No matter what energy the Partial Lunar Eclipse put out this week, New Music Friday is here to help forget, or heal, or both. Acoustic, dreamy tracks mingle with rhythmic alt-pop to create a perfect selection for this weekend.
1. Bon Iver: “S P E Y S I D E”
Bon Iver makes a graceful return with “S P E Y S I D E.” True to the roots of the Bon Iver project, it is an ultra-stripped-back and honest track, leaving the listener full of emotions. The song was originally written 3 years ago during a time when Iver felt called to apologize to different people in his life. As each guitar string resonates, he sings, “I really know now what had hold on me.”
2. Emei: “ALL THESE KIDS”
Based in Los Angeles, Emei comes back with an attitude for “ALL THESE KIDS.” In just under two minutes, she blends punchy, bold elements of hip-hop, jazz, and pop to create a unique diss track. Since the grass is always greener, there is always going to be someone who wants what the other has. In a catchy chorus, Emei notes this: “All these kids wanna ride for free / ride, ride, ride on my coat tail swing.”
3. Lizzy McAlpine: “Pushing It Down and Praying”
Lizzy McAlpine released “Pushing It Down and Praying,” a super relatable track that speaks on the complexity of intimacy in relationships. Her soft vocal tone gently carries the listener through the melody, where she sings, “He is stable, you are deep / I know just how to get what I need.” The music video emphasizes this imagery, portraying her performing with a person who she only imagined, in place of her real partner.
4. Lana Lubany: “NAZARETH”
Rising star Lana Lubany creates a powerful atmosphere in “NAZARETH,” honoring her beloved home in Palestine. She wrote the track for her mother, who is from the city and describes the warmth and love she feels when she thinks about it. Amongst a canyon of towering rocks, she dances and sings over a masterfully mixed, Middle Eastern-flavored R&B beat.
5. Ava Max: “Spot a Fake”
Ava Max continues to solidify her presence in pop with “Spot a Fake.” Her vibrant signature of tightly layered vocals is complemented by an equally tightly layered key riff that supports the chorus. The track is satisfying in both energy and timbre, delivering a buzzing, danceable feeling. She describes how she has the upper hand, seeing through someone else’s facade: “I could spot the fake in a beautiful face.”
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