Welcome to April and the constant search for warm weather in Buffalo. Some days are hot and others are cold, but when the weather fluctuates this much, so should your playlists.
If you’re looking for some new tracks to throw on your phone for this spring, The Spectrum has you covered.
Tyler, The Creator – “OKRA”
Fresh off two Grammy nominations and his critically acclaimed record “Flower Boy,” Tyler, The Creator just gave fans the best “throwaway” song of his career.
The one take, high-energy new single was matched with pretty visuals and unfinished album artwork. “OKRA” needs no fancy features, catchy choruses, massive promotional backing or even album art for that matter. It has the one thing a Tyler song needs: originality.
The rapper gasses himself up with one of the hardest and largest bass-heavy beats of 2018 so far and leaves nothing behind.
Snail Mail – “Pristine”
On the completely opposite end of the musical spectrum is guitarist Lindsey Jordan with her indie rock project, Snail Mail.
On new single “Pristine,” Jordan pairs her easygoing voice with an infectious guitar riff and steady drums. The singer emphasizes her infatuation with someone and asks if the person likes her for who she is, a youthful and catchy plea from the 18-year-old singer.
The new single sets up listeners for Snail Mail’s June 8 debut album, titled “Lush.”
Greta Van Fleet – “Safari Song”
Imagine listening to Led Zeppelin. Now, imagine listening to Led Zeppelin in 2018. But wait, that’s not Robert Plant singing, it’s Greta Van Fleet’s lead singer Josh Kiszka.
The band’s lead singer sounds so much like Plant, that Plant himself called the group “Led Zeppelin I” and Kiszka a “beautiful little singer.”
Van Fleet is already making waves in popular music, and “Safari Song” is no exception. It’s heaven to the ears of a classic rock fan and is a bold predictor of exactly where rock music is headed.
Paramore – “Native Tongue”
Paramore has been around for a hot minute, and the group has surely done it all.
The group excels with punk, but their last few releases have shown a funkier side of the rock group.
On this track, Hayley Williams pairs her golden voice with a catchy guitar riff. As the song progresses, the bridge explores slow-paced reggae, and proves Paramore is capable of doing it all.
Hayley Kiyoko – “Curious”
2017 saw a fair share of rising pop stars. 2018 is seeing more.
Hayley Kiyoko was once known as a Disney star, but the pop singer just released her major label debut after breaking free of her Disney stigma. “Expectations” is full of massive pop bangers, with highlight being single “Curious.”
The song tells the story of a jealous lover who can’t seem to get over her ex. With an explosive chorus and sing-along worthy verses, Kiyoko makes it clear that she’s not your average former Disney star.
Charli XCX ft. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Backseat”
What happens when two of pop music’s most underrated queens come together for a track? Absolute magic.
Charli XCX’s “Pop 2” mixtape featured an array of synth-heavy ‘80s sound-a-like tracks, but one that truly stands out is “Backseat” with Carly Rae Jepsen.
Jepsen, who has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with in pop, adds a sense of familiarity to the autotune and vocoder-heavy song.
The highlight of the song is its bridge. With delicate synth and a repetitive but comforting verse from Jepsen, the song comes to a charming and beautiful conclusion.
That being said, please stop sleeping on these two talented women. If you like pop music, do your homework, explore their discographies and enjoy.
Jessie Reyez ft. Daniel Caesar – “Figures, a Reprise”
Singer Jessie Reyez made waves in 2017 with her hit “Figures,” so to see her return to the track with a special friend is everything.
But when that special friend is the one and only Daniel Caesar, it redefines the word “everything.”
Caesar perfects the already perfect emotional plea. Both Caesar and Reyez are a match made in musical heaven. The raspy tone of Reyez’s voice and the smooth coolness of Caesar’s creates every Torontonian’s dream collaboration.
Reyez didn’t want to remix the track unless it felt right to her. She knew exactly what she was doing.
Brenton Blanchet is the senior arts editor and can be reached at Brenton.Blanchet@ubspectrum.com and @BrentBlanchSpec.
Brenton J. Blanchet is the 2019-20 editor-in-chief of The Spectrum. His work has appeared in Billboard, Clash Magazine, DJBooth, PopCrush, The Face and more. Ask him about Mariah Carey.
