Leaks - Underthought

Thomas Guida (aka Leaks) is a producer, songwriter, and vocalist up and coming in the realm of the long list of talented Australian artists. Although generally excluded from the spotlight, he's shown a huge talent for incorporating hushed vocals into sexy, atmospheric instrumentals at the level of renounced artists like Tycho, Ghost Loft, Lotus, M83, and Washed Out. "Underthought" is a prime example, as it takes you in with dreamy melodies while Guida sings over them with emotion-filled, sultry, and candid lyrics. The chorus is smooth and lyric-less, and interestingly, maintains an eccentric rhythm bouncing around at an upbeat tempo. Between choruses, the tune holds a beautifully dark tone. Being so multidimensional, "Underthought" fits the chill mood so well, but just has this dancy feel that can't be ignored. I'll be looking out for more of this dude in the future. He's in the process of finishing an EP, titled Jaunt, to be released sometime in November under the Zero Through Nine label. Should be hot. Check out the song below along with a download link.



Underthought - Free Download

Logan - @KendallJenner

Kendall Jenner, don't we all love her? My man Logan seems to dig her enough that he changed his Twitter name to "ILoveKendall" (it's now IReallyLikeKendall) and released this ode to her over a week ago. Not my style, but I guess that's cool. The song, itself, really hits though. Logan seems to have decided upon making his name via slower, dark beats and flat, yet crazy smooth and fluid flows. Consistent use of the bass drum may be the staple of his production, and the beat on "@KendallJenner" is definitely something I can get behind. Rapping about relationships, his grind, The "Chi," and others' doubts and criticisms, Logan brings us a sort of conscious rap, ironic in relation to the song's title (sorry Kardashian family). Nonetheless, the content fits the sound like a glove. Lyrically coarse, this isn't your everyday rap. Check it out below (and go search "Superman OG," the rap that got my attention on Logan), and take note - there's no better way to get your #wcw's attention than to shout out her Twitter handle on your song title.



*Had to blow up the song's artwork to show the girl some love.

Karl Kling - I Will Wait

Another feel good tune right here. Remix Artist Collective's (RAC) Karl Kling brings us more of the group's usual fun, synth-pop sound with "I Will Wait". However, this tune brings with it an added dimension through the to-the-point chorus: emotion invoking vocals. "I Will Wait" is something dreamy; it takes a step away from real life and pulls the listener into a somewhat magical place. As with all of RAC's work, it's merry and high-spirited. Take it in and let this lullaby draw you away.

Tyler the Creator - Colussus

A little throwback here, but upon listening to "Colossus" really closely a couple of times, I was really impressed with Tyler's creativity, flow, lyrics, and deepness. Yes, we already knew this about him, but this song really brings that all to life. Remember Eminem's "Stan"? Well, "Colossus" takes on the same role: exposing the crazed stardom that surrounds an artist while he strives for nothing less than living an ordinary, private life. Funny enough, Tyler's come to resent Colussus due to these Eminem comparisons, claiming it to be a simple coincidence (via his Twitter). The rap takes three parts: Tyler's being overwhelmed with the swarm of bandwagon Goblin fans (clueless when it comes to his previous mixtape releases), then the obsessed fan relating himself to Tyler's music/persona, and finally, Tyler's more than unenthused response. "'Yonkers' and 'Yonkers,' sick of hearing 'bout 'Yonkers' sums it up - Tyler's grateful for his blast to fame coming from one song and music video, but he doesn't make music for that and there's more to what he does than that one hit that everyone wants to stay hung up on. Tyler sticks to his dark, maniacal sound here, and while "Colussus" is not your everyday banger, the tune's deep and expresses an unusual voice for an artist - the frustration with fans who just don't get it.

