SONGS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WEEK

Muzik First
Apr 10, 2022
6 min read

Every week, we highlight the cream of the crop in music through our best music of the week column. Here's our round-up of the best tracks and music videos across our desks. This week, we're bringing you the best new music that popular culture offers. Genres mean nothing to us, so be prepared to take a vision quest down many different avenues.

ALICE MERTON | BLINDSIDE

With over a billion streams to date and Top 10 chart positions across Europe, Alice Merton established herself as a major player on the alt-pop landscape with her debut album "MINT." But as shown by recent tracks "Same Team," "Vertigo," "Hero," and "Island" are presenting a confident new sound - bigger, bolder and more experimental - as she looks set to make a more extensive international impact. Now Alice extends growing anticipation for the June 17th release of her new album "S.I.D.E.S." by sharing the brand new single ‘Blindside,’ along with its official video. ‘Blindside’ is another compelling example of Alice’s desire to push alt-pop in thrillingly unpredictable directions. Its opening minute sets its stall with Alice’s angelic vocal supported by a simple synth pattern and a rolling drum beat. But as Alicequestions “Who’s to blame?” a rumbling funk-bass line takes the song somewhere else entirely, its exuberance building further still during the song’s dazzling conclusion. It’s also a song demonstrating how Alice excels at matching uplifting sounds with dark, introspective themes. The song is Alice’s latest collaboration with Tobias Kuhn. The pair previously worked together on "Trouble In Paradise," a song from her debut album "MINT," released in 2019.

BISHOP BRIGGS | HIGH WATER

Bishop Briggs is opening a new and painful journey as she explores the complexities of grief through her powerful singles. Her latest track, "High Water," represents two important parts of her story that addresses losing her sister last year to Ovarian Cancer. The song's heaviness is immediately felt, but empowering energy shines through as she finds her voice and power to sing again. "High Water" is found in the deepness of grief. It’s the song about the initial pain of letting her go and needing to find the direction to go in without her. It’s heavy, but it’s required. It’s a release of emotions equally cathartic as it is emotionally hard. But they contrast it with soft guitar at the beginning before building into a steady beat that allows her vocals to soar and be the main focus intertwined with the important lyrics. “And I hatе that I lost you when I’m not lost anymore. And I hate that I got to lеt go of what I adore,” she emotionally sings. The dominative production is intoxicating and will light a fire underneath you. She released her debut album, "Church of Scars," released in April 2018, including her single "River," which peaked at number three on the US Alternative Chart.

PEACH TREE RASCALS | GOOD ADVICE

After dropping their debut EP "Camp Nowhere" last year, San Jose band Peach Tree Rascals are back with a new track, "Good Advice." The versatile group can’t be put in a box, as they know to morph genres into their own unique style effortlessly. “Good Advice” is no different, as it goes from the uplifting pop-esque chorus to exceptional bars in the verse. “Go 'head and pick yourself up, don't need anyone else. Take my advice; I know you'll be okay,” it is as uplifting of a chorus that you’ll get over a bouncy piano melody and a rippling bass that ultimately completes the track. Here is what Peach Tree Rascals said of the track, “We wrote ‘Good Advice’ as an anthem for us and anyone else that feels like they’re making decisions on behalf of others instead of trusting their gut,” the collective explains, “We hope this song shows the importance of trusting yourself and knowing that at the end of the day, as long as you’re genuine to what you love, the success always comes later.” Peach Tree Rascals has yet to put out a song you can’t bop your head to or at the very least have you relating to their clever songwriting. While Peach Tree Rascals already has a few smash hits in their catalogue, they are only scratching the surface of their potential, and “Good Advice” is a perfect start to their 2022 plans.

MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD | BRIGHTER DAY

Michael Franti has long been revered for his inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Deemed by NPR as “equal parts musician and activist,” Franti continues to offer opportunities for gratitude, solidarity and celebrating how we get through the greatest ups and downs of our lives with our body, mind and soul still in one piece with his upcoming album "Follow Your Heart," set for release June 3rd via Thirty Tigers. The release follows the lead single "Good Day For A Good Day," which marked the band’s 10th Top 25 AAA hit. Joining “Good Day LA” to chat about and perform the song live in the studio, Franti shared that the song is “speaking to the fact that sometimes we have to retune our minds to feel like we can have a good day because we’re not always going to get one. Not every day is perfect, but we can retune our minds to find those good days and good moments.” Michael Franti & Spearhead will be kicking off the Follow Your Heart UK tour in February 2023. They will play St. Luke’s Music & Arts Venue, Glasgow (Feb 7th), Manchester Academy 2 (Feb 8th) and London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire (Feb 10th).

ALMOST MONDAY | SUNBURN

Alt-pop trio Almost Monday releases their first single of the year, “Sunburn,” via Hollywood Records/Universal Music Canada, the country's leading music company. “Sunburn” has all the makings for the song of the summer. With its addicting beat and funky guitar licks, the new single begs to be played at full volume with the windows down and carries on the band’s signature California sound. This upbeat track is the perfect vehicle for vocalist Dawson Daugherty to proclaim the spirit of a summer fling, “You’ll always be that sunburn on me.” After teasing the song on TikTok in March, almost Monday, rounded out by guitarist Cole Clisby and bassist Luke Fabry, it quickly caught the attention of fans with over 3.2M views to date. “Sunburn” follows the release of almost Monday's momentous single “Cool Enough.” In the summer of 2021, the band released their second EP, "Til The End Of Time," featuring singles “Hailey Beebs” and “Live Forever,” The EP received praise from Forbes and the trio was hailed as a band to watch by Alternative Press, GQ Australia, Flaunt, Ones To Watch and more, with People Magazine declaring them an “emerging artist making their mark on the musical landscape.”

EMPRESS OF | SAVE ME

Since her 2020 album "I’m Your Empress Of," synthpop performer Lorely Rodriguez has hopped on tracks with other artists, notably last year’s “Note To Self” by Jim-E Stack, “Love In Reverse” by MNDR, and “Vacío” by Jarina De Marco. Now, Rodriguez is sharing her first new music of 2022 in the form of a dramatic, orchestral song called “Save Me.” “Save Me” is, frankly, a super horny song. Screeching strings and distorted voice samples slur in and out as Empress Of sings, “If you need me, baby, take me in the back of the room/ I want you to save me.” The single’s Alexis Gómez-directed video splices cinematic vignettes of physical touch with shots of very on-the-nose floral imagery. So, you know, horny but remaining classy. The artist worked with sexual wellness company Dame on the visuals — you might see some of their products in the video.“ This is probably one of my favourite songs I have ever made,” she says. “I’ve never put live strings on a recording before; it was very emotional. There’s a sexual urgency. There’s a power play. I think it’s one of the sexiest songs I’ve made.” Rodriguez initially gained attention in 2012 for anonymously releasing a series of one-minute-long demos (via YouTube) prefaced only by a solid colour entitled "Colorminutes." Her first 7" single, "Champagne," was released soon after on November 5, 2012.