Paper Tongues – “Just Do It” (featured photo by Brad Moore): Truly, one of the best “one and done” LP’s of the 2010s came from Paper Tongues, who released an album chock full of genre-fused bangers. They faded away almost as quickly as they exploded onto the scene, but they ain’t done yet. Now, the band is a duo of Aswan North and Danny Santell, and this track is closer to synthpop influenced hip hop than the rock fusion extravaganza you might be used to, but it still sounds on brand for them. This straightforward track is aimed toward one thing—getting the crowd hyped up. I’d like to see more of Aswan’s trademark vocal range in the future, as he seems to play it relatively safe here, yet they have succeeded at creating yet another earworm for their fans. We’ve been craving more, and we’re now finally getting it!
Kara Frazier – “Care”: This new single from our 2020 Nashville Artist to Watch Kara Frazier is an adventuresome, funky soul/pop track. To me, it’s a fresh twist on what I usually hear emerging from Music City, a city with no shortage of talent. I can hear a touch of sass in Kara’s vocals, which show range in both tone and melody. There is much more to come from Kara this fall. It’s a shame the live music scene has slowed down; I heard her name initially through one of my favorite Nashville venues, True Music Room. Until it comes back, play this song through your best sound system.
Sylvan Esso – “Ferris Wheel”: If you’re already familiar with Sylvan Esso, nothing about this song will surprise you. A few things might strike you in ways previous bops of theirs haven’t though. “Ferris Wheel” is a pop song that is too off-kilter to be pop. It doesn’t really make sense, but it works. The production is as impeccable as ever, and they continue to prove that there are nearly infinite ways to craft ear-catching beats. Amelia Meath’s vocals are as quirky and whimsical as ever while retaining that measured quality fans have come to love over the years.
GhostE – “Stay Up With Me Tonight”: The NYC based GhostE returns with another driving, sweeping pop single. This is a love song—duh! It carries a demeanor that is warm but not corny. It’s down to earth and sweet but not syrupy sweet. It’s nice to hear an electropop song with a voice as mature sounding as GhostE. It adds an element of believability and persona, showing that GhostE isn’t content to merely follow all the latest songwriting tropes. On a more relatable note—this song is a pleasant listen for those early evening pensive moments.
Yoke Lore – “Fade Away”: Ever since I began to explore Yoke Lore’s catalog while exploring potential Steadfast Festival headliners, I’ve been struck by his unique brand of indie pop. He has one of those voices that is immediately recognizable. The hooks seem to get more massive with each single release. “Fade Away” slaps, as the kids say, but it also has an effect like wrapping you up in a blanket of pensive melody. The chorus has a pleasantly explosive effect when you hear it for the first time.
Captain Kidd – “No Good (feat. Jxlahni)”: And then they were two! Captain Kidd appeared to be a name of the past for a minute. They brought the vibes at Steadfast Festival 2019 after a fiery set from SHAED, and apparently that night inspired them to re-emerge with even more vibes. “No Good” hints at more to come from the well of deephouse influenced electropop that these dudes have become known for. Adding a bonus dash of R&B are the velvety hip hop of Jxlahni, a name I initially heard about via the arts collective and festival Cloud City.
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