Word Around the Sound is… The debut album from indie-rockers Lovely Colours is FINALLY out! The album titled, Dancing With a Ghost, blends together influential sounds from across different decades to create a uniquely retro-futuristic, alternative sound. From 70s punk rock attitudes to 80s inspired synths to the grittiness of 90s grunge and the sparkles of 00s alternative pop, the Lovely Colours sound is as fresh as it is familiar.
The bright melodies and catchy hooks throughout the album are offset by haunting rhythmic undertones that create a simultaneous feeling of comfort and unease. These tracks are just audible manifestations of the anxieties we live with every day and how that affects our relationships. Dancing With a Ghost is for those optimistic, emotional wrecks who keep a positive outlook while embracing the darkness that comes with the more intense emotions we experience.
Between the final mix of the album and their live performance, it’s incredibly obvious just how much work Lovely Colours has put in while working on this project over the past couple of years. To put the cherry on top of this debut sundae, they even got to celebrate its release with a much-deserved SOLD-OUT show at the High Dive! I’m looking forward to continuing the celebration with them through the summer as they get ready to play Capitol Hill Block Party on Sunday, July 21.
Lovely Colours – Dancing With a Ghost
Perry Porter – Fear of Loving Las Vegas
Perry Porter linked up with producer Quise.Wav to make his latest album Fear of Loving Las Vegas. We’ve already seen a couple singles from the project, “Most High” featuring Dave B., as well as “Layover Love.” Now, we get the full project that reflects the highs and lows of his time spent in Sin City.
Usually, Perry has a hint of romance to his music but on this project, it takes the spotlight as the jazzy production from Quise.Wav speaks its own language of love in the background. His smooth, charismatic flow makes my heart flutter uncontrollably and only the soothing, soulful beats paired with each track can balance it back out. Although I love his entire discography, Fear of Loving Las Vegas has definitely taken one of the top spots for my favorite releases from Perry Porter yet.
Fina The Angel – “Just For Me”
Tambia Productions just put me on to Fina The Angel when they posted about her new song on Instagram. She just released her second single “Just For Me” and already I’m thoroughly impressed with her talents. Vocally, she’s got a beautiful tone that lends itself perfectly to the R&B genre and she definitely knows how to take her notes out on a run. Now, technically, her pen game is just as strong as her voice as her lyrics in this song paint a clear picture of a messy situation.
I was stoked to see P. Kruise on the production for the song; his work, especially when working with women, always encourages and assists the artist in unlocking their full potential and allowing the song to flourish. Fina The Angel is definitely an artist to put on your radar, and your playlist.
Yonny – “Summertime Madness”
Foregoing his usual punchy, upbeat, rhythmic dance tracks, Yonny gets a little more vulnerable on his latest track “Summertime Madness.” Throughout the song, Yonny speaks on wrestling with the way personal insecurities can lead to confusing narratives within relationships, especially during those late-teens, coming-of-age years. The poetic single got the cinematic treatment with a gorgeous music video shot by Finn Baker and Nash Pearson that really ties everything together making for another super polished release.
Your Friend, Claudine – “Qu’est-ce Que C’est”
Claudine Magbag is dead… well not really, sorry for freaking you out. She is alive and well, but artistically speaking, that moniker took its life and from the ashes rose Your Friend, Claudine. This new chapter of her journey kicks off with the contemplative single, “Qu’est-ce Que C’est?” Meaning “what is it” in English, the track explores the vulnerable questions about life that you might ask yourself when you’re alone.
The subdued production has a power in its simplicity that allows the spotlight to shine on Claudine’s songwriting. Her delicate tone swells with emotion as she delivers each lyric, leading to an intimate listening experience that makes you feel as though you are sitting directly across from her while watching the song play out.
FedSoul – “Skeptic” (Music Video)
Another Tambia affiliated release for this week’s edition of Word Around the Sound, this one however is “Skeptic” by Tacoma’s FedSoul. The Remi Vernon directed music video pairs clean transitions and clever shots with FedSoul’s witty wordplay that connects one bar to the next in interesting ways. The beat is so cold, and his flow is so smooth, he is able to skate his way across his verses, gliding from start to finish.
Dani Danger – “Break This Spell”
Portland-based Jamaican artist Dani Danger just dropped her latest single “Break This Spell.” The soothing R&B track sonically heals the soul as the drums pitter patter in the back, allowing you to ground yourself, close your eyes, and let the song wash away life for a couple minutes. On the contrary, the lyrics explore the difficulty of shaking the tight grip that an ex-lover’s energy can have over you following a breakup. No matter what you do, it’s so hard to forget them and “Break This Spell” that they have over you.
Noah Coinflip – Loose.Change.1
Prolific Seattle-based producer Noah Coinflip has given us a few different releases this month with a couple of House.Cuts and Loose.Change.1. It doesn’t really matter what genre Noah decides to tackle, I know I’m going to appreciate whatever the output is. It seems that lately he’s been in the real estate market showcasing the way that he can flip a house track.
His latest release Loose.Change.1 features two tracks titled “Let’s Talk About Money” and “Move the Crowd.” Each track is a little over six and half minutes and progresses in a way that keeps your ears entertained the entire time. Currently, these projects are only available to listen to and purchase on his Bandcamp.
Artwork for Loose.Change.1 by Noah Coinflip.
LAZĀ – “SignWithTheLineThroughIt”
Time is money, and LAZĀ is wasting no time in her new single “SignWithTheLineThroughIt.” Getting to the bars straight out the gate, she takes most of the first minute to talk her talk before jumping into her money bag flow that’s dropping racks right into the pocket of the beat. It’s plain and simple throughout the track, LAZĀ got her mind on her money, and her money on her mind.
