Alyson Witt – “chamomile & honey”
-This is not the first time I’ve approved a track from Alyson Witt and it won’t be the last. Just listen. Goodness, what a voice. There’s a tenderness to this recording that I absolutely adore. The interplay of the piano with the vocal here is wonderful. There’s a soft modern jazz element in the vein of the Olivia Dean renaissance on the charts. But beyond that, Witt is not just singing a “trendy” style; this is genuine artwork with an expressive heart that is undeniable with a careful listen. The track is intimacy personified, a bit of personal reflection with a sentimentality of desire. This is a gem.
Cash O’Brien – “Don’t Stick Around”
-If they gave out an award for best first line, I would nominate O’Brien immediately. “You can have me for a season, if you’ll be on your way. ‘Cuz I love you when you’re leavin’, but you lose me if you stay.” Dang. That’s some incredible writing. It’s safe to say this melancholy alt pop song has some excellent writing combined with just the right amount of moodiness. I’m not sure there even is a genre for this kind of music, but I’ll tell you I personally find this captivating. The rock elements give it a crunch edge, while the stripped down singer songwriter elements provide another layer of tenderness. Both are equally alluring, generating a sound that demands another listen… and another. This is such a beautiful piece of art; I’ll be putting Cash O’Brien on my “ones to watch” list for the foreseeable future.
Lauren Juzong – “Smooth Talker”
-I have so much to say about my feelings about this song, but let me start simply; the vibe reminds me of the late 80s into the early 90s. It’s bouncy and sweet in all the right ways. But the lyrical sentiment – about a guy who is a smooth talker and can get whatever he wants – is really fascinating. It seems like the protagonist has mixed feelings about this guy, who can be a treat or also a bit frustrating or upsetting. The song becomes a bit of a time machine for me, reminding me of early life stages where this sort of flirty energy was more common personally. Nevertheless, there’s something about the inflection on the vocal for the main chorus that feels so delightfully endearing in a Dodie Clark sort of way. Also, if you’re listening to the opening thinking “ok, this is fine…” let me just encourage you to stick around for the chord change in the latter half. The artists didn’t have to include that, but they did, and it brings this level of complexity and texture to the track that I really appreciate. It’s “more than” a simple pop song… it’s a great example of alt pop music.
Image courtesy: Cash O’Brien IG
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