We at TREMG love spotlighting rising and underappreciated talent to give underground creators a platform and the recognition they deserve. So many artists spent July offering fans new treats, releasing some of the best work of their career, and opening up in their lyrics like never before. And unfortunately, this month, Covid hit the TREMG music department, but we still wanted to give you your monthly dose of under-the-radar gems you need in your rotation with a slightly different format.
Throughout July, we got to talk to incredible artists like Malo and Emmanuelle June about their new projects, but there’s a whole world of talent making their own waves. Here are some of our favorite new releases from this month!
CASEY – “I Don’t Mind”
Sounds Like: Coming to terms with the fact that you don’t fit the mold and dancing away your worries about it.
Favorite Lyric: “Yeah, just let me shine, I just wanna be myself.”
Why You Need To Listen: Even in a dismal, pandemic-era world, CASEY finds a way to pack conflicting feelings and tricky emotions into cheerful Y2K-inspired jams that will boost your mood.
‘I Don’t Mind’ is ironically about never wanting to work a 9-5 job, yet here I am trying to do both a full-time job and music just to survive in Los Angeles. This was actually written before I Like You. I was having a bit of an existential crisis as I was nearing my senior year of college during a worldwide lockdown and realized that I didn’t want to work the typical job, but I had no idea how to do music full-time. Obviously, this is something I am still figuring out so it still applies. I grew up in a family of wealth management advisors and accountants which I have always found to be super odd given that I ended up wanting to do the complete opposite. This song sort of reflects that feeling of not belonging and being okay with it.
CASEY
Bonus Reason To Listen: CASEY handpainted CDs to send to fans who preordered the song early, and we think that’s absolutely adorable!
Cyn – “House With A View”
Sounds Like: Your favorite hyperpop musician invited you to a lavish house party and this is blasting from the speakers while you wander around.
Favorite Lyric: “Set my son up with a trust fund by the time he’s four.”
Why You Need To Listen: Cyn effortlessly tackles current events like skyrocketing gas prices and public disdain for Elon Musk with a playful edge that makes it feel less painfully relatable.
’House With A View’ stems from the belief that one can live the life they desire and that everyone has a right to daydream. The lyrics don’t take themselves too seriously, but they do speak to reality. Gas prices are nuts, and I’m paying off my student loans. I’m so glad I was able to fit this into a little bop about wanting something finer. It’s about manifesting security in a few forms—and a nice view wouldn’t hurt.
Cyn
Eva Rose – “Happy Belated”
Sounds Like: Avril Lavigne and Hayley Williams of Paramore got together and talked about their last relationships, letting out their angst and leaving them in the past once and for all.
Favorite Lyric: “I don’t know what to say, wouldn’t know what to write. If I found the words, they wouldn’t be nice.”
Why You Need To Listen: “Happy Belated” is the ultimate pop-punk anthem for anyone questioning where they stand with their ex, seeing Eva contemplate whether to reach out to her former S.O. on their birthday.
Forest Claudette – “Creaming Soda”
Sounds Like: The feeling of a weight being lifted off your chest as you let go of the pressure and focus on forging your own path.
Favorite Lyric: “I was trying to be serious, sell it like I’m on your screen. But f*ck it, I’m 19.”
Why You Need To Listen: “Creaming Soda” is a testament to reaching your goals on your own terms, with an encouraging message that any dreamer needs to hear.
‘Creaming Soda’ is about the internal pressures and expectations I had for myself as I entered the music industry straight out of high school. I wrote it a long time ago now, but the sentiment has never really left me. I feel a great weight and responsibility when it comes to songwriting, but all that pressure is internal, and the reality is nothing matters too much. I strive to feel both.
Forest Claudette
Jackson Wang – “Cruel”
Sounds Like: The future of pop-rock, incorporating the guitar and punchy drums that fans of the genre love while feeling like a step in a shimmery new direction.
