These LITM Pop Picks are bright, psychedelic, and feel-good; featuring For The Ages, Alan Hatcher, Aaron Petersen, and more!
1. For The Ages – Mr. Hennessy
Mr. Hennessy is a bright, upbeat track that sounds like a raw, unpolished conversation more than an overpolished studio track. It bursts with energy, and you can easily imagine listening to it while lying in a bright patch of sunlight as it warms your skin. It’s funky and experimental – structured to be rhythm-forward, it’s a song that makes it easy to groove. It blends melodic hooks with this rhythm, sitting in between feel-good pop and introspective musicality, fitting comfortably in the landscape of songs that emotionally resonate without sounding like they’re trying too hard to do so. Listen here!
2. Alan Hatcher – Growing
“I picked up on that comment you made about growth and need, and the idea planted a seed / You’ve changed, and you want me to grow too? Well, now I’m growing weed.”
So begins Alan Hatcher’s Growing, a trippy, almost psychedelic song that blurs between lines and bars, resulting in a song that uses legato with mastery and precision. It’s concise even as it envelopes you: as the middle point of the larger album Phantom Sounds, it remains tight and reflective, offering a moment of reprieve before diving into the second half of the album. Give it a listen here!
3. Aaron Petersen – Where I Belong
Where I Belong is a blend of warmth and synth, emotional lightness with vulnerability. It’s the kind of song that gets you to loosen up and leave the weight of whatever happened during the day behind. Its sound is raw – it’s clear that this is a song that comes from the heart, and not one that’s been meditated on so much that it loses all meaning. It gets your attention with this rawness and sincerity: it knows it doesn’t need perfect, flashy tricks to hold your attention. It’s more of a celebration of music and the resultant joy than a grand, heavy song. Listen here!
4. Thickshake – Through the Daylight
Thickshake’s Through the Daylight is upbeat and bright, bringing unadulterated feel-good energy to your music. It’s inviting, welcoming you to step into its warmth, filled with energy and vivacity. Driving the song forward are its relentless rhythm and positivity, and this nature makes it a universally relatable song. Perfect for blasting on roadtrips and during lowkey parties with only your innermost circle, the song makes you happy with what sounds like no effort, creating a space for you to just be, and that’s what makes it stand out. Thickshake’s love for music bleeds through every note, and it’s a pleasant, memorable listen!
5. <3peace. – COLORS (LETTING GO)
COLORS (LETTING GO) leans into psychedelia with its rhythmic drumming and quavering highs. With its distortion and haze, the song sounds like it’s simultaneously coming to you from very far away and from right next to you, resulting in a kaleidoscopic sound that feels like it’s disorienting you on purpose, just to see how much you can take before completely losing track of your surroundings. It’s cleverly produced, with a balanced mix of skewedness and steady beats, keeping you engaged throughout. It’s perfect for listening while lying on the floor in the middle of the night, thoughts swirling around your head – listen here!
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.