ONTD Original: New Hot Tracks I Would Put in Heavy Rotation If I Was Still a College Radio DJ
It's been 84 years since I was a college radio DJ, but I'm here to share some faves I would have learnEd about thru record stores, Other Music's newsletter (RIP), and CMJ Music Marathon in NYC (also RIP, it was supposed to relaunch this year but Miss Rona had something to say about that).
1. "You Sad" by Tkay Maidza
This fun summery bop features sweet harmonies, strummy guitars, bongos, and a killer chorus. A song zoomers will love, a music video elder millennials will adore because you can spot your first cell phone emerging from the ground in a color saturated psychedelic garden.
Australia's superior export, her first full-length album was self-released in 2014 -- the same year as La Diabla Rubia. Stand out early songs include "U Huh" and "Switch Lanes." Now you might be familiar with your voice if you decided to download Just Dance 2020 whilst sheltering at home. Her vocals are featured on Merk and Kremont's "Sushi." All her recent singles should be a hit, so click to stream Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2
I'm also including another nostalgia bomb, "Shook." Check it out under the cut plus 4 more artists we should all stan.
2. "On My Own" by Shamir
Shamir has put out consistently good music since 2015, but it looks like he's finally getting the attention and press he justly deserves with his new singles released during the pandemic. They aren't on an album (yet), though he's put out records through the excellent indie label Father/Daughter Records (run by, yes, a father/daughter team). His last album "Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw" was more on the indie rock side despite its album title though it definitely genre surfed. It was self-released. Large indie record labels, sign Shamir now. He's back to his indie pop roots, though you can definitely hear shoegaze, post-rock and '80s electro pop influences. Buy/stream the new singles on bandcamp!!
3. "New Culture" by Peel Dream Magazine
So I know next to nothing about this band, but I'm assuming Peel is a reference to the late revered DJ John Peel. The one fact I do know is that they're on slumberland records, and I honestly can't imagine them being on any other label. Also fusing post-rock and shoegaze with pop, their music truly is a dream. In a post-COVID future, I see myself doing that one move I do at indie shows -- you know the one, feet flat on the floor, one knee shaking and head bopping to the beat. You can tell this band listened to a lot of Sarah Records albums.
4. "Rain" by Whitney (SWV cover)
I guess this soon to be released album is a covers album in the tradition of Cat Power (who was in heavy rotation when I was a WVUM DJ I don't care to remember how long ago). Whitney also cover John Denver, David Byrne & Brian Eno, Kelela and Damien Jurado among others. Idk I'm too lazy to look up the rest of the artists covered b/c those are the only songs I recognize from the tracklist. I like the "Strange Overtones" cover, but the "Take Me Home Country Roads" cover featuring whatsherface from waxahatchee is boring. Mountain Goats did a better live cover at the pinhook during an LGBTQ+ rights fundraiser Whitney's cover of Kelela's "Bank Head" is yet to be released.
5. "July" by Sir Chloe
None of us got to actually experience July (presuming you were being careful and staying at home when your friends invited you out for fireworks -- celebrating America why??? Not in this economy!! -- or for drinks). But brand new band Sir Chloe brings us a dreamy, strummy taste of summer fitting for the end times. Also, this band was apparently named after the titular "B" in "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23, as portrayed by Krysten Ritter.
6. "Smalltown Boy" by Orville Peck
Look I wasn't a math major. I can't count. Check out gay masked cowboy singer Orville Peck's flawfree Bronski Beat cover.
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1. "You Sad" by Tkay Maidza
Click to viewThis fun summery bop features sweet harmonies, strummy guitars, bongos, and a killer chorus. A song zoomers will love, a music video elder millennials will adore because you can spot your first cell phone emerging from the ground in a color saturated psychedelic garden.
Australia's superior export, her first full-length album was self-released in 2014 -- the same year as La Diabla Rubia. Stand out early songs include "U Huh" and "Switch Lanes." Now you might be familiar with your voice if you decided to download Just Dance 2020 whilst sheltering at home. Her vocals are featured on Merk and Kremont's "Sushi." All her recent singles should be a hit, so click to stream Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2
I'm also including another nostalgia bomb, "Shook." Check it out under the cut plus 4 more artists we should all stan.
2. "On My Own" by Shamir
Shamir has put out consistently good music since 2015, but it looks like he's finally getting the attention and press he justly deserves with his new singles released during the pandemic. They aren't on an album (yet), though he's put out records through the excellent indie label Father/Daughter Records (run by, yes, a father/daughter team). His last album "Be the Yee, Here Comes the Haw" was more on the indie rock side despite its album title though it definitely genre surfed. It was self-released. Large indie record labels, sign Shamir now. He's back to his indie pop roots, though you can definitely hear shoegaze, post-rock and '80s electro pop influences. Buy/stream the new singles on bandcamp!!
3. "New Culture" by Peel Dream Magazine
So I know next to nothing about this band, but I'm assuming Peel is a reference to the late revered DJ John Peel. The one fact I do know is that they're on slumberland records, and I honestly can't imagine them being on any other label. Also fusing post-rock and shoegaze with pop, their music truly is a dream. In a post-COVID future, I see myself doing that one move I do at indie shows -- you know the one, feet flat on the floor, one knee shaking and head bopping to the beat. You can tell this band listened to a lot of Sarah Records albums.
4. "Rain" by Whitney (SWV cover)
I guess this soon to be released album is a covers album in the tradition of Cat Power (who was in heavy rotation when I was a WVUM DJ I don't care to remember how long ago). Whitney also cover John Denver, David Byrne & Brian Eno, Kelela and Damien Jurado among others. Idk I'm too lazy to look up the rest of the artists covered b/c those are the only songs I recognize from the tracklist. I like the "Strange Overtones" cover, but the "Take Me Home Country Roads" cover featuring whatsherface from waxahatchee is boring. Mountain Goats did a better live cover at the pinhook during an LGBTQ+ rights fundraiser Whitney's cover of Kelela's "Bank Head" is yet to be released.
5. "July" by Sir Chloe
None of us got to actually experience July (presuming you were being careful and staying at home when your friends invited you out for fireworks -- celebrating America why??? Not in this economy!! -- or for drinks). But brand new band Sir Chloe brings us a dreamy, strummy taste of summer fitting for the end times. Also, this band was apparently named after the titular "B" in "Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23, as portrayed by Krysten Ritter.
6. "Smalltown Boy" by Orville Peck
Look I wasn't a math major. I can't count. Check out gay masked cowboy singer Orville Peck's flawfree Bronski Beat cover.
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