Welcome to Sound Station, the place we’re highlighting the perfect new tracks that got here out this week. Head into the weekend with songs from Ethel Cain, Zulu, and extra.
Carlie Hanson calls out fakes and liars with “Pretender”
Ever since her arrival in 2017, Carlie Hanson has been placing out considerate, forthright songs that seize her coming-of-age expertise. Together with her new single “Pretender,” the alt-pop singer stays totally charming, assured, and honest, with the monitor centering on her battle to take care of fakeness and liars as she continues to navigate her early 20s. Protected to say, Hanson continues to be one to look at. —Neville Hardman
Zulu’s “Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did)” is a groove-centric tackle powerviolence
Ultimately, Zulu have revealed they are going to launch their debut full-length A New Tomorrow subsequent yr. With the announcement, they shared the pummeling first single “Fakin” Tha Funk (You Get Did).” The monitor leans on stuttering grooves, down-tuned guitars, and visceral vocal directives that really feel commanding in additional methods than one. “Fakin’ Tha Funk (You Get Did)” beams with aggression and assertiveness that solely additional cements Zulu’s place within the higher echelon of recent hardcore. —Alessandro DeCaro
Ethel Cain pays homage to Bones and All on “well-known final phrases (an ode to eaters)”
When you’ve seen Luca Guadagnino’s new cannibal love story starring Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet, then it has the emotional efficiency to tear your coronary heart out of your chest and devour it. Singer-songwriter Ethel Cain was significantly struck by the movie — a lot in order that she wrote and launched a tune impressed by it on SoundCloud final week, virtually instantly after seeing it. It is sensible Cain was taken by the film, given its ode to the heartland and romantic tones, and all of that comes by on the somber ballad. Singing of an all-consuming love that retains two tragic lovers coming again to at least one one other over a mild monitor, it parallels Maren and Lee from the film. It is merely gorgeous, so let it “eat of [you], child.” —Sadie Bell
$UICIDEBOY$ staff up with Germ for bass-heavy “My Swisher Candy, however My Sig Sauer”
The Amity Affliction’s “Present Me Your God” redefines symphonic-metalcore
On “Present Me Your God,” Australian metalcore mainstays The Amity Afflictionhave re-emerged with a darker and extra symphonic strategy that provides a substantial quantity of weight and triumph to their already impactful sound. Frontman Joel Birch spews venom over blast beats and frantic guitars whereas reflecting on the darkest corners of his thoughts earlier than transitioning into theatrical choral and string preparations that ultimately result in an anthemic refrain courtesy of bassist/vocalist Ahren Stringer. Lyrically, the tune touches on loss, trauma, and making peace with the previous, and as soon as once more, the Amity Affliction gives a compelling dose of solace in universally relatable methods. —Alessandro DeCaro
Higher Strangers’ “Raincheck” is a grunge-y tackle poisonous relationships
Genesis followers will need to get hip to Higher Strangers, a Miami rock band that includes drummer Nic Collins, the son of Phil Collins. After releasing their debut single “However I Don’t Know Your Title” earlier this yr, the band are again with one other thrilling reduce. This time, they’re cashing of their straight-ahead rock for a extra aggressive ripper. With their grunge-y new monitor “Raincheck,” Higher Strangers element the intricacies of poisonous relationships and their final turmoil, which that you must hear, stat. —Neville Hardman
Hippo Campus’ Zach Sutton debuts as Mono Moon with the indie bop “One Liner”
Within the Twin Cities, there’s an entire inventive household affair surrounding the indie band Hippo Campus. At the same time as members of the cult-beloved group dabble in solo efforts, as they’ve over the previous couple of years, they assist one another by enjoying on or producing one another. Now, bassist Zach Sutton is taking a stab at solo work, too, as Mono Moon with the debut single “One Liner” — additionally that includes Hippo members guitarist Nathan Stocker, trumpeter DeCarlo Jackson and singer Jake Luppen on manufacturing. Whereas it explores succumbing to the sensation of being wished, even when that is a bit of poisonous, it is an earworm of an indie-pop bop with a playful supply from Sutton and manufacturing that gleans. Every of Hippo’s solo initiatives have been gems, so Mono Moon is definitely one to look at. —Sadie Bell
Julia Wolf and blackbear’s “Gothic Babe Tendencies” is a candid rumination on love
Indie-pop singer-songwriter Julia Wolf has captured her internal ruminations on the anxieties of latest love and dedication in staggering methods with “Gothic Babe Tendencies.” The ’80s-tinged ballad showcases Wolf’s breathy and soothing vocal type and invitations listeners alongside for a private journey on whether or not or to not dive headfirst into a brand new relationship, or preserve herself guarded in opposition to an inevitable heartbreak. blackbear‘s verse is a welcomed addition to the tune as nicely, permitting for the pop famous person to investigate his personal vulnerability by bouncy and upbeat vocal cadences that add a staggering distinction to Wolf’s ethereal presence. “Gothic Babe Tendencies” is the musical equal of butterflies in your abdomen when confronted with the prospect of a brand new love. —Alessandro DeCaro
An evening to recollect performs out on Snow Ellet’s candy emo single “Enjoying Lifeless”
Typically you simply must let the evening take you the place it might to have what finally ends up being an evening to recollect. Chicago faves Snow Ellet, who make self-described “pop punk for the indie children, indie rock for the pop-punk children,” monitor a night precisely like that on their newest single. Lyrically, it chronicles a home social gathering that is shut down, however the exuberance that comes with driving off laughing and ending up wanting to remain out till dawn — all of which comes by on the candy emo monitor produced by Sarah Tudzin of illuminati hotties. Finally, it crescendos right into a finale with an power that parallels a home social gathering — one which’s far more enjoyable than the one the band began their evening at. —Sadie Bell
One Step Nearer embrace their melodic tendencies with “Darkish Blue”
On their newest single “Darkish Blue,” Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s personal One Step Nearer are doubling down on their melodic tendencies to amplify their mix of basic straight-edge hardcore additional. Vocalist Ryan Savitski has by no means sounded extra assured as a frontman with the incorporation of fresh vocals that really feel like a mixture of Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) and Ned Russin (Title Combat). Savitski makes use of the period of the tune to replicate on the current moments of his life after a yr of grueling tour schedules and life modifications. Instrumentally, the band has by no means sounded tighter, as nicely — with dueling guitars, commanding drum rhythms, and a palpable sense of urgency. “Darkish Blue” will go away you wanting extra as quickly because the monitor stops. —Alessandro DeCaro
Ellise conjures a dark-pop spell with “Did It Harm”
Ellise specializes within the sort of sultry, darkish pop that made the world fall in love with artists like Billie Eilish. In beneath three minutes, Ellise tells a narrative of twisted however intoxicating love-hate relationships overtop of a thumping bass on the refrain. Followers of Mothica, DeathbyRomy and Maggie Lindemann will discover lots to like with this gripping reduce. —Neville Hardman
