Time has been escaping me lately. With Halloween right around the corner, I wanted to highlight a few gems before the magazine releases our new spooky playlist. This week I’ll be featuring: Tessa Violet, Hoger, FirstNameDane, Treasure, Whatever We Are, and Khamari!
Tessa Violet ft. Chloe Moriondo, “Words Ain’t Enough”
The collaboration I didn’t know I needed until I listened to this song. Tessa Violet has teamed up with Chloe Moriondo to give us this somber song built around unrequited love. It’s a beautifully simple track that highlights the singers’ angelic voices. The story behind the collaboration was the result of a fan vote. While on tour with the band COIN in 2019, Tessa had a few of her own headline shows and was looking for local support talent. Her fans had recommended Chloe, which Tessa joked that she could have headlined a tour that size herself, and when asked she agreed to perform.
With the song itself, Tessa recounts her time staying at fellow singer-songwriter Dodie’s house in London a few years ago. While left alone, Tessa had started to write “Words Ain’t Enough” initially stating that she was writing in the perspective of her flatmate as she was hung up with a guy who wasn’t treating her with the love and respect she deserved. When reflecting on the lyrics, Tessa realized that she was also writing from her own experiences.
“Sometimes I tell myself I’m writing a song from someone else’s experience because it’s too scary to admit it’s actually from my own experience, too.”
Hoger, “Same Mistake”
Born entertainer Hoger has released a stunning single titles “Same Mistakes”. Leading into the chorus, you can hear the anger within the singers voice with each intonation. The guitar solo towards the end provides a satisfying finale to the paced build-up of the overall track. On the message behind the song, the artist says that it’s about falling in love with someone who’s toxic or being lucky enough tot get out of a toxic relationship. He confides,
“You tell yourself that you will never ever go down that route once more, because you don’t ever want to feel like that again. However, life doesn’t work in a stable and logical way that would make sense and you somehow fall for the same person again OR for someone similar. For some weird reason you love this person and that’s the beauty in the pain; you love and accept the way it breaks you up in pieces.”
FirstNameDane, “Apt. 1f”
FirstNameDane is currently dropping a song a week as part of his latest series Wavs. of Water. Just a few weeks back he dropped “Apt. 1f”, a Cloud Hop track featuring Endo’s tastefully autotuned voice. Co-produced by Ty Key, “Apt 1f.” has a captivating chorus that complements the more simplistic verses in terms if instrumental. For all the #certifiedloverboys, girls, and everyone in between, this track is dedicated to you.
Treasure, “Acceptance”
Previously featured on Cut It Out, Treasure has graced our ears once again with his latest single “Acceptance”. The artists’ raw approach to his works helps to create a vulnerable space for his audience to listen to his work with ease. The EP in which this song is featured, Nostalgia: The Prelude, is appropriately named. The initial experience of hearing this track myself made me feel as if I was traveling to a memory I’ve never experienced. Within the first minute I felt bliss. The soft acoustic guitar emphasize the sense of loneliness that Treasure sings about. It’s the addition of the drums and subtle electronic elements that make the singer and subsequently the listener feel less alone.
Whatever We Are, “More Than This”
“More Than This” is a genre defying anthem to get you through the uncertainties of life. As they say in the bridge, “play this song when you feel sad.” The upbeat tune is guaranteed to bring your spirits up even when you feel you’re at your lowest.
The incredible chemistry of Gabrielle Ross, Chris “Trippz” Michaud, Joey Castellani, and Ian Biggs can be heard with each song. The band’s mission is to display unity despite differences, and by combining the artistic styles of each member they have been able to do just that. Like FirstNameDane, the group will be releasing a song a week for the rest of the year.
Khamari, “Other Side”
Khamari’s latest track off his debut EP Eldorado contains a sensual Latin inspired guitar riff which helps emphasize his and featured artist Jae Stephen’s beautiful vocals. The EP as a whole illustrates the rise and fall of love, reminiscing on how a relationship felt and leaving the door ajar in case it’s worth revisiting.
The multifaceted artist was raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, MA. With influences ranging from Frank Ocean, Mac Miller, and Stevie Wonder, the artist has quickly and deservedly risen to the top after a trio of Spotify New Music Friday placements, featuring on Amazon’s The New Black and Breakthrough R&B playlists, and becoming the cover artist of Tidal’s Pop:Rising playlist.
