Georgia on My Mind is a “Spanglish” cover version of the classic Ray Charles song. Performed by LA band, Las Cafeteras, it’s intended to be an anthem for the upcoming Georgia runoffs and promote voter participation. Having already amassed 70,000 views on youtube, the video for this jam is pretty impressive. It features some excellent photography and a vintage Ford Mustang convertible (which is in pristine condition).

The song is a creative and interpretation, putting a truly original spin on a familiar track. In a performance that’s joyous and lush with enthusiasm, somehow these guys seem to make the genre-blended sound work. The music is very professional, and the vocals measure up to the legacy of the song. The overall vibe is upbeat and positive, as the artists are hoping to “get voters dancing all the way to the polls in Georgia.”

For more info:

Mississippi Runner is a new single from Mississippi-born hip hop artist, Boss Lady T. The backing beat is slick and jazzy, featuring a catchy piano melody that reminds me a bit of the classic Dragnet theme song. Boss Lady T’s delivery style is quick-witted, and she holds nothing back in her performance. She blends charisma, attitude and genuine rapping skills. The lyrics are rough and real. This is a lively jam that’s packed with thrills. Musically, it’s pretty hot, and Boss Lady T’s strong personality gives the song its commanding vibe. She recently won the Queen of The South Showcase in Picayune, Mississippi, and based on this recent track, I would expect more victories for this artist in the future.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/boss_ladyt_/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Qf5CHpl1gcPWdzSaew9lv?si=upOUcgQ3TDKPiMDr58Rung

https://m.facebook.com/bossladyt2021/

Watch the Crown Vol. II is a new EP from hip hop artist, Ace Drucci. This album is crisp and professional, It features impressive lyrical choreography and a fresh, punchy mix. Ace Drucci’s deep voice and commanding presence resonates throughout. He has a quick-witted, no-nonsense and snappy style that always keeps the action moving. The songs contain appearances from numerous guest artists, including lamme, Blue Da_artist, and London Blu. Their presence spices things up with some variety and adds a conversational dynamic into the mix.

It’s worth noting that Ace Drucci also makes effective use of various vocal effects, creating crafty echoes that themselves become components of the beat. The songs all have surreal and attention grabbing, synth driven intros that set the stage for when Ace Drucci lowers the boom with his entry. Ultimately, Watch the Crown Vol. II is a compact and straightforward hip hop release, packed with solid jams.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/acedrucci

The Dance Song is a new single from Chicago-based artist, FLOJOBENZ. Blending elements of hip hop, R&B and EDM, the track is upbeat and energizing. The pace ranges from invigoratingly peppy to chill and reflective. FLOJOBENZ’s delivery is impressive in its rhythmic complexity. Demonstrating meticulous levels of precision, he definitely has some skills in the timing department. I can’t stress enough just how cohesive everything is.

As the title obviously implies, this is a dance song. The beat is classy and casually mellow but still fresh enough to put a spring in your step. The mix is smooth and dynamic, rather than overbearing. This is a great example of how “less can be more” when it comes to pop music. Brimming with a subtle sensuality, The Dance Song is an atmospheric and stylish jam, with a surprisingly mature and elaborate songwriting structure. Keep your eyes peeled for FLOJOBENZ’s upcoming project, METAMORPHOSIS, which is slated to be completed sometime in the near future.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/flojobenz

https://soundcloud.com/flojobenz

Stewie is a new single from Southwest Michigan-based hip hop artists, JKurd and 2140. Organic and real, this is what indie hip hop is supposed to be all about. Reflective rapping about everyday struggles like paying rent and the daily grind of life, the vibe hits close to home. Against a jazzy and melodic piano-driven beat, the vocal delivery is natural and magnetic, with voices that seem intrinsically wired for spoken-word and stream of consciousness style hip hop.

The ambiance is mellow yet engaging, with the intensity amping up about halfway through the song as things kick into high gear. Overall, the sound has a classic feel, embodying all the characteristics of the low-key, artful hip hop you remember and love. JKurd and 2140 put the focus on strong fundamentals rather than flashy hype, resulting in a song that’s both impressive and accessible. I’d also recommend checking out some of JKurd’s visual artwork on Instagram, which is aesthetically distinctive and thought provoking.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/jkurd
https://soundcloud.com/2140music
https://www.instagram.com/jkurd08/

Holly Jolly Litmas, Vol. 2 is a new album from Detroit-based, teen producer duo, Tin x Curry. A sequel to last year’s release (Holly Jolly Litmas), this is Christmas music like you’ve never heard it before. It’s wild, original and creative, while still capturing the holiday “magic” and ambiance of the season. Blending cozy narration, analog recording artifacts, samples and high quality music, Holly Jolly Litmas, Vol. 2 comes across as surprisingly ambitious and the finished product is simply epic. It’s worth noting that the opening track, 10 x La Vida is a re-imagined version of of the Coldplay classic, Viva La Vida. My personal favorite jam on this album is Love In the Snow, which features some stellar, futuristic synths and sonic warmth.

