Stream this week's must-listen releases, hand-picked by our editors.
Elke's Divine Urge
Nashville-based avant-pop artist Kayla Graninger, known as Elke, has released her sophomore album Divine Urge via Congrats Records. Co-produced with her friend Jake McMullen and featuring Paramore’s Zac Farro on drums, the album blends a range of influences, from doo-wop and prog rock to 2000s pop divas, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and new. Inspired by the sanctity of nature, Divine Urge reflects an artist fully in tune with herself. It features tracks like “Enchanté,” which comes with a dreamy music video directed by Bérénice Bear Eveno, and “Insect Song (feat. Carter Ace),” marked by bursts of punky breakbeat drums and a collaboration with LA-based hip-hop artist Carter Ace.
Mamalarky's "Nothing Lasts Forever"
Indie rock quartet Mamalarky has signed to Epitaph Records and dropped their new single, “Nothing Lasts Forever,” showcasing their distinctive blend of catchy hooks and emotive lyrics. Known for their intricate instrumental interplay, the band creates an immersive soundscape that invites listeners to dive deep into their music. Reflecting on the song’s creation, Livvy Bennett shares, “We were in the dead of the summer experiencing another climate-crisis heatwave in LA with no AC. This song kind of sizzled out as our brain cells were struggling to fire. Everyone started dancing. We were supposed to be writing songs for someone else but we liked this one too much so we never sent it in… We wanted to write about how it feels to not entirely know where you stand with someone. To think that you can see the future but ultimately surrender to uncertainty. The lyrics are obviously a little contradiction. Maybe not knowing is part of the fun?” The track marks their first release since their 2022 album Pocket Fantasy, which Pitchfork noted for doubling down on “proggy quirks and little incoherences” while retaining their signature charm, and Paste lauded for its “magnificent technicolor splash.”
Will Swinton's “Where I Belong"
Rising New Zealand singer-songwriter Will Swinton confronts heartbreak in his new single “Where I Belong,” released under 10K Projects/Capitol Records. The intimate acoustic track blends folk, pop, and Americana, showcasing his raw, emotional lyricism. As his voice cracks with vulnerability, Will paints a poignant picture of loss with lines like, “I can't run, I can't hide / There's no putting back the tears you cried.” The song builds in intensity but closes with a lone guitar, emphasizing the solitude of his reflection. The release continues Swinton’s breakout year, following his charting singles “Flames” and “Fall Apart,” praised for their evocative lyrics and distinctive sound. Building on his momentum, Swinton is currently touring the US as direct support for BabyJake’s Beautiful Blue Collar Boy Tour, which wraps in Nashville on November 16.
Miya Folick's "Alaska"
Miya Folick shares her latest single, “Alaska,” marking her second release this year following last month’s “La Da Da.” Inspired by a line from Jeremy Radin’s poem Dear Sal, Folick uses her confessional lyrics to portray desire as a massive, cold weight. “The song is me exploring the weight of my fear of losing my relationship, but also finding comfort in the fact that if I did, things would be okay,” she explains. She delves into the double meaning of the line “I could lose you,” expressing the dual fear of losing her partner and herself. Raised in Santa Ana and now based in Los Angeles, Folick has garnered acclaim with her EPs Strange Darling and Give It To Me, and albums Premonitions (2018) and ROACH (2023).
Elijah Woods' Elijah Would
After the success of his EP Hey There Elijah, elijah woods returns with his latest project, Elijah Would!. While Hey There Elijah, released in late September, showcased a dynamic blend of nostalgic pop and gritty indie-rock, Elijah Would! reveals a more intimate side of the multi-platinum artist and producer. The six-track EP explores love-focused themes with a softer, reflective vibe, forming a narrative about emotional growth and life's complexities. elijah collaborated with co-writers Jack LaFrantz and Andrew Goldstein, and co-producers TMS and Jason Suwito to bring the project to life. The EP’s standout track, “Skin & Bones,” captures the essence of elijah’s relationship with his wife, Hannah. “We wrote ‘Skin & Bones’ in under an hour,” elijah shares. “It’s a deeply personal song that captures this special moment in our lives.” The track, written just a week before their wedding, reflects their journey as they prepared to begin a new chapter, celebrating love in its most transformative form.
Check back next week for more must-listens.
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