Horsegirl – ‘Julie’
Horsegirl’s 2022 album ‘Versions Of Modern Performance’ introduced a very special young band and, on its follow-up ‘Phonetics On And On’, they look set to cement their position under that banner. ‘Julie’ is more lowkey than previous single ‘2468’, but no less exciting – a softly droning piece that contains intricate layers of sound and themes of longing.
Biig Piig – ‘Ponytail’
Biig Piig heads to the dancefloor on ‘Ponytail’ – the latest taste of her upcoming debut album ‘11:11’ – but the euphoria of the club collides with a crystalline tinge of melancholia. As she glides over the glistening beats, the Irish singer details being trapped in the cycle of a relationship, unable to get out.
Julien Baker and Torres – ‘Sugar In The Tank’
Not content with being a solo star and a part of supergroup boygenius, Julien Baker is now teaming up with Torres. The pair’s debut single, ‘Sugar In The Tank’, takes things back to the American South where they grew up, mining swooning country sounds as they share their experiences of growing up queer in the area. “Come on baby, put a little sugar in the tank,” they ask in unison. “And I’ll love you all the way.”
Ichiko Aoba – ‘FLAG’
Ichiko Aoba might not be a familiar name to you yet, but she will be soon. The experimental pop artist strips things back on ‘FLAG’, taken from her forthcoming album ‘Luminescent Creatures’, to create a meditation on life that’s disarmingly beautiful. She’s already won over fans in Caroline Polachek, Yo La Tengo and more, and if she’s good enough for them, she’s more than good enough for the rest of us.
ALT BLK ERA – ‘Hunt You Down’
ALT BLK ERA’s latest banger might sound sinister on the surface, singer Nyrobi purring, “I can’t live without you now […] Need your love, I’ll hunt you down” over sizzling, brooding synths. Deep down, though, it’s an ode to something more sympathetic than creepy. The song takes inspiration from the vocalist’s experiences of being bedridden and isolated after developing a chronic illness during the pandemic, exploring how people in similar situations can become obsessive in their need for connection.
