Look, we know we throw a lot of new music at you. We also know that not everyone who comes to this site has the time to be as involved with or informed about the local scene as maybe they’d like to be. So for those casual readers who either can’t or have no interest in keeping up with the parade of artists we try to cover, who may not know the difference between Bitter and Biters, we have created our TRIPLE THREAT feature. The premise is simple: every Friday our writers will put their heads together and come up with three tracks that grabbed our attention over that week. Then we tell you why the songs are great and worth listening to. That’s it. Maybe some weeks we’ll have a guest commentator come in and share their favorites, but the format will always remain the same: three songs, some words, and we out. Enjoy.
Credit: Daley Kappenman
Sequoyah – “Sublime”
From the upcoming LP, Dream Sequence
I keep telling you guys, keep tabs on Sequoyah Murray. Dude can shift their skin to any mix, be it acid jazz or droning riffs or upbeat synthpop, and at every turn, their radiant love for humanity still shines through. Of all the singles that Sequoyah’s dropped this year, though, “Sublime” hums with the crunchiest electro vibes yet. And while they’ve always sounded kinda like Dave Gahan, in this twilight outing the resemblance is bone-chilling. However, none of Depeche Mode’s bombastic gloom darkens the door here; rather, Sequoyah delivers a pitch-perfect ode of devotion, coaxing a wary lover to let down their guard and embrace trust. It’s that golden aura that sets Sequoyah on a higher plane, even more than their velvet shuddering croon. Here’s hoping they’ll dazzle us ten times over with their upcoming album in September. — Lee Adcock
Dream Sequence is out September 1.
More Info
Facebook: @sequoyahmurray
Instagram: @quoy_boi
SoundCloud: @sequoyahmurray
YANG – “Cry for Help”
From the standalone single
Born in India and raised in Atlanta, YANG is a mysterious singer-songwriter with a smoky voice that registers like eyeshadow-adorned models in the dark corner of a swanky nightclub. The Jill Scott influence is there, but it doesn’t feel rushed or overthought. YANG’s vocals move with some kind of free-flowing motion, one that, depending on your mood, can caress you softly or lead you boldly out to the dancefloor. Meanwhile, rhythmic production is laid out like blankets under the stars by frequent collaborator Mr. Martens. Take this moment to revel in the track’s incandescent vibes, because “Cry for Help” is a song worth swaying to. — Mus Abubaker
More Info
Instagram: @yangsomeone
SoundCloud: @yangsomeone
Twitter: @yangsomeone
Dee Belvedere – “A Bump & A Squanch”
From the standalone single
While Dylan Banks has been known to glide serenely along the edges of the stratosphere via his ambient pop project Skybison, his new techno alter ego Dee Belvedere seeks out territory that is far more carnal and rhythmic. His latest single, “A Bump & A Squanch” builds in successive layers — some stark, almost bleak even, and others more psychedelic and warped. Most of the journey is guided by the insistent thump-thump-thump of a bass drum, like some some sort of cryptic homing beacon, but the point here isn’t so much to lure you forward as it is to completely invade your headspace. There’s a discernible lack of a defining melody here, but don’t let that stop you from giving in to the track’s dark seduction. Sometimes surrender is the best option. — Guillermo Castro
More Info
Bandcamp: deebelvedere.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @deebelvedere