Snowday - Walk Along These Rocks with Me

Something about all this music out of Canada is getting to me (first Party, then Shay Lia, now this). I hadn't stumbled upon anything by Snowday, a chilled-out electronic music pair out of Toronto, until now, and one could say this this revelation has made my week. Not much is to be said about this song other than the fact that I heard it yesterday and I'm proclaiming it as the perfect middle-of-the-week song. The synths are so damn pleasant, and the minimal vocals just excite positive emotion. "Walk Along These Rocks with Me" can just put you by the water, on a breezy day, alone or with friends, and make you forget about everything except good times. And with that, "Snowday" is just a fitting name for these guys. This track is off of their upcoming EP, As We Travel, scheduled for release November 25th. First things first, give this jam a listen now. Then, keep an eye out for Snowday's As we Travel around Thanksgiving (how perfect?).




Walk Along These Rocks with Me - Free Download

Shay Lia - 3 Months

Just about everything Kaytranada touches turns to gold. And paired with these lush vocals, Kaytranada's production goes very far on this track. "3 Months" encompasses a sweet, jazzy beat with the instrumentals to compliment Shay's voice perfectly. Kaytra releases a ton of music (his Soundcloud stream seems to never end...) and he shows a ton of versatility in his ability to rework beats and entire songs, from slow flows to upbeat party music. The sexy vocals in this song are not to be overlooked as well - "Let me remind you how it feels to have me under you." The lyrics are simple, yet powerful. "3 months" is just a fabulous song to lie around to or drive to - upbeat in such a relaxed way. Check it out below, and if you love the voice, listen to the Montreal native's vocals on Stwo's "Virgo".

PARTYNEXTDOOR - FWU

Since PARTYNEXTDOOR dropped his first mixtape last September, I've been patiently waiting for the boy to blow up. Working under the likes of Drake, his come-up seemed inevitable. After releasing a few solo tracks, he dropped his first album this summer, titled PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO; with it, he's stuck to his dark, usually slow R&B sound. "FWU" is my favorite off of the album. It's just one example of how Party continues to be one of the most honest artists in the game. "I'm tryna fuck you girl, you know I fuck with you," that's what he's about. But, the song's more than that. It's a song about the hardships of committing to a girl, pleasing her, and making his intentions and desires known. After a minute of bumping "FWU," it's hard not to recognize the fact that it bumps, and it's got some groove. It's also worth noting that Party takes care of the production on his own. Unfortunately, he never posted this song on his Soundcloud, but I've managed to find it uploaded to another hip-hop profile. (Update: the Soundcloud track was taken down, so I just uploaded it so you can still have a listen). Give that a listen, as well as another hit from the album, "Recognize," and definitely give the entire album a listen if you haven't already.

Super Magic Hats - Coastline

Smooth tune, good vibes. This song exemplifies its title unlike anything I've seen. Super Magic Hats, a Melbourne based homie, brings us an incredibly melodic sound here. And with super sexy guitar strums and synths, this track is very illustrative of driving up the west coast - windows down, passing by the beautiful scenery the whole way up. It's smooth, it's simple, and I love it. Close your eyes and jam out to this, especially with the days of sun coming to a close. And feel free to download below!




Coastline - Free Download

Tycho - See (Beacon Remix)

Tycho is just amazing. For those of you hitting the books, the man makes music for you to put your head down and go hard to. For those who simply want a temporary escape, no one's music is more perfect. He's got a knack for producing ambient tunes with just enough energy to keep you engaged, but not so much that you can't lose yourself in them. His most recent album, Awake, is a perfect example. As a whole, the project simply takes you to a far away place, on a beautiful trip. Brooklyn duo (and Ghostly International label-mate), Beacon, reworked a jam off of that album, "See," which, in my opinion, takes [me] to greater heights than the original. With added melodies, soft vocals, and a smooth buildup, Beacon's remix puts the listener in a trance; there's just a more dynamic feel than Tycho's original ambient sound. I've posted both songs below; give a listen, and enjoy.







