WIBLT: From Nigeria, to Norway, to Australia, and back to the states
WIBLT: From Nigeria, to Norway, to Australia, and back to the states
What I've Been Listening To, 2/17/21
This might be the most global collection of projects I’ve posted since I started this series. Reminder, if you need an easier way to keep up with these, I have a playlist that updates with the 8 standout tracks from each post throughout the year:
Ayra Starr - Ayra Starr
5 tracks, 13 minutes
Released: January 22nd, 2021
From: Cotonou, Benin / Lagos, Nigeria
Genres: Afropop
Recommended For Fans Of: Tiwa Savage, Rihanna, Wande Coal
Ayra Starr makes a big impact on her self-titled debut EP. Being the newest signee to Mavin Records allowed Starr time at Mavin Studios, where she spent about 10 months recording dozens of tracks. The 5 on this EP were the ones she felt were “most reflective of my journey and versatility.” Most of the EPs tracks were co-written between Starr and her brother. Starr is already breaking through at home, topping the Nigerian Apple Music charts upon this EPs release, but she’s only just starting to make waves overseas in the states. Listening to the music proves that it won’t be long until she’s a recognizable name worldwide.
Standout Track: Away
Imposter - Miss Grit
6 tracks, 22 minutes
Released: February 5th, 2021
From: Brooklyn, New York
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: St. Vincent, Nilüfer Yanya
Imposter is described as being about Miss Grit lead Margaret Sohn’s “life-long navigation through the racial impostor syndrome she experienced as a half-Korean girl ‘trying to fit into the white space’ of the Michigan suburbs where she grew up.” Additionally there were feelings of imposter syndrome as a musician after the debut EP Talk Talk that Sohn decided to combat by producing the whole EP herself this time around. This project leaves nothing to feel imposter-like about as Sohn confidently shreds through six tracks that demand replaying as soon as the EP ends.
Standout Track: Grow Up To
Rumble Pack - Button
6 tracks, 19 minutes
Released: October 29th, 2020
From: Atlanta, GA / Houston, TX
Genres: Funk, Electronic, Indie
Recommended For Fans Of: The Internet (both their group and solo work), Peyton
Rumble Pack is the debut for this duo that sees Atlanta bassist Allen Love and Houston vocalist Bobby Earth coming together to form Button. Thematically based around old Nintendo 64 games, the project includes appearances from ROMderful, Patrick Paige II of The Internet (on Dream), NOOR of Mamarlarky, and more. This EP is a must for anyone looking for something fun and funky to add to their daily listening.
Standout Track: First Dance
Pastel - FRITZ
9 tracks, 29 minutes
Released: February 12th, 2021
From: Newcastle, Australia
Genres: Alternative, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Surf Rock
Recommended For Fans Of: Hatchie, Alvvays
Pastel is FRITZ’s return, being their first project since the 2017 self-titled debut album (although she considers this album to be her proper debut). A lot of big things have happened for FRITZ since that album. In addition to her own shows, FRITZ was able to play supporting gigs for artists like Girl in Red, Cub Sport, Middle Kids, & Fazerdaze, and won Triple J’s unearthed competition in 2019. This is all from a girl who got her first guitar as a gift five years ago, and decided she might as well learn how to play it. The decision paid off and those early days creating demos in GarageBand paved the way for this beautifully produced album. The lush washed out vocals blend seamlessly into the soundscape of each track.
Standout Track: Sweetie
Heavy Male Insecurity - Death By Unga Bunga
10 tracks, 34 minutes
Released: February 12th, 2021
From: Oslo, Norway
Genres: Rock, Garage, Power Pop, Punk
Recommended For Fans Of: Cloud Nothings, Jeff Rosenstock, Pup
Album number six is as rowdy as every for the Norwegian rock band Death By Unga Bunga. Their goal with this album was to break down the machoism masculinity in the rock scene and communicate that “there’s a place for every misfit in this stupid world even though it might not always seem that way. You’re more than welcome to hang with us! ” And that all comes through without sacrificing sound in the slightest. The riffs and chorus’ are as big as ever. Turn this album up and play it loud. And if anyone gets what the band’s name is referencing, please explain it to me.
Standout Track: My Buddy and Me
Three Little Words - Dominique Fils-Aimé
14 tracks, 38 minutes
Released: February 12th, 2021
From: Montreal, Québec
Genres: Soul, ‘60s
Recommended For Fans Of: Billie Holiday, Etta James, Nina Simone
Three Little Words is the final album in Dominique Fils-Aimé's trilogy exploring the roots of African-American musical culture. This project finds a lot of inspiration in old soul music from the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Fils-Aimé said she “wanted to underline the link between Black history and music genres.” There is a lot of diversity in the production throughout the album but it always makes way for Fils-Aimé's vocals to be front and center. Fils-Aimé got her start as a semifinalist on the 2017 season of the Québec talent show “La Voix,” and has gone on to be a Polaris Music Prize finalist and win a Juno Award for her album Stay Tuned!
Standout Track: Could It Be
Nothing Gold Can Stay - Jimi Somewhere
12 tracks, 50 minutes
Released: February 5th, 2021
From: Hokksund, Norway
Genres: Pop, Indie, Singer-Songwriter
Recommended For Fans Of: Roy Blair, Choker
Jimi Somewhere’s debut album has been a long time coming. Inspired by hearing Kevin Abstract’s MTV1987, made in a bedroom with his friend and producer Romil, Jimi was inspired to start recording and making music in his bedroom with his friend and producer Milo Orchis. This lead to his first EP in 2017, steadily followed with the Ponyboy EP in 2019, and now his debut album in 2021. The title, Nothing Gold Can Stay is drawn from a Robert Frost poem, referencing how nothing in life can last forever, even the most beautiful things. I generally hate describing music as nostalgic, just feels lazy, but it is truly applicable in this case. While it may be true that nothing gold can stay, listening to this album feels like watching a montage of memories, both good and bad. Those moments didn’t last forever, but this album is a tender, loving homage to the memories.
Standout Track: Bottle Rocket
Brooklyn - Esmé
4 tracks, 13 minutes
Released: January 19th, 2021
From: Sydney, Australia
Genres: Pop, Electronic
Recommended For Fans Of: Aluna, BANKS, Nao
Esmé’s debut EP Brooklyn blends classic, soulful crooning with modern pop/trap production. This EP was created in Brooklyn (hence the name) and saw Esmé traveling to the city looking to work with producers and evolve her sound. The ones she found (Chris Penning, Royce Wood Junior, & Twilite Tone) have some hefty credits under their belts, working with artists like Nao, Kanye West, and Gorillaz. Listening through the EP, the sound is consistent throughout the four tracks, while at the same time constantly shifting between the borders of pop, R&B, hip-hop, electronic, and soul.
Standout Track: For The Thrill
A Song
Late 2017, while working on a music video for Evil that my current roommate was directing, I met my now great friend Nabil. At the time he was the only person I’d met who could rival me for the title “biggest Brockhampton fan” (a role both of us have died down on heavily since). But I bring this up to say we clicked pretty quickly once we started talking music, and Yeek is one of my favorite artists that he introduced me to around that time. Yeek’s been relatively quiet since the 2019 EP IDK Where so it’s refreshing to hear new music from him again.
A Video
Pale Waves’ new album Who Am I? released this past Friday, and it feels like a tribute album to Avril Lavigne-era 2000s rock. I can understand why some would rather this type of music stayed dead, but they go all in from sound to visuals and aesthetic, which helps them pull it off well. And this track is just super catchy.
I am once again asking anyone that’s read this far to share (or subscribe if you’re not already)