OFM New Music :: September 2021

The queer artist who favors genres of hip hop and alt rock has gone deeper into the underground influence and is bringing a fresh, new sound with the new EP Where Have All the Flowers Gone?  

The artist who once attempted to forge a presence in the industry as a part of group projects, Never has carved her own path and stands strong as a solo artist. The singer-songwriter is self-possessed and leans into what we love about indie music: tracks that rest within the space between self-deprecation and self-assurance.

From wrestling demons and dissociation to embracing the wreckage of a careless, all-consuming love, Where Have All the Flowers Gone brings a new perspective to overcoming life lived under the pressures of scrutiny and filling up the empty spaces with intention.

Melancholy lingers amid uplifting melodies, and battles within ballads showcase the complexities of the human existence. Mixing genres is nothing new for Never, and influences of 70s rock, 80s hip hop, and 90s new wave weave throughout the eight-track record.

Through weighted choruses, fast drum beats, and introspective lyrics, Never has released a stand-out album of 2021.

LANY

gg bb xx

The fourth studio LP released by pop group LANY sees them at their best yet. The new record mixes massive hooks with reflective lyricism and stays true to frontman Paul Klein’s velvety vocal pairing with their dreamy melodies. By letting go of his creative hangups, Klein  found freedom through trusting his inner voice and making music he loves. The soulful, synth-pop band finds magical moments through diving into unknown waters and exploring bits and pieces  of songs that are often left on the cutting room floor. 

Little Simz

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

The British-Nigerian rapper-singer Little Simz releases her fourth LP and is already being hailed as a living legend. The year in reflection that was 2020 has ushered Little Simz, aka Simbiatu Ajikawo, into a transformative era where she confronts her fears and counts her blessings. As a rapper rooted in hip-hop, she pulls from influences as vast as soul and funk to jazz and grime. Ambitious and fiercely talented, her authentic individuality shines through the new tracks.

BAYLI

stories from new york

With a steadfast intention of making an impact in pop music, Bayli is off to a solid start with her debut EP,   stories from new york. Infectious tracks that dive into the culture and diversity that vibrates from Black culture, the alternative artist weaves storytelling through both music and fashion, and lands in a space where life influences art. The lyricism evokes images of strength paired with overcoming  trials, all centralized around  unrelenting drum beats and hard-hitting, innovative pop-dance tracks.

Sleigh Bells

Texis

American noise-pop duo Sleigh Bells, consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist Derek Edward Miller, have re-emerged with a new spin on their classic sound. Loud, rhythmic, experimental, and delicate, somehow the pair are able to capture it all, and Texis delivers a hardcore, metallic-esque bouquet of new songs. Setting the stage in 2020 with a more pop-leaning release, Sleigh Bells combines it all and drives home the fact that when you find what works, work it.  

Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine

A Beginner’s Mind

The American singer-songwriter and  multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens has a preoccupation with epic concepts, and the upcoming, collaborative record is no different. Indie-rock meets dreamy pop in A Beginner’s Mind, as the pair delve deep into cult-classic and popular horror/thriller films that inspire the new record. Folksy, sweet, sincere, and harmonically effervescent, they remain firmly planted in melancholy folk while investigating the cinematic and paranormal experience of living in New York during pandemic times.  

POPPY

flux

The enlivened artist is back with her fourth, full-length release, and flux is met with mixed reviews. The artist who prefers to use the genre “contemporary metal” to describe her sound, still holds true to the mysterious and heavy leanings of hard rock meets melodic pop. Grungy, crunchy, guitar-driven tracks that are as dissonant as they are catchy, don’t be deceived by the influence of an aesthetically appealing Poppy, she still knows how to deliver weird in all the best ways.