These LITM Rock Picks are everything from charming to vulnerable, coming to you from artists like FJ Rentz, Dead Skin Project, Michael Wu, and more.
1. FJ Rentz – Billion Dollar Baby
FJ Rentz’s Billion Dollar Baby is effortlessly charismatic, given its character by how well it creates an atmosphere of pure indulgence and the best kind of hedonism. If you close your eyes and imagine a character wreaking havoc in a fancy ballroom, this is the perfect song to be playing in the background – coming from FJ Rentz’s Latin-American ballroom dance champion days, this feels apt. Produced to allow each layer to stand independently while still weaving them together to sound cohesive, this track is audacious and confident, and that’ll make you want to loop it again and again. Listen to Billion Dollar Baby here!
2. Dead Skin Project – Secret Wars
Secret Wars weaves together elements of rock at its finest: growly vocals, restless electric guitar, and merciless drumming come together to create something reminiscent of metal-infused rock. From its first restrained (compared to the rest of the track!) moments, you can tell the song is brimming with barely-contained tension, just waiting to break the walls down and burst forth; and when it does, it does so with no hesitation whatsoever. It maintains its high energy through the track, never letting it drop, keeping you constantly on the edge of your seat, so to speak. Check Secret Wars out here!
3. Michael Wu – All Over
New York-based Michael Wu’s latest release, All Over, exemplifies his melodic indie-rock production leanings with its chill yet reflective sound. Giving importance to clean layers over heavy, overwhelming production, this track is an easy listen, but once you start peeling back the layers, its lyrical and emotional complexity becomes apparent. It never hits you in the face or force-feeds you any meaning, but is always there, waiting for you to sit with it and reflect along with it on your own time. All Over is careful and polished while retaining a raw sound that gives it character in an oversaturated landscape. Listen here!
4. Charlie and the Moonshine – El Diablo
El Diablo, Mexico-based Charlie and the Moonshine’s latest single, is a sensual, powerful, almost smug track that sweeps you off your feet from the first few moments. A track tailor-made for slow dancing, it features a dangerously charming rhythm that keeps you hooked as you subconsciously sway along. Revolving around a story of the Devil falling in love with a woman, its articulate lyrics keep the narrative moving while giving us enough time to absorb the emotions behind them (“Gotta admit it’s not lust / I don’t know where I’m standing at all / I feel above the sky / Full of joy, yeah / There’s a new queen in town,” as they sing in a voice made for live music). Give it a listen here!
5. Martin Kuiper – She’s a Story
Sometimes, even the most painful thing someone can do to you can’t ever make you hate them; Martin Kuiper’s She’s a Story is a testament to that fact. On the track, Kuiper goes on a journey of nostalgia that’s more bitter than sweet, capturing the most conflicting human side of heartbreak and sorrow. It’s filled with melancholy, yes, but it soars above being just a sad song, becoming a deeply personal reflection on human nature with its restrained sound and backing instruments that serve as the perfect foundation for the emotionally laden vocals. With the central line, “She’s a story, waiting to be told,” Kuiper captures your attention, encouraging you to dive deep with him.
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.