The production quality is impressive, much better than one would expect for an “indie” release or novelty recording. These guys should honestly consider releasing this album on vinyl. There are a few sleeper hits on here that have the potential to become 21st century Christmas classics. Tin x Curry are still quite young, so I imagine they will be cranking out many more high level jams over the coming decades.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Fa6hgzxLDDtq_13ck38yQ

Eyes Wide Shut is a new single from artist, Kinky Jake. His bio claims he was “raised in a junk yard by 3 little mice; Zink, Tosh and Lil Uzi Vert,” and this background clearly manifests itself in the song’s resourceful and gritty vibe. Not to be confused with the Stanley Kubrick classic, Eyes Wide Shut is a multi-genre track that blends elements of alternative, rock’n’roll, Americana, and spoken word to create an organic and passionate sound.

Backed by full-bodied and flavorful guitars, Jake’s lyrical delivery is charismatic and expressive. He has just the right type of honest and straightforward voice for this style of music, as he belts out the lyrics with raw sincerity. Catchy phrases like “I’ve been searching for a star, this seems very far” form a narrative that presents as a kind of “anti-hero’s journey.” Eyes Wide Shut would make a great jam to listen to on a cross country road trip. It’s difficult to make accurate comparisons in a case like this, but the tone and pacing reminds me a bit of Modest Mouse. This is honestly very good music. Kinky Jake is a talented songwriter and should try to score a showcase at SXSW, where his style would be well received. This track has all the ingredients of being an indie hit.

For more info:

https://linktr.ee/KinkyJake

Glum Tom is a new album from San Francisco-based indie-progressive-deathcore duo, Envy the Glitch. With band member names like Lazer and Blazer Adams, you can’t really go wrong. The backstory for this release is almost as interesting as the album itself, so I recommend reading it. As the title suggests though, Glum Tom is ultimately a concept album about a man named Tom who feels glum. It was recorded at Cabin 435 in Littlejohn Island, Maine by Ric Cir & Johnny LeFlaire

The opening track, Respect My Thots is anything but melancholy though. Featuring high intensity guitars and invigorating melodies, it’s a solid entry and demonstrates that these musicians have some real skills. Other songs like Compute My Flute (my personal favorite) have more of a groovy, retro-futuristic quality. The best of these is probably LEFT BRAIN, Right Brain, UP BRAIN, Your Brain, which is an impressive piece of hypnotic psychedelia. All of the songs have an enjoyable yet atmospheric eeriness about them that will pull you out of your comfort zone a bit. The album closes out with My Drones Are In Your Zones a robust and assertive meditation that contains probably the heaviest guitar tones. People who can appreciate deathcore that’s a little more on the avant garde side will find this release thoroughly satisfying. Glum Tom is genuinely creative, and its experimental liberties are enhanced by technical competence on all fronts.

For more info:

https://envytheglitch.bandcamp.com/album/glum-tom

Guinness Rhythm is a new single from JASESHIP, an artist form Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England in the UK. He characterizes his creative endeavors as essentially “making lofi house music in an attic.” The recording quality on this track is probably better than what one would expect for lofi, as the sound is smooth, ambient and bursting with sonic clarity. The pacing oscillates between reflectively mellow and moderately intense, with a beat that’s both hypnotic and invigorating. I would classify it as deep house. It’s fairly straightforward, although it contains some welcomingly exotic elements in the mix. At its most climactic points, Guinness Rhythm is engaging and will sweep you up in its exhilarating field of energy. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys EDM that’s a little on the sophisticated and avant garde side. Of course, if you’re just in the mood to dance, it will work for that too.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/jaseship/guinness-rhythm

Fuck With Me is a new single from iconic hip hop artist, Santa Sallet. Santa delivers the goods under the tree once more, laying things down eloquently with this nuanced and courteous jam. While his trademarked, lyrical witticisms are more than enough to carry the song on their own, they’re backed by his genuinely skillful delivery and uniquely charismatic style. He has a knack for cleverly and unpredictably infusing pop culture references into his songs. One can’t help but appreciate provocative lines like “catching all these freaks like a Pokemon trainer, when you see me stranger danger.”

Of course, everything is neatly packaged with a business-like professionalism. A prolific and no-nonsense performer, Santa Sallet continues to crank out contemporary classic after classic. With Fuck With Me, he once again finds the hip hop sweet spot, striking the delicate balance between seriousness and fun.

For more info:

https://song.link/75dRKTPD9JHwd
https://www.santasallet.com/