MUST LISTEN 033
Every week, we’ll be bringing you MUST LISTEN: a series that's a compilation of rising artists along with songs that must be added to your everyday playlist. This week’s playlist consists of emerging acts like Eric Ryan, Sunset Rollercoaster, and Harry Nathan. Turn up, tune in, and tune out.
Harry Nathan - High
The first taste of his upcoming EP, Songs About Falling, “High” sounds like what you would expect: floating synths, light ambient water noise textures, all settling into a tight but soft electronic drum track which then dissipates back into the cloudy synths, before slowly coming back seamlessly.
JW Francis - All There
NY-based artist, JW Francis releases a video for his single, “All There” which is off of his recent project, We Share a Similar Joy. This song is a jangly guitar-driven track with mellowed out vocals about reminiscing a date which he wishes to take out again. Yet, in the hook he alludes to his aloofness saying, “I won’t be all there.”
Griff Clawson - Chasing Highs
Your typical but well-executed pop love song, “Chasing Highs” has all the stapes for a pop hit. Upbeat drums with snaps during the breakdowns, guitars to add texture against the vocals, and light airy synths which float during the hook to glue the whole track together while Griff Clawson sings about chasing a person of interest rather than artificial ‘highs’.
Kirk Francis - San Francisco
An ode to the Bay Area, San Francisco is a chill, reverb, and slowed down track which paints a picture of campfires by the ocean during sunset. The spaced-out track suits the title perfectly, only picking up the pace during the hook then sliding back into a smooth deep groove led by the lead guitars and Kirk’s vocals.
Eva B. Ross - Jim Beam Moonbeam
Eva B Ross in her soft sultry voice sings over the slow tap of the drums and seductive guitar lines, which paints a picture of a near-empty bar in The Midwest at 3 am with a small band led by Eva. The picture is very fitting, given lyrics like “Make me a drink, I think that you’re a little more buzzed than me.”
Sunset Rollercoaster - Candlelight (feat. OHHYUK)
A somber instrumental consisting of snappy electronic drum sounds, striking synths, and a churning synth bass which fills out the bottom end of “Candlelight,” while the vocalist floats in and out, singing about a romantic evening involving a storm, candles, and a moment they’ll never forget.
CASTLEBEAT - Who You Are
The track “Who You Are,” is a hazy, chill-inducing record led by reverb guitar and delayed vocals that sounds right at home on the car stereo while driving to the beach. The lyrics soothe the ear as CASTLEBEAT faintly sings about how beautiful that special someone is. The song perfects the laid-back, no-worries vibe.
CD Ghost - Silver For Sand
This 80s-inspired song has all the synths and echoey vocals one could ask for. The female vocalist complements the warm 80s instrumentals perfectly, singing alongside a lead synth with your standard love ballad-esque lyrics but delivered in a way that is irresistible not to hum to yourself while listening.
Eric Ryan - Close
This smooth track from Eric Ryan is contemporary R&B at its finest: slow swinging drums, guitars and synths that sound like they are just waking up from a long nap, and Eric’s voice as it soars over the instrumental like a plane through clouds.