Tei Shi – Keep Running

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Tei Shi struck a nerve in the zeitgeist in 2014 with hit song “Bassically” and has been running full speed ahead ever since. The NYC-based singer, born Valerie Teicher will release her debut full-length, Crawl Space March 31 on Downtown / Interscope records. The first single of the LP “Keep Running” is sonically aligned with previous efforts — a confident confluence of deconstructed pop, electronic and left-of-centre indie influences.

Speaking on the track, Teicher remarks: “‘Keep Running’ was the first new track I wrote shortly after releasing my last EP. It’s a kind of call to arms to someone you love, to take on and confront all of life’s obstacles together. To fight to stay together through thick and thin. A ride or die kind of love.”

It’s a highly evolved sentiment, much like Tei Shi’s sound itself. Stream below.

 

Cigarettes After Sex – K

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The Brooklyn ambient pop collective Cigarettes After Sex are back with a poignant new single in anticipation of their debut full length, due out on Partisan Records in 2017. Sensual, hazy and wearily romantic without holding any self-delusions, “K” is a minimal, moody gem of a shoegazey track guided by frontman Greg Gonzalez’s evocative vocals — recalling Mazzy Star‘s “Fade Into You.” Get intimate with “K” below, and then go have a cig.

Salt Cathedral – Unraveling (ft. Matisyahu)

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While we try to stay away from politics on CokeCanPoetry, we can’t help but think that Salt Cathedral‘s new single, “Unraveling” is an apt allegory for the general disposition and discord that has enveloped the United States this past week. The New York based Colombian duo, comprised of Juliana Ronderos and Nicolas Losada collaborated with acclaimed reggae artist Matisyahu on their new pop track that intermixes dancehall and Caribbean influences from their Colombian heritage with an upbeat and hopeful synthpop arrangement.

Interestingly enough, the effort marks Matis’ first collab with a woman — in defiance of one of his previously held Hassidic traditions. It’s a nice, inclusive message, the coming together of two different cultural backgrounds to create a harmonious and uplifting track. Ronderos sings: ‘And if you’re looking to fight me, intermittently / All I got for you is bread and flowers / And if you’re sitting beside me / Then let’s embrace the love and live for each other.‘ It’s a beautiful directive that would do the country well to consider during these divisive times.

Listen to the single below and look out for Salt Cathedral’s first full-length to release in 2017.

[VIDEO]: Anna Wise – Go

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Fresh off a Grammy win for her vocal contribution to Kendrick Lamar‘s “These Walls” on To Pimp A Butterfly, pop siren Anna Wise released her debut solo EP The Feminine: Act I earlier this year. The EP marks a bold entrance onto the pop stage for the soulful singer — sonically as well as lyrically — addressing germane subjects such as wage equality, slut-shaming and feminine sensuality. Recently she teamed up with director Emma Kanter to create the music video for the power anthem “Go,” which features Wise as a badass, rule-bending, rollerblading nun that sparks a full-on congregation dance party. The vid is sure to get you dancing into your weekend so watch below.

Pearla – Waking Up

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Like many singer-songwriters before her, the beginnings of Pearla‘s musical career blossomed as a youth with innate talent upon discovering the likes of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. The now NYC-based artist, aka Nicole Rodriguez has been writing music ever since, and is about to release her first official single under the pseudonym Pearla that will be a part of her forthcoming EP. With other worthy influences ranging from Alanis Morissette, to Conor Oberst and Laura Marling, Pearla puts her own artistic flair and unique voice on the uplifting debut, “Waking Up.” Listen below.

WILLS – Woes vs. Whoas

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Wow. Or is it whoa? Either way, that will be the general sentiment when you hear the new single from WILLS, the handle of Bronx-bred artist William Johnson. WILLS delivers the freshness and originality on “Woes vs. Whoas,” an explosive track that fuses trip hop with rap, future soul–and a myriad of experimental sounds such as breakbeats, wind instruments, and deep bass.

