After what feels like a lifetime of deadline and exam stress, The Mic are back with their recommendations of the week, the sound of celebration and victory! Enjoy these tracks from artists like easy life and beabadoobee whilst you enjoy freedom.
DEAR MISS HOLLOWAY – easy life
easy life have released a Kevin Abstract collaboration titled DEAR MISS HOLLOWAY, announcing their upcoming sophomore album MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE… which will be released on 12th August 2022. The track serves as somewhat of a title track, with the lyrics to the chorus of the track including the album title. This announcement comes as their debut album, 2021’s life’s a beach, reaches its one-year anniversary. The new album will also feature the band’s single BEESWAX which dropped earlier this month. The collaboration with Brockhampton front-man Kevin Abstract came about after a DM conversation and led to meeting up in a studio in Los Angeles. The result was a wistful ode to a love that never came to be in this dimension when easy life’s Murray Matravers had a crush on one of his teachers. The collaboration makes perfect sense with easy life’s hip-hop, anti-pop tendencies, and even though it doesn’t seem like a minute since life’s a beach was released, MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE… is shaping up to avoid the sophomore slump that curses many bands. Gemma Cockrell
HADES - VUKOVI
Released after an insightful selection of tracks to appear on their new album, HADES by VUKOVI is the powerhouse of what this band can create. Its mysterious and seductive entrance leads to a cocktail of noise and depth: almost imperceptible whispers behind the vocals followed by frequent changes in pace and direction. VUKOVI are polishing their high-energy style by ensuring that not a second passes of a song without elements of sound. This curiosity into music and how it reflects nature is what makes their new noise modern and fresh, evidencing the evolution of not only bandmates Janine and Hamish, but also the path rock music is following. Their interest in aesthetics visually represents their experimentalism and desire to refresh the scene, especially with lead singer Janine proving that women are wanted and needed here. This band are creating magic, a paradise for alternative music admirers. Roxann Yus
Lovesong – beabadoobee
beabadoobee has revealed Lovesong, the third single from her forthcoming sophomore album Beatopia, which will be released on July 15th 2022. A self-defined “cute love ballad”, the track is a soft, acoustic guitar-driven track with spaced out piano twinkles. beabadoobee began writing the song after the release of her second EP, despite it being the last song that she finished for Beatopia. The early origins of the track explain why it harks back to her older releases, adding to the diversity of the singles released from Beatopia so far. As the title suggests, the track is sweet and wholesome, bound to put a smile on the face of any listener. Even though it is not the catchiest or in-your-face single (if you’re looking for this, then the album’s lead single Talk will hit the spot), it is hauntingly beautiful in the fact that it doesn’t try too hard to be something it isn’t, with beabadoobee admitting “I guess that this is just another love song about you” within the lyrics to the chorus. This track’s selling point is its simplicity and earnest honesty. Gemma Cockrell
Hang Your Coat Back Up – Lydia Prettyman
Not only is Lydia Prettyman affiliated with the city of Nottingham, but she is also a former writer for The Mic. She released her second single Hang Your Coat Back Up on 27th May, just in time for her performance at Dot to Dot festival in Nottingham on 29th May. The track follows her debut single Picture Frames, which was released earlier this year. In her own words, Lydia explains; “My second single Hang Your Coat Back Up demonstrates a blend of both the soul and pop genres. I really wanted to explore the idea of basing a sound around two chords and shaping the other instruments around this, and I loved the idea of bringing some funk into the song. The bass demonstrates some of that funkiness, particularly after the first chorus, so, it represents a playfulness on the idea of arguing with your partner.” Hang Your Coat Back Up is perfect for those lazy, relaxing summer days, further exploring the chilled-out, easy-listening, and languorous sound that she has established within her music thus far. This signature sound continues to lend itself to comparisons to artists such as Frank Ocean, Arlo Parks, easy life and Daniel Caeser, and Lydia continues to go from strength to strength and prove her song-writing talents as an artist. Gemma Cockrell
93 - Mr Jukes
After the indie-rock band, Bombay Bicycle Club, went on hiatus, their frontman Jack Steadman, somewhat unexpectedly, began producing alt-hip-hop and jazz as ‘Mr Jukes’. In 2017, he released God First, and followed it up with 2021’s The Locket, alongside London rapper Barney Artist. These were records of sunlight, groove, and kaleidoscopic sampling which seemed to silence all naysayers as to Jack’s hip-hop prowess: this new single, 93, sees Jack and Barney Artist reunite. Barney delivers the lines with a laidback flow, referencing A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes: "how we gonna make it here, the flows are too cold and Jack he don’t miss". Jack lays down some drum patterns and bright pianos and trumpets similar to The Light. Eventually the refrain of Jack ‘not missing’ starts to get repetitive, and it feels like Barney could reference his prowess more often, not just Jack’s, and big himself up a bit more. However, it’s still great to hear from Jack and Barney again, and to see their friendship and love of their genre going stronger than ever: the guaranteed good vibes of Mr Jukes' songs are always warranted. Caradoc Gayer
Edited by: Roxann Yus
Featured image courtesy of easy life via Facebook
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