New year, new listening habits. We’ve got five new songs from artists you may not be terribly familiar with, and we promise they’re worth your time.
Heems — “Sometimes”
There’s always been a lot going on behind the eyes of former Das Racist rapper Heems, but his new single “Sometimes” brings a lot of it to the forefront. The track, produced by Gordon Voidwell, is a downright banger, and over its chanting beat Heems raps about dualities, which, in an accompanying statement, he relates to his living in the US as a first generation South Asian. Eat, Pray, Thug, the album on which “Sometimes” will appear, is set for a March 10th release. — Shane Barnes
Ricky Eat Acid — “Context”
Just earlier this week, we highlighted Ricky Eat Acid’s hazy, personal record of ambient electronic jams — 2014’s Three Love Songs — as an ace album for productivity in the new year. Now Sam Ray, the prolific musician behind Ricky Eat Acid, has released a new single to kick off what will likely be his biggest year yet. “Context” is a beautiful mess of crescendoing beats and rap samples. It sounds like the inside of your brain on one of those totally overwhelming but totally awesome days. — Jillian Mapes
Sonny & The Sunsets — “Happy Carrot Health Food Store”
Sonny & The Sunsets sound exactly what you’d expect them to sound like, especially when you throw in their Bay Area origins: a psychedelic mix of Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, and Arlo Guthrie. It’s that last influence that plays prominently in “Happy Carrot Health Food Store,” a story song that raggedly unfurls over seven minutes, composed mostly of vignettes of characters shopping at the Happy Carrot Health Food Store. And then there’s a spoken interlude conversation between Sonny and a dog. It could very well be the most fun you’ll have this Friday. — SB
Jens Lekman — “Postcard #2”
The second installment of a year-long, weekly project from Swedish crooner/quirkster Jens Lekman is a surprisingly groovy pop gem. Perhaps that’s because of its key sample of Abdullah Ibrahim’s “Mamma,” or it’s just because most things Lekman touches come out melodically perfect. Lekman’s next full-length is forthcoming, but until then he’s releasing a new one of these so-called postcards every Friday. — SB
Twerps — “I Don’t Mind”
This Aussie band’s Merge debut — Range Anxiety, out January 27 — is a must-listen for fans of the 1990s’ quintessential indie rock, but as “I Don’t Mind” suggests, there’s a pop undercurrent softening up the edges. I’m remind a ton of Yo La Tengo and a just slightly of Elephant 6 bands. — JM