And be sure to check out Tycho's full album on Soundcloud ;)

Wet - Move Me (TÂCHES Remix)

Wet's vocals make me, well, a bit...wet (for lack of a better word). Kelly Zutrau's voice is incredibly sexy; there's just no way around that. Along with TÂCHES' remixing prowess, the vocals just make for something beautiful. The remix takes a giant leap in tempo from the original "Move Me," and thankfully, it doesn't hurt one bit. I don't often dance in my car (usually just some head-bobbing), but this does it. TÂCHES hooked us up with a pretty sweet dance tune, so let's appreciate it for a moment... Okay, lovely. Feel free to listen to the original, below, along with TÂCHES' remix. I found the remix first, but after passing by Wet's unedited "Move Me," I had much more appreciation for TÂCHES' work. And one note from TÂCHES: PLEASE do not forget to bring a towel, you're gonna need it.

Mr. Carmack - Bells

Mr. Carmack’s always on it; homie must have a load of time to kill (or he’s just incredibly good at what he does) because he posts tunes like clockwork. And, none of it’s shitty. With Carmack's work, the vocals are usually minimal, but his beats are always tight. Working with heavy beats, more chilled out flows, and everything in between, there's never a drop in the quality of his music. He's also got a knack for flipping, and even completely recreating existing beats, often improving upon the original work. "Bells" is a jam. The flow is incredibly smooth; it starts with a pretty easy buildup, and from the small drop, it's all consistency. It's nothing erratic, just a chill vibe to enjoy. After bumping this, check out his last project, Dimebag. It's a fun, upbeat, and pretty weird and unpredictable piece of work.

Tom Misch - Karma (Featuring Loyle Carner)

Tom Misch is a god. For the past three and a half months, he's been my most consistent listening pleasure, and for good reason. Instrumentals, beats with vocal features, remixes, and vocals of his own - Tom Misch is talented in many areas of music production. I'm constantly impressed by each additional dimension I discover in each song Tom releases; in this, it's his experimental use of drums. As he puts it, he had been "playing around with these drums for a while now and decided to finally do something with them" (via Soundcloud). "Karma" is a super smooth tune with sexy vocals accompanied by British artist, Loyle Carner. As with most of Tom Misch's songs, "Karma" has a jazzy feel (you can call it jazzhop). It's a bluesy heartbreak song that incorporates sensual hip-hop beats and mellow guitar chords to really draw the listener in. The tune comes and goes quickly; it's no wonder why I've been running it on repeat, as I do with many of Tom's songs. At 19, this kid's talents can take him in so many directions; I'm eager to see where he goes in the industry. For now, he's affiliated with Soulection (although not signed), a record label based in Los Angeles. Check out "Karma" below, along with a few other sounds from the man himself, and be sure to check out Soulection's Soundcloud for more dope vibes.

Mayday Parade - 12 Through 15

*Shout out to my sister for showing me this song*.

For the longest while, I've been a Mayday Parade fan - from the middle school rebel/emo/punk days, through the high school roller coaster of having too many emotions, to the current exploration of what the real world holds. This band has been there for me through thick and thin. However, I managed to miss the fact that they recently released an album (by "recently" I mean last damn October), Monsters in the Closet. Now, while I am not overwhelmingly impressed by this album (the transitions are awkward and it lacks the common sound that I've become accustomed to with Mayday's previous albums, which throws me off), there are a couple worthwhile songs that stand out to me, "12 Through 15" being one of them. Lyrically, this tune cuts deep, using Biblical scripture of Lucifer's exile to the depths of hell to allude to the common feeling of losing hope in something (or someone). I've always been a fan of Mayday's vocals and "12 Through 15" leaves little to be desired. From the second verse, there's an ongoing use of echo which adds another dimension to the vocals. Stylistically, that introduces a coarse quality that contrasts the beginning of the song; vocally, Sanders' voice becomes more raw and more emotional while the lyrics remain vague. Some of the echoing retains an emptiness through unidentifiable words, possibly in an effort to enhance that haziness. Furthermore, the vague lyrics of the hook and chorus hold a heavier weight than the more explicit lyrics of the verses, omitting detail that a listener may typically expect from a song about heartbreak. It's one of those songs that makes me simply want to belt every time I play it. Give a listen below, and let your heart hurt a little; I promise it's worth it.





