2nd Music of the Issue
By Ruwan Jinadasa
MUSIC OF THE ISSUE
Recommended music of the second August Issue
As currently we are all in lockdown, why not increase your music taste and hopefully find some new artists that you like! With every issue, we will include a list of 4 songs and 1 album of the issue. A lot of them will be ‘underground’ artists that you may not have heard of, in an effort to support new and upcoming artists. Hopefully you like them!!
Song 1
Someone To Spend Time With – Los Retros (R&B, Soul)
Someone To Spend Time With
Los Retros
Los Retros, or Mauri Tapia, was inspired by his own culture, to formulate his own sound based on Central and South American soft-rock and alternative pop from the ‘70s and ‘80s. The name ‘Los Retros’ is a homage to a Chilean pop group Los Ángeles Negros. Someone To Spend Time With has a groovy base line, mixed with great vocals and layering of guitars and drums. The song speaks about lonely mornings and missed opportunities at love. Joining the summery track, is Firelordmelisa who is a California-based artist. Omg and the harmonisation is on point. The two join on the chorus, and their voices together sound outstanding, helping to create this daydreamy soundscape. So far, Mauri has released 2 Eps, Retrospect and Everlasting, with a few singles out as well. Everlasting has great summer undertones, bringing the image of relaxing in the hot sun.
Song 2
In the morning I’ll be better – Tennis (Indie pop, dream pop, SURF MUSIC, LO-FI MUSIC)
In the morning I’ll be better
Tennis
I freaking love Tennis omg. They’re so cute, it’s a wife and husband, singing with a ‘50s melancholy pop and ‘70s soft rock sound, singing in a calming fashion that matches the mood of a sailing trip. In fact, they do most of their songwriting while bobbing on the seas! Their most recent album, ‘Swimming’, is amazing and I’ll probabaly feature them again on another issue sometime soon. Give a listen to Tennis, I promise you that you won’t regret it. Oh and their aesthetic is on point, it’s like a vintage, arcade, ‘80s and ‘70s look ugh such icons
Song 3
Cry Me A River - Lesley Gore (Pop, rock)
cry me a river
Leslie Gore
Hehe this song just makes me feel good yk. Lesley Gore was big in the ‘60s, and sadly passed in 2015 at 68 due to lung cancer. Nevertheless, her music will live on! She had really big hits with ‘You Don’t Own Me’, which was considered to be an anthem of independence with a feminist theme that was a pretty big advance in 1964. Also ‘It’s my party’, and ‘Judy’s Turn to Cry’ are very famous. Cry Me A River, is groovy with a touch of jazz, making it a great song to relax to! I think there is a theme in this issue, of a slight jazz instrumental in all of these songs, hehe oops
Song 4
Warm Honey – Willow (Alternative r&b)
warm honey
Willow
Ahh Willow is actually so talented, She has created a sound that fits her voice so well, and I think she deserves more attention! Willow has amazing vocals, that never fail to surprise.
‘Willow’ is probably my favourite album of hers, but she just released ‘THE ANXIETY’ with ‘THE ANXIETY and Tyler Cole. It is a sonic palette album, deeply rooted in punk and progressive rock.
Album of the Issue
Garden of Lucid - Ambar Lucid (Pop, contemporary R&B, Alternative rock, Indie Rock)
Garden of Lucid
Ambar Lucid
I recently discovered her, and her music is really amazing, and is accompanied with an amazing voice with an extraordinary range. She switches between Spanish and English during many of her songs, and a lot of her music is inspired from Mexican and Dominican styles. My favourite song from this album is probably ‘Universe’ and ‘Fantasmas’. Her style of R&B is mystical and moody, lavishing in wonky, washed-out guitar, sticky bass-lines, and fuzzy background vocals. Only 19, she has already had to live through her father’s deportation. Her life is reflected on her album, telling everyone that immigrant kids are complicated and idiosyncratic, never conforming to the image that others want to project on us. There’s no attempt to pander, to sing the kind of story about the tragedy or triumph of immigration that white Americans love to hear. Everyone is always telling teenagers what to do, but Lucid isn’t looking for help. She’s just waiting for everyone else to catch up.
This is one of those albums where you can just close your eyes and drift off to, while it plays in the background.
I hope you enjoyed reading these! Please feel free to comment anything about the article or some of your favourite artists for the next issue