New Music Roundup: Releases You May Have Missed

We have fresh, new tunes from rising songstresses NERIAH and chae, as well as some selections from Laidback Luke, Gian Varela, Duke Boara, and more to soundtrack your weekend.

NERIAH – BREAKUP SEX

On the heels of her recent debut EP, This Is How The World Made Me, LA-based singer/songwriter NERIAH unleashes her latest pop treat, “Breakup Sex.” The single tinged by the emotionality that follows the end of a relationship from a fresh perspective that directs the anger and disappointment at both players in the game. As part of the new wave of pop songresses, NERIAH injects punky undertones that color the sonic palettes of her contemporaries – “Breakup Sex” is yet another testament to her songwriting appeal. Each song NERIAH writes is autobiographical and doubles a medium through which she shares her personal diary in hopes listeners can take a page and learn from it. 

CHAE – ‘LETTERS I’LL NEVER WRITE’ EP

Having teased us with a batch of intimate and infectious offerings including ‘Make You’, ‘On and On,’ ‘I Tried,’ and ‘Neverland’, Los Angeles-based creative singer and songwriter Chelsea de Silva – alias chae – finally shares her highly-anticipated 6-track debut EP, ‘Letters I’ll Never Write.’ Known for lending her vocals on prominent EDM tracks, her latest sonic endeavor reveals her innermost personal memoirs to listeners and carves her own lane in the music space solo. Opening with soft instrumentation that’s perfectly paired with chae’s deep, sultry vocals and poignant lyricism, the track transports listeners to a dreamy soundscape oozing with raw emotion. ‘On and On’ follows, exploring chae’s journey as she searches for inner healing and someone to share love and life with. ‘All I Wanna Do’ continues the EP’s ethos of yearning for lost love and the complexities of moving on.  The fourth offering, ‘Make You’, is a captivating cut infused with palpable raw energy. Delivering a stripped-back-feel-good dose of R&B, the track unfolds a resonating tale of unrequited love whilst embodying notions of self-acceptance and growth. ‘I Tried’ follows, serving transmittable energy through the eardrums, the track takes listeners into an entrancing daze utilizing soft lo-fi drums and delicate instrumentation. Serving as another scintillating addition to the EP, ‘Neverland’ rounds out ‘Letters I’ll Never Write’, engulfing eardrums with complete vulnerability as she works through sentiments of yearning for lost love. Leaping head first into uncharted territory, chae continues to push the envelope sharing her story with the world and showing listeners her musical mastery. The rising R&B talent primes herself as one to watch as she continues to carve a league of her own.

VARIOUS – WE ARE EX MEDIAS VOL II

Championed artist collective EX Medias returns to the release trenches with their sophomore compilation, a 5-track collection of fresh cuts from the likes of Galena Crew, Blank Ages, #BBC, AireLoosh, and TURBO. Founded by Chicago-based DJ/producer Able Grey, the burgeoning imprint was born to provide a platform for rising talent to support one another, inspire successful actions, and help work towards a brighter career path. The names of the EX Medias roster continually radiate passion and integrity in each of their respective bodies of work. The WE ARE EX MEDIAS II VA offers a specially curated selection of tracks that span across the dance music genre spectrum. Galena Crew kicks off the compilation with “Marilyn,” a fantasy-driven cinematic production brought forth by a lush soundscape, angelic verses, and cascading side-chain synths. Blank Ages follows up with “Shanghai Dreams,” a swirling cocktail of breaks and drum and bass. #BBC shakes things up with a heart melting, soul-stirring vibe in “So Long.” AireLoosh hashes out the heat with “Gaze,” a festival-ready instrumental banger not for the faint of heart. TURBO brings the sonic journey to an end with a slice of riddim-laced heaven in “Breathing Danger.” 

LAIDBACK LUKE x GIAN VARELA – PONME LOCO FT. MELFI [MIXMASH]

Emerging Latin House extradonnaire Gian Varela teamed up with dance music A-lister Laidback Luke for a sizzling tech-house smash, “Ponme Loco.” With Gian’s Latin background and Luke’s life experiences gained while touring the world – it was only fitting that these two make the most out of their common ground through music. Boasting a melodic and poppy vibe, “Ponme Loco” carries Laidback Luke’s signature club-primed sound that is carried forward by the duo’s rich and powerful production. Melfi’s vocal chops ascend the experience to that next plateau, her timbre and cadence adding an edge that ensures the release sticks to the listeners it reaches with its hooks and memorable moments.

DUKE BOARA – ALL WINTER/SWITCH

Multi-instrumentalist/producer Duke Boara takes a suitably bold step early in his already successful career, with his double mixtape project ‘11AM/11PM Tapes’.  At only 23, multi-instrumentalist /producer Duke Boara aka James Toomey has curated 26tracks for morning and night; expect a genre-busting melange of lo-fi, breakbeat, melodic, lively summer-infused house, percussion…and playing piano, guitar and drums throughout. The first component of the 2-part drop, ‘All Winter’ (11AM), is out today and features a pure and simple finger-pick acoustic guitar melody reminiscent of falling snow, spiced with sitar sounds. Elegiac but upbeat. ‘Switch’(11PM) is a night-friendly switch to a funkier beat, with jazzy staccato synth and strong percussion, in a build/break structure-one for the dancefloor. The project also features previous breakthrough tracks ‘Wairau Bay’, ‘Rain,’ ‘Talking to Strangers’, ‘Bring the Gold’, and his debut, ‘Focus.’ The second drop is slated to release on August 31st before the full double-mixtape is out in October.