And if you enjoy that, I'd recommend Mayday Parade's earlier albums, for sure, as well as "Angels" and "Even Robots Need Blankets" off of Monsters in the Closet.

G-Eazy - These Things Happen (Album Preview)

Those of you who are familiar with G-Eazy know that he's been on the come up for quite some time now. After dropping two successful mixtapes (The Endless Summer and The Outsider), G hit us with his first studio album, Must Be Nice. As a ten track album full of hits, Must Be Nice left many of us begging for more. With his coming album, These Things Happen, G has decided to give us a bit more - a sixteen track piece including features from E-40, A$AP Ferg, and Devon Baldwin. He's already leaked a few singles from the album, all of which have me incredibly excited for the June 23rd release. A few are down below, and his Soundcloud's got some recent hidden tracks available for download that won't be featured on These Things Happen. So give a listen, download his other tracks, and look out for G-Eazy's album coming out this summer!

 

Christoph Andersson's production on this is epic! Further, G just kills it with a smooth flow on the beat. The song speaks for itself, and after giving this a listen, it's pretty impossible to leave without realizing G-Eazy is a dude to keep your eye on.




G-Eazy whips out his egotistical side on this one. He may not be universally known, but he's making a name for himself and life's only getting better for him. G's getting ahead of the game, and his drive is leaving others only dreaming of catching up to his progress. His verses on this track are ridiculously polished and "Been On" is simply a tune to bump if you appreciate some good rap.




This track here pretty much sums up G's come up: starting small, performing at small venues, hours spent in the studio. He's been around (and killing it) long enough now and he's expecting to make a splash in the rap game, rightfully so. "Almost Famous" has a catchy tune with a beat that bumps no matter what you're playing it on.


Enjoy!

Lorde - Tennis Court (Flume Remix)

Her vocals...I'm simply in love! With hits "Royals" and "Team", Lorde has broken out as one of the hottest artists of 2014. "Royals" has been remixed left and right, and that song is just about everywhere right now. Electro god, Flume, has taken a different route, putting his own spin on Lorde's "Tennis Court" - a lesser known song off of her debut album, Pure Heroine - turning it into some mad, bass-filled, dubby, energetic tune. Flume's ability to produce party bangers on the same level as his chilled out tunes is unmatched, I'd say. I don't know about you, but I've been waiting for Australia's Flume to do some work with New Zealand's Lorde (repping Oceania!) and this rework more than suffices. Apparently the remix was debuted at Coachella (anyone lucky enough to have heard this live, kudos to you). Check the tune out below, and make sure to check out Flume's Soundcloud and Lorde's album (the Deluxe Edition if you will).


 

Skizzy Mars - Pace (LP)

SALUTE to the home state! Out of Manhattan, NY, Skizzy Mars has been dropping hits like clockwork since 2011 ("Douchebag", "Together", "Colours"... the list goes on). Early March, Skizzy dropped his latest project, Pace, and it has failed to disappoint. This isn't conventional rap; embracing his indie/alternative influence, Skizzy shows off his versatility, from slow flows to party tunes. Along with a catchy sound that brings effortless listening, he brings a potentially overlooked lyricism that encompasses his relationships and immersion into the rap game. As the summer approaches, this is definitely something to bump on those sunny days (maybe on repeat...). AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO SKIZZY MARS IS, well... now you know. He's definitely an up and coming artist to look out for in coming years - dude's only 20! The free download to Pace, as well as Skizzy's Soundcloud, can be found below.




Pace - Free Download
BONUS: Coming Down (Single) - Free Download