This edition of LITM Pop Picks brings plenty of raw grit and variety, with artists such as Noah Bates, Fanny Alexandra, Oh Hannah, Thrones NYC, and Zac Bell.
1. Noah Bates- For You
Noah Bates’s latest track ‘For You’ is a fine pick from the alt-pop genre if you’re looking for fast-paced, vibe-y ambient music with raining synths and silhouette imagery. It draws you in with the hook, where you slowly lose yourself in the music. There’s a gritty rawness to the vocals, which are backlit by the shimmery, cascading synths and anchored by the weighted bass and drums. The cinematic glimmer seeping from the soundscape makes it one of those songs you would take with you to the rooftop to watch the night sky and city lights.
2. Fanny Alexandra – Crown of Glass
Another smooth, ambient track on the list is Fanny Alexandra’s ‘Crown of Glass’, which brings a dark sound with a moody palette. From the flowy synth movement to the backing choir, there’s a slow-burning momentum and intensity being built into the verses, leading up to a high-octane release in the chorus. The glassy vocals, punchy beats, and warbly bass give the song a dynamic interplay of instrumentation, while the lyrics bring out the rawness and gravity of the message with lines like “teachers preaching heaven while the bathroom floods with sin.”
3. Oh Hannah – In Kyoto
‘In Kyoto’ is one of those songs that’ll bring out the romantic in you, with an old-Hollywood-esque charm, hazy city streetlights, and a piano marking your every step. The song doesn’t follow a standard pattern of chord progressions; rather, it uses arpeggiated piano notes, whimsical string motions, and an orchestral accompaniment that places the spotlight right on the main character. The vocals perfectly match the era and vibe of the instrumentation through their timbre and style, forming a steadfast bond with the accompaniment as the two dance around the floor of the arrangement without interruption. Listen here-
4. Throes NYC – Always, Baby
Throes NYC’s latest track ‘Always, Baby’ takes you through rock terrain with grungy instrumentation and a heavy, industrial soundscape. The arrangement weaves in a grungy bassline alongside alien-sounding synths from both the foreground and background, keeping you sandwiched in the middle. The metallic fragments add to the ambient setting, shifting between torrid and gritty to haunting and melodic. The overall composition feels very avant-garde with its structural breakdown, evoking the cinematic imagery of being lost in a stormy sea. Listen here-
5. Zac Bell – Stuck at the Lights
Zac Bell’s ‘Stuck at the Lights’ is another gritty, cinematic treat. It is Zac Bell’s latest, ‘Stuck at the Lights’, which brings a moody, experimental vibe with high-resonance guitars and drifty vocals. Following a character story, the singer keeps it crisp, while the instrumentation brings a gravelly and wispy mix that interchanges throughout the song, heightening the track's resonance and giving the air a metallic twang. The warbly bass offers a great contrasting texture to the lead vocals. Overall, this song would no doubt work as a lone wolf or post-breakup anthem. 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.