Another summer has passed, and we are back to rainy weather. After the stellar releases of July and August, I was ready to discover what September had set for us. Without further ado, here’s what we recommend you listen to wrapped in a blanket by lamp light, with a cup of tea in your hands.
SINGLES
Jocelyn, The Beaches
What do you even see in me, Jocelyn? will remain stuck in your head from the first listen. The Beaches returned with a much anticipated single that they performed throughout their latest tour. Jocelyn has the lyrics of a state of mind all of us have gone through at some point. The Beaches take the experience of being put on a pedestal, being looked up to, and asking why. It is an introspection into self-esteem and doubt. At the end of the day, the members of The Beaches tell us they are imperfect like anyone else. It is particularly touching with the exploration of the subject of celebrity and fame. They are saying we don’t know them, but they admit to not knowing us either. It is a refreshing change of perspective with a catchy beat.
Ego, Halsey
Continuing the trail of introspection, Halsey takes us on a throwback ride through the 90s. Halsey has proved endlessly that they are versatile when it comes to their music production and concepts. Their upcoming album doesn’t deviate from the record. Ego admits to the experience of an up-and-coming musician, going back to the beginnings of Halsey. The artist themselves has expressed that the concept of their album is based on if they would’ve taken the same life path in a different era. Here, Halsey explores the punk-rock atmosphere with the angsty lyrics of a 90s classic. She expresses the fear of her career ending, the anxiety behind being what people want, and the expectations of herself. With these lyrics, Halsey reminds us that we don’t know what someone struggles with behind the facade.
The Magic, The Aces
The queer community continues to thrive with bands like The Aces, who are openly lesbian and sapphic. Although they’ve expressed lesbian desire in their past songs, they’ve reached a new level with The Magic. The indie pop track makes you want to move your hips, in more ways than one if you’ve listened to the lyrics. The honesty and authenticity is addicting. The Aces talk about a sapphic relationship where they are the subject of everyone’s attention – their chemistry takes the spotlight. The band’s ability to play with what would be considered an uncomfortable situation for queer people, and turn it into a good situation, is impressive. Instead of dwelling on the negativity when you’re an openly queer couple, The Aces focus on the magic of the relationship.
Pushing It Down and Praying, Lizzy McAlpine
While you might be thinking the previous song was bold, wait until you listen to the single off Lizzy McAlpine’s deluxe album. The singer-songwriter goes into the details of being in an intimate relationship with someone who is not the one. The lyrics describe the trust and intimacy that is happening in the moment, only to be broken by the emotional cheating. The narrator hopes to spare their current partner from the hurt of knowing who they’re thinking of instead. Although emotional cheating has been the inspiration of many songs, Lizzy McAlpine approaches it in a unique manner.
Bonus: Small artists you should listen to because of their potential.
God, Genevieve Stokes
Genevieve Stokes takes us on an emotional journey with her single, God, where she questions the existence of a higher being. Her vocals show the distress, almost pleading for God to give her a sign as she goes through hardship. The musical production is haunting and comforting at the same time, with the piano taking the instrumental spotlight. Genevieve Stokes shows her ability to write about complex subjects, struggling with your fate in this case. Her newest album, With a Lightning Strike, was released in October.
Strong Enough, Annika Bennett
Strong Enough deals with the aftermath of a break-up. The narrator is trying to forget this person through coping mechanisms. Annika Bennett’s soft voice takes us across the globe, with each city containing another way of trying to forget someone. The guitar strings draw us into the folksy track, making the song comforting to listen to while hurting. The title, while referring to these mechanisms not being strong enough, can be interpreted as if the person suffering is the one who isn’t strong enough to let go of the person they were with.
ALBUMS
Willson, Ashe
Willson is the third installment in the trilogy of albums Ashe has released. Ashe, by her full name Ashlyn Rae Willson, created the concept of having each of her first three albums titled after her names. With her first album, Ashlyn, is all about figuring out who you are as an individual after a co-dependent relationship. In the song “Always”, she sees her future with hopelessness as she sings “I might come to terms that I’ll never be whole again / I’ll be broken when you’re gone but someday we’ll both be moving on”.
Her second album, Rae, sees a reinvention of self. The music production and the lyrics are more sensual, but there’s still a lingering sense of anger towards the relationship. Rae is in the middle, she knows she can’t return to her past life, but she’s still holding the door open. There’s some experimenting with dating, and coming to the conclusion that she might not love anyone again. The ending track is bittersweet. She almost gives up on love, but at the same time recognises the love she had is over.
The conclusion to the trilogy, Willson, covers the issues found in the previous albums. “Please don’t fall in love with me”, the introducing track, confronts the tendency of losing herself in the person she’s with. Willson is not a clear ending to the struggles. Ashe still talks about how difficult it is to get back to your own person. In the end, it is about prioritising your well-being. Ashe’s sound is cohesive throughout the three albums, with majestic instrumentals, as well as times of catching your breath. The twelve-track album takes a turn in the middle with “Dear Stranger,” where she apologises to her past self. The ending track, “Ashe” summarizes the story and questions the future, leaving us excited for Ashe’s next project.
Verbathim, Nemahsis
Nemahsis is a Palestinian-Canadian artist that became known this year through social media, and her debut album does not disappoint. There is a lot of introspection, poetic lyrics that make you think beyond the surface. Nemahsis’ voice takes us through the journey of her mind, with vocals that will take you by surprise with each song. Her discography aims to feel the outcasts feel less alone. The production of the album is complex, with instruments coming in at an unexpected rhythm yet they make sense. Nemahsis explained the title, Verbathim, is the word “verbatim” but as seen on the cover, someone is holding her tongue. It hints at the censorship she has gone through, while the nun outfit she’s wearing refers to people’s double standards when it comes to modesty, as she’s often been judged for wearing hijab. The ending track, chemical mark, explores the effects of intergenerational trauma.
Smitten, Pale Waves
The title of the album couldn’t be more fitting, as each song brings being in love to another dimension. Although the album starts with “Glasgow”, a track about heartbreak, the love that emanates through is clear. With the next songs, Pale Waves explore the difficulty of moving on from a sapphic relationship. “Last Train Home” is an emotional track that explores the other perspective in a queer relationship. We’ve heard about being kept a secret, but here we hear from the person who is still in the closet. The musical production is dreamy and catchy. Pale Waves recognise that queer relationships are complicated. They’re also showing the deep love and devotion involved in these relationships is beyond imagination.
Mountain Music, Nina Nesbitt
This is the fall album. After more than a decade in the music industry, Nina Nesbitt started her own independent record label. This allowed her to lean into her authentic songwriting, as well as folk and indie sound. Mountain Music brings Nina Nesbitt back to what she does best. When singing “I’m Coming Home”, she means more than what meets the eye. She is coming back to her roots, to the complexity found in introspection. She explores her emotions and questions where the path she has taken will lead her. The ending track, “Parachute”, is honest and full of love. Whether towards someone else, or herself, the album ends on a comforting note. We’ve climbed the mountains of emotions, and now we have the parachute to bring us back to the cabin.
See you next month for October’s music releases, in the meantime, keep an eye out for our Halloween themed articles!
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