7 new jams to help you through the chaos
new songs by Lucy Rose, Hannah Cohen, Philly's Chioke, jazz trumpeter Brandon Woody, Sharp Pins, Free Range, and Mamalarky.
Happy March. Time for a little new music catch up.
Damn. New Music 2025 is my running playlist of favorites of the year so far that I invite you to follow. Here’s some recent highlights.
"Lucy Rose - “Pale Blue Eyes” - Definitely not a VU cover.
Mamalarky - “#1 Best of All Time” - The now based in Atlanta (via LA and Austin) have a stylish and seductive gift of quirk. And they rock.
Sharp Pins - “With A Girl Like Mine” - The music that Chicago musician Kai Slater makes in Sharp Pins (he’s also a member of Lifegaurd) falls in the broad continuum of power pop, fit into a Venn diagram of lo-fi-ish Mersey Beat (think Gerry & The Pacemakers), Raspberries, GBV, “Feel A Whole Lot Better”-Byrds and Mr. Nick Lowe. If you missed Sharp Pins scrumptious 2024 release, Radio DDR, it’s being reissued with some bonus songs. Including this one.
Chioke - “Too High To Die”
In a recent studio session and interview, the Philly R&B musician told XPN she grew up listening to records by Sly & the Family Stone, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, Cher and Donna Summer. Chioke’s musical vision is a R&B/psychedelia hybrid that pulses with rainbow energy.
Free Range - “Storm” - Let Sofia Jansen’s voice be your guide.
Hannah Cohen - “Earthstar” - A lush, calming beauty of a tune, perfect for the welcoming of Spring.
Brandon Woody - “Real Love, Pt. 1” - The Baltimore jazz trumpeter and composer is releasing his debut record for Blue Note in May. I first saw Brandon play a few years ago with the Philly band Omar’s Hat, and I could tell immediately from his presence, his tone, and his performance this cat had it. By no means am I a jazz aficionado, so if you don’t trus me, then maybe my pal Nate will convince you.