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Salem's Psychedelic Atmosphere
Phantom
Phantom by Sara Diana is a dramatic, emotionally resonant dance pop anthem that conveys a bold storyline while still being a dance banger that wouldn't feel out of place in a thumping 3am club. Sponsored The first word that comes to mind is energy. The track has a heavy, almost spooky, ethereal weight that it carries brilliantly from beginning to end. The energy is contagious, compelling you to nod your head as you're immersed in the creeping dance pop vibes. The juxtapositio
Rentrée
Rentrée by JSUN is a chilled lo-fi hip-hop instrumental with a lot of soul and real melodic weight. My favourite thing about the track is how it flows in intensity and texture while keeping one key musical thread running through it. The piano motif plays at the start, drawing you in as a listener. Although it evolves throughout, this core concept carries through the rest of the track as the foundation the other elements flow around. Sponsored Normally in pieces like this, the
Song Spotlight
Phantom
Phantom by Sara Diana is a dramatic, emotionally resonant dance pop anthem that conveys a bold storyline while still being a dance banger that wouldn't feel out of place in a thumping 3am club. Sponsored The first word that comes to mind is energy. The track has a heavy, almost spooky, ethereal weight that it carries brilliantly from beginning to end. The energy is contagious, compelling you to nod your head as you're immersed in the creeping dance pop vibes. The juxtapositio
2 min read
Rentrée
Rentrée by JSUN is a chilled lo-fi hip-hop instrumental with a lot of soul and real melodic weight. My favourite thing about the track is how it flows in intensity and texture while keeping one key musical thread running through it. The piano motif plays at the start, drawing you in as a listener. Although it evolves throughout, this core concept carries through the rest of the track as the foundation the other elements flow around. Sponsored Normally in pieces like this, the
2 min read
The Return of The DB Coopers
The Return of The DB Coopers by THE DB COOPERS is an irreverent yet surprisingly heavy hitting alt rock album themed around the famous story of DB Cooper, the man who stole money and escaped out of a plane, never to face any consequences. In the modern day, it's rare to see an antihero avoid consequence, so there's a real sense of escapism in the story, and that's reflected in the music. Sponsored That's not to say it steers away from serious or important themes. Instead, it
2 min read
Lay Your Heart Down
Lay your Heart Down by Zhenyok Chem Brat is a neon soaked 80s inspired rock anthem. Zhenyok Chem Brat has done an excellent job of capturing the vibe of what makes music from the eighties so special not only sonically but also thematically as well. There is this element of spontaneity that comes through throughout the lyrics. The idea that we don’t live forever is present but not in a nihilistic way. The track encourages its muse to take risks and lay their heart down because
2 min read
Salem
Salem by MATT TARKA is an evocative and genre-fluid listening experience, capturing the ease of indie rock while exploring the psychedelic influences of artists like The Velvet Underground. Standing on the shoulders of musical giants, they still put their own spin on the tonal palette. The acoustic guitar feels like a guiding light, defining the sound while also introducing us to a rhythmic component. It lays the foundation for the track and allows the other melodic aspects t
2 min read
Sinking/Floating
Sinking/Floating MAIJAH is an alternative pop power pairing that works like strawberries and cream, delving into the duality of the human experience. As we go through change there are these moments of extreme highs and lows and sometimes the only difference between these states is the way we feel, as opposed to anything external. The nice thing about the poetic way the tracks are written is that they become deeply personal to MAIJAH while also being universal to many people’s
2 min read
A Different Kind
A Different Kind by Social Gravy does the impossible by creating a project that delivers on a deep, emotionally resonant meaning while also having a catchy tune that appeals as much on the first listen as it does on the thirty first. If anything, this project ages like fine wine. Different tones and texture become obvious on subsequent listens, allowing the listener to immerse themselves deeper into the world of the project. Sponsored Instead of following a traditional struct
2 min read
Overwhelmingly Positive
Overwhelmingly Positive by That Darn Racket is a beautiful project about life in 2025. It takes a snapshot of this era of life, instead of describing the realities of life as they are, That Darn Racket explores the narrative around modernity and captures that uncertainty through constantly evolving tumultuous relationships. Tracks like A Mile Away utilise crashing drums and a confident vocal performance to express the emotional core of the project. They ebb and flow with the
1 min read
Silent Spike
Silent Spike by Ken Woods and The Old Blue Gang is a conceptual album exploring the building of the transatlantic railroad in America. What is often forgotten during that period is that a significant portion of the production was done by underpaid Chinese labourers. Despite their hard work and contribution to the railroad in horrible conditions, there was still a serious anti-Asian sentiment in the states. Sponsored This project feels like a mixture of exposing the darker sid
2 min read
Noise Against Tyranny
Noise Against Tyranny by CALLING ALL ASTRONAUTS is a bold, political, gothic project with intense themes and a sense of conviction that elevates it beyond the sum of its parts. The first track gives a glimpse into the deep narrative core of the album with a take on religion and its dominance in so many lives. “Pray For Your Soul” recontextualises the positive, guiding light of religion into this tool that is often used to breed uncertainty and division in people’s lives. Spon
2 min read
Just With You
Just With You by Chandra is a beautiful alt rock track with some pop influences, exploring the little moments that make up our memories of a special someone. It sort of feels like these glimpses of moments with this mist of melancholic joy for the times they’ve shared. The track has a tight and confident sonic palette, reminding me a little of musical theatre. It’s clear the vocals sit at the top of the tapestry, drawing the attention of the listener to the storyline but also
2 min read
No More Ops
No More Ops by JU BLICK is a track full of contrast, it is an exploration of dominance while also being a song about celebrating success. This mixture also feels like it is present in the track’s melodic core with a mixture between rapping and singing present in its style. JU BLICK excels at both, working in his signature smooth flows in the rapping component of the track before changing up the song’s sound with a charismatic and emotive vocal performance. Sponsored The artis
2 min read
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