered attention and praise. His latest song, “ON MY SOUL(e)”, is a potent, soulful offering that demonstrates Meechy’s sleek, focused flows and ear for engaging, character-rich production. With true-to-life lyricism, uplifting, confident vibes, and a sonic warmth and richness that sets it apart, “ON MY SOUL(e)” presents another solid offering from Brooklyn’s Meechy718, as he shows no signs of slowing down after the release of recent singles like “LASER TAG” and “VIBE WITH ME”.

Listen to “ON MY SOUL(e)” here now:

Minneapolis-based artist GR3G has dropped off a new EP called HEAL FOR ME. Originally hailing from Chicago, GR3G’s journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with his roots, social justice advocacy, and a profound passion for storytelling through music. His latest offering, HEAL FOR ME, presents an introspective, soulful journey into the mind of the artist atop a tapestry of warm, thoughtful production.

The EP leads off with “HAVE I GROWN COMPLACENT?”, which sets the stage for HEAL FOR ME and distills its thought-provoking feel and cathartic sound. GR3G shines lyrically as he delves deep on HEAL FOR ME, with songs like “WASTED TALENT, pt. 2” painting vivid pictures atop uplifting, powerful instrumentation.

Radiating with authenticity and soul, GR3G’s latest offering HEAL FOR ME brings a refreshing sense of introspection and realness to the table. Give HEAL FOR ME a listen here now.

Connect with GR3G: Spotify | Instagram

Apropos has returned with a fresh single called “Still On The Globe”, a collaboration with Mama Yaya. Born in Baltimore and raised in Detroit, Apropos’ infatuation with music started early. At 7, he learned to play piano and began perfecting his songwriting craft by 9. Fueled solely by his ambition and unconditional passion for music, Apropos quit his day job and dove headfirst into pursuing a career as a solo artist. In 2018, he released his debut album (Verse)atility, and since then has has continued to carve a unique space in the music scene for his electric vocals, captivating stage presence, and sharp, memorable songwriting sensibilites.

His latest song, “Still On The Globe”, a collaboration with Mama Yaya, is a vibrant song that harnesses a feeling of living life to the fullest. With colorful synth stabs, pumping percussion, rich, infectious bass, and warm keys, “Still On The Globe” creates a feeling of optimism with its bright fervor. The highlight of the track is the potent vocals, with Apropos’ powerful vocal tone and Yaya’s smooth, sleek melodies blending together for an ecstatic listen.

Give “Still On The Globe” a listen here now and be sure to connect with Apropos while you’re at it.

Listen to “Still On The Globe” on all platforms HERE.

Connect with Apropos: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

Chloe Lilac has returned with a fresh single, titled “Sawed Off Shotgun”. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Chloe embodies the raw energy and creative soul of the city’s urban landscape. Growing up in a household filled with the music of Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, and Bowie, Chloe’s musical upbringing was anything but conventional. Raised by an architect father and a journalist mother in what she describes as an “urban bohemia,” Chloe’s childhood was full of artistic expression and nonconformity.

Her latest song, “Sawed Off Shotgun”, is a reflection of her rebellious spirit and boundless, emotionally-charged sound. “Sawed Off Shotgun” is a testament to Chloe’s willingness to take risks and push the envelope in her music. The song’s powerful lyrics and lively, infectious melodies capture her riotous sound and fearless approach to songwriting. With each new release, she continues to prove that she is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry, and “Sawed Off Shotgun” is no exception.

Take a listen to “Sawed Off Shotgun” here now:

Watch the music video for “Sawed Off Shotgun” here, which further enhances the raw, vital sound of “Sawed Off Shotgun” with a captivating visual accompaniment.

Connect with Chloe Lilac: Spotify | Instagram | YouTube | X | TikTok | Facebook

By Jacob Ezra

Chicago artist Semiratruth has shared a new full-length album, titled The Star of the Story. They preceded the release of this record with the excellent single “The Star”, which we featured in our ‘Top Picks of Spring’ editorial. With The Star of the Story, Semiratruth builds upon the crystalline, soulful sound of that single while also taking the LP to versatile sonic spaces, making for a mind-expanding listen.

The song title “Tinkering” from The Star of the Story helps define the record’s nature- as it feels like a whimsical, free-spirited experiment that has no bounds. The freeing feel of The Star of the Story, combined with Semiratruth’s penchant for organic sounds that feel both down-to-earth and surreal, give The Star of the Story its own character. The track-list is dynamic throughout, with glitchy tapestries of samples giving way to moments that “breathe” with sparse, psychedelic synth lines. A prime example is when “Run Across the Sky” and “Shadow Humpty”, with their intriguing usage of minimalism, bookend the rich, hypnotic grooves of “Humpty”. Elsewhere, the velvety, heartfelt sampling of “Solar Storm” and poignant, dream-like sound of “Nightmoods” make for highlights, demonstrating Semiratruth’s versatility on The Star of the Story.

Support the artist directly on BandCamp HERE.

Stream The Star of the Story here:

New Jersey artist Wiseboy Jeremy has dropped off a new EP called 635. This soulful 3-pack contains many of the hallmarks that have made Jeremy such an underground favorite. Poetic, vibrant lyricism with an eye for detail, emotive, affecting storytelling, and a range of warm, evocative instrumentals give 635 authentic character. Layered, textural instrumentals provide apt backdrops for Jeremy’s reflective lyrical style- as tracks like “Sixthirty Five” and “Joyful waters” conjure an immersive atmosphere for the listener. “Zion N Sacred Art” is a hypnotizing joint, with its weaving samples, grounded percussion, and potent lines, which combine to give the track an uplifting feel. Give Wiseboy Jeremy’s latest offering 635 a listen here now.

Houston artist Bowen Thi has shared a new song called “YOUstranger”. The graceful song enticingly blends atmospheric, wistful key riffs with a distorted bass-line and elegant vocals from Thi for a unique balancing act of contrasts. What shines through is Thi’s vocal performance, as his sleek, hypnotic melodies demonstrate an effortless and powerful range, while his songwriting is both heartfelt and catchy. Capped off by a cathartic, deeply personal hook, “YOUstranger” makes for an emotive, engaging new offering from Bowen Thi.

Montreal-based emcee cropscropscrops and producer stale brick have dropped off their new single “spentspentspent”, the third song from their forthcoming collaborative album. “spentspentspent” is a focused, hypnotic offering that pairs stale brick’s pensive, layered production style with crops’ detail-oriented lyricism and sturdy flows. crops drops off thought-provoking verses that delve into feelings of tiredness, weariness, and the nature of time atop ethereal keyboards and organic-sounding percussion. Continuing to build anticipation for their upcoming collaborative album, “spentspentspent” is another example of crops and stale brick staying true to their sound while experimenting within their lane. Give it a listen here now.