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It’s New Music Friday on Dave’s Mixtape and it’s a full of great new stuff from artists like Maggie Rogers, Willow, Bad Bad Hats, Lizz Wright and more. Here’s what I’m digging:
Singles:
Zayn - “Alienated”
The former One Direction singer brings us a more raw, stripped back style with a very confessional style with his voice sounding mature and soulful - Maybe he’s been listening to some Nathaniel Rateliff? It’s a personal song, according to Zayn, and that theme will run throughout his upcoming album.
Willow - “Big Feelings”
Willow continues to put out incredible music and shows great growth in her songwriting and style. The latest is a complex, jazz-like track that is piano, bass and drum driven with her voice riding along playfully. The song deals with accepting intense feelings that you sometimes have no idea what to do with them. A fantastic new song!
Chloe - “Boy Bye”
The Grammy-nominated singer is saying goodbye to an unhealthy relationship in her latest track. It’s some great ear candy from the pop artist that feels liberating and free with some sweet acoustic guitars layered over some hot beats.
Albums:
Maggie Rogers - Don’t Forget Me
This is the best Maggie Rogers has sounded - her third album is her best yet. It feels more stripped down than her first two albums and gives me some serious Laurel Canyon vibes. There’s an embrace of simplicity with Don’t Forget Me with shades of folk and country. Yet, Rogers can still find an upbeat groove - check out “Drunk” which reminds me of Jagged Little Pill Alanis - a fantastic, heart-on-her-sleeve song. “So Sick of Dreaming” is a slow burn that melts me with her fantastic voice. “I Still Do” is an emotional piano ballad that harkens a doomed romance. I could listen to Rogers' latest on repeat all weekend. While only three albums into her career, the lyrics and maturity of the songs are built for the long term life in music. Thank god!
girl in red - I’m Doing It Again Baby!
Marie Ulven, better known as girl in red is back with a sweet collection of alt-pop songs that have risen from the ashes of her early lo-fi days. There’s elements of love, lost love, sadness and sometimes optimism (I mean, hello - the name of the album). Having seen video of her live, the new album seems to capture a lot of how she’s sounded lately - especially when she snagged the opening slot on Taylor Swift’s tour. Highlights include “A Night to Remember”, “Ugly Side” and “Phantom Pain”.
Bad Bad Hats - Bad Bad Hats
Minnesota has produced some incredible music, from Prince to Dylan to Husker Du and so many in-between. I love when a city keeps churning out great artists as is with Bad Bad Hats. Now on their fourth album, the indie-pop duo create “sad songs in happy exteriors”. Full of fuzzy guitars and bigger sounds, the album explores different rhythms and styles. Very cool stuff. Highlights include “Let Me In”, “Bored in the Summer” and “My Heart Your Heart”.
Lizz Wright - Shadow
If you’re not familiar with Lizz Wright’s music, Shadow is a great time to dive in. The smooth, sultry voice will pull you in on her five original songs and covers that help encapsulate who she is. These are songs that will stay with you afterwards, the vocals hanging onto your earlobes. She’s also brought a fantastic collection of friends to help out (Meshell Ndegeocello, Angelique Kidjo) and it pays off on songs like “Your Love” and “Sparrow”. And stay to the very end so you can hear her version of Gillian Welch’s “I Made a Lovers Prayer” - It’s a stunner.