As a composer, producer and sound designer, the now Minnesota-based artist has produced multimedia performance art for spaces such as New York’s the Apollo Theater and the Brooklyn Academy of Music; scored works for HBO; and contributed to a range of musical projects including Flume‘s recent LP Skin. WILLS’ work is also inspired by his father, Bruce Johnson, a musician who released avant-garde recordings with Strata-East Records in the ’70s. Given his unique background, it’s no surprise that those variegated influences should be expressed on his own oeuvre.

“Woes vs. Whoas” will be out on WILLS’ self-titled debut EP this September via IAMSOUND. And with edgy efforts like this, we have a feeling it won’t be long before the world takes notice of his ascending star.

Von Sell – Stay

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Back with the third installment of his handful of releases, Brooklyn-based German artist Von Sell shared his latest electropop offering this week. The new single, “Stay” was crafted in conjunction with producer Nick Stumpf (Cavemen, NVDES) and is a brighter, more upbeat number than previous slow-burner of an effort “I Insist.” Speaking on the inspiration for the track, David Von Sell states “I remember thinking about these archaic roles men and women assign each other in relationships, emotionally, sexually, temperamentally, intellectually. We’ve evolved in every way until it comes to how our relationships actually materialize. It’s like we’re still wearing our kids clothes and they hardly fit but we refuse to buy something new in our size ‘cause of our programming.” Layered with glittering synths, thick bass, and playful vocal effects, the new track is another infectious addition to Von Sell’s collection and further assurance that the soulful artist has staying power.

Stream “Stay” and if you’re in the NYC area, you can catch Von Sell at his artist residency this month at Pianos on August 10, 17, 24 and 31.

Lake Ruth – The Only One Who Knows

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Formed in 2015 by the amalgamation of talents of multi-instrumentalist Hewson Chen (The New Lines), drummer Matt Schulz (Holy Fuck) and vocalist Allison Brice, NYC’s Lake Ruth put out their debut album, Actual Entity in June this year on UK label The Great Pop Supplement. Mixed by Graham Walsh (also of Holy Fuck), the 9-track record boasts an array of musical genres including baroque pop, psych rock, kraut, and 1960s experimentation. The LP title itself is a reference to the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, specifically as it pertains to the fluid nature of reality — an ethos which also seems to have informed the trio’s musical process.

Listen to the airy single “The Only One Who Knows.”

Phantogram – You Don’t Get Me High Anymore

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Phantogram is planning to release their third studio album, aptly titled Three this September. Having experienced a rough year, the album will reportedly showcase a darker, weightier side of the New York duo comprised of Sarah Barthel and Josh Carter. In addition to the passing of their idols David Bowie and Prince, Barthel also tragically lost her sister to suicide. In the wake of such sorrow, the duo managed to find inspiration amidst the blackness, which quickly became central to the LP’s narrative. Carter told Pitchfork, “The idea that all of our heroes are gone—of everyone and everything being destroyed around us and we’re still standing, and we’re still pushing on, and we’re still moving forward. That’s also a lot of motivation for us to keep going and going and going, and that’s I think the main theme behind the album.”

The first taste of the record — “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” certainly showcases this aspect. Even while they grapple with this darker matter, the duo’s electropop edge, hook-laden melodies and resilient spirit remain intact. Watch the lyric video for the single below.

Young Magic – Lucien

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New York experimental-pop duo Young Magic, comprised of Melati Malay and Isaac Emmanuel are getting ready to drop their new album Still Life as they head out on tour to support Yeasayer. Inspired by the native culture of Malay’s birthplace of Indonesia, the new record is a cultural tribute to the singer’s roots. Take for example the LP’s lead single “Lucien” — the video for which was based on the Balinese holiday known as Nyepi.

In Malay’s words: “There is a day called Nyepi or ‘Day of Silence’ where no one leaves the house because it’s believed bad spirits fly over the island. They burn effigies of their monsters (Ogoh Ogoh) and then everyone hides indoors for 24 hours. It’s incredible, the streets are completely empty. I’m not sure if these ghosts still follow me in New York, but making ‘Lucien’ was my way to make an effigy of my own Ogoh Ogoh, and then burn it to the ground.”

Symbolic, to say the least. Still Life will be out May 13 on Carpark Records, and is available for pre-order here. If you’re planning on seeing Yeasayer at 9:30 Club May 16, make sure you get there early enough to see Young Magic cast their incantations in person.