Oldstar - Of The Highway
Out of the swamp and through the gnat cloud of this-core and that-core comes a rock record hotter than a leather seat in a Florida parking lot. But this truck ain’t sitting; it’s tumbling from bar to bar, town to town, searching for so long that it’s starting to fall for searching itself—the highway. It dips you low when you get stood up, cuts you loose when your shirt stops fitting, and shows you things a destination can’t: the wind singing sweet through the street sign’s bullet holes, blacktop hugging the sun back, roadkill grinning while the Buick decomposes, and apathetic lovers siphoning gas to feel something. Oldstar’s engine—Zane Mclaughlin, at only 21 years old—is uniquely equipped for canonic greatness. Confessional, wise, clever, brave, and raw, their words, impish rasp, and melodic clairvoyance spin American detours into tear-jerking, joy-riding, waltz-moshing masterpieces on their studio debut, Of The Highway.
Emissive - Envelope
Emissive’s new single “Envelope” evokes an underwater Boiler Room set where bodies carom against each other, bubbling about in harmony. It’s no coincidence that Emissive’s sound is this enveloping; he thoroughly studied the nuances of his local electronic music scene in Toronto, and now he essentially teaches it. Emissive–born Evan Vincent–runs an event series called Planet Island, hosts a monthly radio show on n10.as called Vitamix, mixes and masters for other musicians, and co-produces in the techno duo Active Surplus—all in addition to creating immaculate dance music as Emissive. “Envelope” puts his expert versatility on display. He takes Detroit-style drum-breaks and icy Euro-bred synth plucks on a journey across trance passages, house loops, and Thundercat-style bass grooves. Hang on for the ride.
Braxton Cook - The Answer
Braxton Cook is everywhere. He’s showing up on front pages, homepages, “artist to watch” lists, and even a Grammy-nominated album. Despite the pressure and expectations, this Maryland-bred jazz multi-instrumentalist remains humble, introspective, and vulnerable in his music. His new single “The Answer” is a woozy, nostalgic surrender to naivety. He lures his audience with honesty, not advertisement—which is not only a formula for longevity, but also a testament to his character.
Daisy Mortem - Charisma
London-via-France avant-pop duo Daisy Mortem makes the musical equivalent of a sinkhole that you didn’t know you needed to fall into. Their new Marine Snow exclusive single, “Charisma,” is cavernous-yet-futuristic, ominous-yet-enchanting, and murky-yet-razor-sharp. They carry you through passages of harrowing cyber-pop, trance, and trap to arrive at an ecstatic tidal wave of house loops. Daisy Mortem is comprised of multi-disciplinary artists CINDY BLURAY and VAMPI, both of whom incorporate methods and motifs from their collective excursions in filmmaking, acting, and gaming into their music—independently, and as a duo. Daisy Mortem keeps you guessing, which is only one of many indications that they’re here to stay. — Gabe Allanoff
5v - not cool enough
There have always been old heads. Whether it’s jazz’s objection to rock, rock’s objection to hip hop, hip hop’s objection to trap, or trap’s objection to hyperpop, the prior generation of innovators have always deemed the following sound indulgent and detrimental.
That’s inevitable though; youth-music is oftentimes designed to repudiate adult-music. Now, the newest “devil-music”—hyperpop—is taking seclusion a step further. It’s so illicit that even most kids in their mid-teens feel too old to “get it.” On German hyperpop vocalist 5v’s latest Marine Snow exclusive single, “not cool enough,” he illuminates the familiar building blocks of this often unparseable genre.
Slowed-down spin-backs call back to Mexico Dro trap beats, promcore synth arpeggiations pull from the digital side of emo-rap, and glitchy, pitched-up vocal wafts resemble the nightcore remixes of yesteryear. It’s a perfect gateway drug for hyperpop and an ultra-catchy tour of the collective consciousness of today’s youth.
John Moods - Open
John Moods’ Marine Snow exclusive single “Open” is the musical equivalent of a Snuggie. It’s cozy and soothing, with velvety vocals, warm bass, and 80’s-style electric guitar flourishes; but it’s also practical, a surefire vibe-setter that’s fit for any occasion. Although “Open” has a playful feel, it's a legitimate masterclass on minimalism. Each instrument acts only to support the next, and every melody is tactfully trimmed, leaving only the catchiest parts. It’s teamwork, in a sense. Without any instrumental ball-hogs soaking up the spotlight, each note works in harmony, building an impeccably balanced foundation for John Moods’ mellow mood.