Listen: Hating Myself In The Summer — Rachel Bochner

Hailing from NYC, Rachel Bochner started her career in music with an A&R internship at a record label. From there it became clear that her real passion was in making her own music. Drawing on her emotions, she hopes to make music that resonates with people and their experiences.

On its face, Hating Myself In The Summer is an upbeat pop song, but what I appreciate about it is its musical and lyrical depth. The song deals with Bochner’s own experience of feeling external pressure over how she looks, juxtaposing a fun, bouncy sound to the mental weight many will recognise.

In addition to the substance in the song’s overall message, the production work on Hating Myself In The Summer shimmers with a restrained approach to its best ideas… Layered vocal harmonies embellish Bochner’s performance whilst creating a lovely moment of contrast with the shouty performance of the song’s title. The crisp kick of the song’s percussion floats above a warm pulse of melodic bass, giving the whole thing an energy the bubbles beneath the surface.

Check out Hating Myself In The Summer below:

Listen: Make Believe — Apricot Ink

Apricot Ink’s Make Believe seeps into my ears like a hand of a loved one clasping mind so gently that you barely notice. Layered vocal harmonies float above a gently picked out melodic backing, percussion snapping with a relaxed sense of confidence. It’s a warming, reassuring sound.

Hailing from Canberra, trio Apricot Ink formed last year and have already released two double-singles that achieved significant play counts on streaming services. Having sold-out Sydney’s Mary’s Underground for their first-ever headline show in November, the group continue to build momentum this year. Most recently, they re-worked stems from Gang Of Youths, Touch Sensitive and San Sisco into their top-five placing entry for Triple J Unearthed’s DIY Super Group, Do You See.

The song Make Believe was birthed on a writing trip in North NSW, where the band spent time exploring their musical inspiration and absorbing the nature in the area. Describing the song, Willo from the band says:

“It’s a natural evolution from our previous singles. It romanticises the rawness of the real world and the beauty in the simple things that we once took for granted. It’s about relishing the present moment, embracing and accepting yourself and others. We sampled birds and layered it underneath the production and vocals. It brought the track to life, and it was a reminder of exactly where we were and how we felt at the time. It was meant to be. It felt right and resonated harmoniously.”

Check out Make Believe below and look out for more from Apricot Ink later this year.

Premiere: Let’s Talk — Johnny Cisneros

Let’s Talk is the debut single release from LA-based musician Johnny Cisneros, and it’s the kind of introduction to an artist that shimmers with hope and possibility.

In addition to drawing on his Latin roots, Cisneros takes inspiration from the sounds of dream pop and psychedelic rock to create something both varied and accessible. Here on Let’s Talk, the resulting sound floats with a slick, yet lived-in, feeling — glossy, plastic wrapped around laid back, casual vocals from Cisneros. It’s modern, yet earthy.

The comfortable, dream-like feel of the music itself makes sense given the song’s inspiration. Let’s Talk itself is intended as a long-distant conversation with one of the artist’s former girlfriends. Plunged into a new city and a different way of life, the song represents Cisneros reaching out to the person whose voice most feels like home… An attempt to recall the past as a way to remember who he wants to be. A daydream of a person just beyond your grasp, yet on your mind.

Check out the video for Let’s Talk below:

Listen: Disconnect — Darla Jade

Disconnect is a song about that experience of falling in and out of a relationship. It is about those moments where you seem unable to escape someone’s presence when we need space, and unable to put them out of your mind when you are alone.

Channeling 80s pop in the production, but drawing on Gen Z experiences through the references Darla’s lyrics reference, the result is that perfect thing: a pop record that grabs me in the feels whilst making me want to dance. For such a young artist, the sound of Disconnect is impeccable. Jade’s vocals laid bare in the verse, yet embellished with overdubbed harmonies that reflect her emotional self-reflection, all backed with a staccato melody that is itself a further use of her voice. Muted guitar giving the bridge a soft-focus drama before it is punctured by the energetic drumming of a marching band’s percussion section, launching us into the chorus that hums with excitement.

Having started 2021 strong with exposure on Radio 1 and Spotify, Disconnect is the title track from Darla Jade’s forthcoming EP, due for release at the end of this month. I can’t wait for to hear more from Darla soon.

Listen: Bob — The Sunshine State

Following on from her gorgeous, shimmering single Dating A Drug Dealer, The Sunshine State is back with her latest offering, Bob.

Bob builds on the aesthetics The Sunshine State, real name Skyler Stonestreet, set out on her previous single. Following on from where that song left off, Bob is again about questionable love interests:

“Bob is a classic bad boy… This song is bonfires and beer bottles crashing on the floor. A chipped tooth, a quick fling and the feeling that sometimes it doesn’t matter if the person is right or wrong for you because freedom and new adventure are the only thing on your mind.”

That easy-breezy mentality suits the music itself, which thrums with an excited, care-free energy. Just as with Dating A Drug Dealer, Bob evokes feelings of seizing the moment, doing what you want and to hell with the consequences. Bob is full of yearning, particularly when consumed from a position of relative stability, and a reminder of the thrill of uncertainty. I find it just a little addictive and captivating.