Favorite Lyric: “Even though you’re not mine, you got that look in your eye.”
Why You Need To Listen: Between the irresistible bassline and Jackson’s rocker vocals, “Cruel” will undoubtedly become a staple on your playlist. It’s “Cruel” not to introduce yourself to it!
‘Cruel’ is a very special record for me. It really set the precedence for where the narrative of the album needed to go and sound We were working on many records before this one, but we were struggling to find a clear direction. ‘Cruel’ is like a manifestation of the environments and hurdles we had to overcome at the time. Every time we felt we were getting close, something slips past us and it all felt so far away. Once ‘Cruel’ came into our hands, it all made sense for us, it was like a beautiful mental breakdown.
Jackson Wang
Joker’s Hand – “Danny Phantom” feat. Jakob Nowell
Sounds Like: If Nickelodeon made the best soundtrack choice possible for a Danny Phantom movie adaptation and asked Joker’s Hand to make the angsty theme song for moments where Danny feels alone.
Favorite Lyric: “You left me here with questions and a broken heart.”
Why You Need To Listen: “Danny Phantom” intertwines 90s pop-punk and 2000s nostalgia with a fresh attitude and clever metaphors that will steal your heart with just a single listen.
We knew that Jakob was going to KILL IT vocally, but we had never recorded anything with him before so, at the same time, we didn’t really know what to expect. He stepped in front of the mic and just went for it. He truly made that verse his own, adding a distinct new flavor to the song that really brought everything together. We couldn’t be happier with how it came out!
Joker’s Hand
Kathleen – “Fever Dream”
Sounds Like: Piling up all the frustration, sadness, and chaos you’ve felt over the past three years and turning it into the ultimate inspiration for a glitzy dance party.
Favorite Lyric: “Time dripped out of all of us like teardrops on the floor, and I slipped in it each morning on my way out the door.”
Why You Need To Listen: “Fever Dream” addresses the harsh feelings and that cooped-up experience of the pandemic with a bouncy groove that keeps the vibes up. Kathleen is also one of the most talented rising artists out there, boasting credits on Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR and currently working with Kesha!
Lilyisthatyou – “For Eve”
Sounds Like: Lana Del Rey meets up with Dua Lipa on a club night and they bond over a mix of sadness and glitter.
Favorite Lyric: “I can make you cry, I can make you feel something.”
Why You Need To Listen: Lily’s honesty and confident vulnerability have resonated with millions of fans, and she’s only going up with her fresh debut EP, The Character! She’s one of the most candid rising stars out there and that’s part of why we love her.
Mai Moxi – “365”
Sounds Like: You finally start realizing your worth and seeing the light at the tunnel as you gain more confidence. Know your strength like Mai does!
Favorite Lyric: “Can’t fumble it, you ain’t talking money, you mumblin’.”
Why You Need To Listen: “365” is an instant mood boost that will make you want to get out of your head and into your bag, plus it features cool guitar notes from AJ Tyus, who’s played with artists like Machine Gun Kelly.
Ultimately? It’s on you! It’s your responsibility to see your ideas through and manifest the dreams and desires of your heart.
Mai Moxi
Zane Christopher – “Sedona”
Sounds Like: A calm afternoon at the beach in late August as the heat wanes and the sun is setting.
Favorite Lyric: “Am I just a number, or something more alive?”
Why You Need To Listen: “Sedona” is a thoughtfully-crafted reminder that every version of you deserves love and appreciation, even in the moments when you’re trying to forget the past or reinvent yourself.
I think we’ve all been to that place where we want something, badly, and try controlling how we get there. After a certain amount of time, your body just says ‘enough of this. I give up’. That release is really beautiful to me. That’s definitely happening in this track. We need to be more kind to ourselves and not neglect the 3-year-old version of ourself that’s looking up at us with wide eyes and asking for a hug. We just want to be loved and accepted.
Zane Christoper
What were your favorite releases this month? Let us know in the comments below or link up with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
