The Happy Fits – “Get a Job”: THANK YOU, industry powers that be. I was looking for a pop-rock track that didn’t feel too contrived and formulaic – and The Happy Fits deliver with their latest music video for “Get a Job.” The lighthearted video matches the equally lighthearted track, which knows when to turn up the heat and when to pull back. This is rock and roll at its finest for the indie crowd. The pretentious snobs will like this band, but if they show up to the show, they’ll probably get a lecture on loosening up.

SH3 – “Arrow”: Being hit by Cupid’s arrow isn’t always a good thing. Canadian pop artist SH3 navigates this tension with the atmospheric power balled “Arrow.” The vocals are a bit on the sultry side, against backdrop rife with sweeping programming and a simple yet effective groove. There’s a bit of mystery here, which shouldn’t be a surprise when you consider all the elements that make up SH3 as an industry professional. Pronounced “She,” SH3 also classifies herself as a “fulltime ghostwriter.” Ghostwriter for what? I’ll be thinking about that when I listen to this song.

Aloe Vera – “Money”: I discovered this artist via Tik Tok a few months ago, via his recommendations to music blogs and tastemakers. I’m long overdue to give this artist a proper share – so here it is. “Money” is a sad-sounding, quirky indie pop bop chock full of vocals that sound like they’re from a bygone era. At times you’ll be a tad unsettled. But mostly you’ll just be intrigued. This San Diego artist is one to watch.

Jiminil – “Spider”: Ah, summer days. More like summer daze, though, am I right? That’s “Spider” by Jiminil in a nutshell. Soak it up. You can’t rush through this song. You have to slow down. Kind of like this Creamsicle Italian Soda I’m drinking right now. It’s refreshing in the near 90-degree heat outside, but I can’t slurp it down.

Koresma x Skysia – “Wash Away”: Tycho makes some of the best music for driving through the country, peering at the nature-scape. This collaboration aims to proverbially sweep the listener into someplace with grandeur. This song builds a sense of anticipation for my upcoming road trip, much of which will be centered in nature, pausing, and taking it all in. I’m going to zone out to this on the beach – for sure.

Feng Suave – “Come Gather ‘Round”: Within seconds, I can picture many people trying to romanticize this song. There’s a wholesome and endearing quality to it. If you’re not in the mood for mush – avoid for now. But when you are, Feng Suave is here to back you up. Dig a little deeper into this act and you’ll find some whimsical expressions in their brand. So, they certainly don’t want to leave you in the mush either – they just want to make you feel good. Who knew a band could do that with economic commentary?

McDead – “4-2-1”: I’m gonna be brutally honest here and say I want to hate the song… but I don’t. The vocals may come across as cringeworthy to some but I find them whimsical. This art-rock artist certainly has a way with creating allure in an outside-the-box manner. Whom would I compare them to? They say Talking Heads. I say White Collar Sideshow. Take a dark noir-industrial rock band and add a bit of new wave flavor – you’ll probably end up with a product similar to McDead.