Top New Tracks
5) Big Wild – Wild Child (2025)
New Englander Jackson Stell (or Big Wild as he is otherwise known) hails from Massachusetts and has been using his multi-instrumental skills to weave a collection of energetic sounds. After touring with Odesza in 2015, his remixes and features began climbing the charts. His newest release, the Wild Child LP, integrates elements of alternative/indie, dance, and electronic with his trademark curiosity.
This week’s highlighted track, “Love Any Longer” has a funk reminiscent of well-known alternative/indie artists like Tame Impala.
4) Funkadelic – Funkadelic (2025)
New Jersey group Funkadelic was one of the most well-known funk pioneers in music history, with a career spanning from the late-60s to the early-80s. Their style of acid rock mixed with psychedelic funk and their expansive list of musicians, Funkadelic set the stage for soul and funk acts to follow in the decades after. Originally formed in 1964 by George Clinton as a backing group for his band The Parliaments, the crew relocated to Detroit and grew after signing to Westbound. Their eponymous first album was released in 1970, followed by “Free Your Mind… and Your Ass Will Follow” in the same year and the hit release “Maggot Brain” in 1971. The crew added Bootsy Collins from James Brown’s backing band in 1972, releasing 12 more albums in the years to come with a constantly evolving lineup of musicians and musical experimentation.
This week’s selected track, “I Got A Thing, You Got A Thing, Everybody’s Got A Thing” features Eddie Hazel’s signature mind-melting psychedelic guitar work.
3) Venna – Malik (2025)
Debuting with his first ever studio album, saxophonist Venna presents a collection of soulfully crafted R&B soundscapes. The London-based artist started experimenting with music at age 12 when he started playing the saxophone. His first big recognition was a Grammy nomination for Burna Boy’s album “African Giant” in 2020, to which Venna contributed. This was followed by the award of a Grammy for Burna Boy’s 2021 album “Twice as Tall”, which Venna also worked on. His music finds influence from Terrace Martin’s work as well as Kendrick Lamar’s.
This week’s selected track, “Prophet” is dreamlike and calming, utilizing wavy guitar riffs and syncopated drum patterns.
2) Water From Your Eyes – It’s A Beautiful Place (2025)
New York-based band Water From Your Eyes is composed of vocalist Rachel Brown and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Nate Amos. The group formed in 2016, pulling their name from synth pop band New Order. Their writing style is a combination of art rock, indie pop, and shoegaze, bringing in influences from artists such as Ween and Scott Walker. To date, they’ve released seven full-length albums and toured across North America and Europe this year, concluding earlier this month.
This week’s highlighted track, “Playing Classics” is electronic and dynamic, layering up percussion and jazzy piano as the energy picks up.
1) Peel Dream Magazine – Taurus (2025)
Los Angeles band Peel Dream Magazine was formed by Joseph Stevens in 2018 and they have since used their abilities to produce shimmering psychedelic indie pop. They’ve released one EP and five albums, “Taurus” being their most recent. The current lineup includes singer Olivia Babuka Black along with multi-instrumentalist Ian Gibbs. The group prioritizes harmonic experimentation and trying different arrangements, finding inspiration in composers like Philip Glass.
This week’s selected track, “Seek and Destroy” is deceptively delicate, sounding like a breezy AIR song but lyrically melancholy.
Top Tracks of the Week
5) Hot Chip – Joy in Repetition (2025)
Based in London, England, Hot Chip formed in 2000 with an acoustic style that gradually became the synth-pop electronic the group is known for. Their first releases, including their EP’s “Mexico” and “San Francisco” leaned towards more house music and their debut LP “Coming On Strong” was released in 2004. The band signed with EMI in 2005 and went on to release three more albums before writing their fifth album “In Our Heads” under Domino. Their career pulled influence from 80s synth pop groups like OMD and turned towards a more disco feel as their music progressed. Their latest release, “Joy In Repetition” is a compilation of their greatest hits, including their top hit “Flutes”.
This week’s selected track, “One Life Stand” is a Roxy Music-esque escapade with deep bass synths and audio loops.
4) Ganser – Animal Hospital (2025)
Chicago no-wave post-punk outfit Ganser has been on the scene since the release of their first LP “Just Look at That Sky” in 2020. The group consists of Alicia Gaines on vocals and bass, Nadia Garofalo on keys, drummer Brian Cundiff, and lead guitarist Charlie Landsman. The group originally was just Gaines and Garofalo, the two both being graduates of the School of Art Institute of Chicago. The group cites inspiration from the proudly bizarre style of The Residents, David Lynch, and John Waters. Ganser’s creative process consists of collaborative lyric writing and heavy rock instrumentation.
This week’s chosen track, “Half Plastic” is hard and heavy, with a quick beat and punk vocal delivery.
3) Momma – Welcome to My Blue Sky (2025)
Indie rock group Momma is back with their fourth studio album “Welcome to My Blue Sky”. Originating from Calabasas, California, the group has spent their career tailoring their sound with fuzzy guitars and alt-rock lyrics. Momma was formed in 2020 and is made up of Allegra Weingarten and Etta Friedman who both play guitar and sing. Their tracks pull inspiration from indie rock greats such as Pavement, The Breeders, and Nirvana.
This week’s highlighted track, “Rodeo” is complete with grungy guitars and a smooth vocal performance.
2) oklou – Choke Enough
After multiple EPs and collaborations, French pop artist Marylou Vanina Mayniel, or Oklou as she is known musically, released her first debut album “Choke Enough” in February. Her career began with her 2014 EP “Avril”, released under the name Loumar. From 2015-2018, Mayniel was a member of the female DJ group TGAF, also releasing her very first EP under the name Oklou. The 2020s found Oklou releasing remixes of trending tracks from artists such as Caroline Polachek and releasing a mixtape with numerous other DJs and producers like shygirl, A.G. Cook, and Sega Bodega. Her style moves from synth-pop, art-pop, electronic, R&B, and ethereal underground pop.
This week’s selected track, “obvious” is delicately jaunty with lyrics alluding to the rhythms underlying daily life.
1) Franc Moody – Chewing the Fat
Dance/electronic duo Franc Moody has spent the better half of the last decade releasing synthesizer-infused funk that is positively dripping with catchy dance beats. Pulling influence from synth-funk greats such as Jamiriqouai and Daft Punk, this London-based duo composed of Ned Franc and Jon Moody lives to hypnotize with their eclectic disco arrangements. Their newest release, the LP “Chewing the Fat” is a modern funk odyssey, blending indie disco and upfront vocals for a danceable collection of tracks.
Our Gem of the Week is “Can’t Find The Words” has a funky driving bassline that chugs along through the song and higher pitched vocals.