1. Hurt A Fly – Squirrel Flower
A year after releasing her 2020 critically acclaimed album I Was Born Swimming, Boston indie rocker Squirrel Flower (a.k.a. Ella Williams) released the first single for her upcoming album Planet (i). “Hurt A Fly” carries the same rock elements she is known for, adding a taste of the dystopian future that the album cover and accompanying music video alludes to. Planet (i) will be out June 25 via Polyvinyl.
2. Capstone – 81355 (Bless)
This rap trio hailing from Indianapolis, signed to Justin Vernon’s (Bon Iver) and Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s (The National) label 37d03d, announced their first record This Time I’ll Be of Use set to be released May 28. Made up of Sirius Blvck, Oreo Jones, and David Adamson, 81355 (or “Bless”) is “reflecting on Black struggle in the pandemic-ridden and democracy faltering landscape,” according to a press release, in their new song “Capstone.”
3. Take Away the Ache – Half Waif
Half Waif (a.k.a. Nandi Rose) is singing about “the paradoxes of loving,” on her latest track “Take Away the Ache” via Anti, said a press release. The experimental electronic artist, who occasionally sings harmony’s for Pinegrove, is showing no signs of slowing down, fresh of two 2021 singles—“Orange Blossom” and “Party’s Over”—and her 2020 masterpiece The Caretaker.
4. Last Day On Earth – beabadoobee
Co-written and produced by the 1975’s Matty Healy and George Daniel, Indie-pop artist beabadoobee released “Last Day On Earth” via Dirty Hit. The Filipino-born British singer-songwriter sings about pre-pandemic nostalgia, with a music video taking us through how she would have spent her final day before lockdown had she known what was coming our way. The new track will be on her upcoming EP Our Extended Play set for this summer.
5. Penny Connection – Lunarette
Brand-new Brooklyn indie-pop group Lunarette released their debut EP Clair De Lunarette via Baby City Records/ Topshelf Records. This standout track perfectly represents the dreamy, misty sound that the 20-minute EP carries. Born from the group Gingerly’s, you will want to keep Lunarette on your radar.
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