Three new tracks in the twee and indie pop space that make it physiologically impossible not to smile (cold hearts may be exempt, terms and conditions below)

Jackson Quinn – “Move me”
-It’s really easy to hear why I approved this track. The audio textures are absolutely glorious with vocal and piano effects that feel intimate and endearing. There’s something about the plaintive piano playing that feels like it was carefully, intentionally crafted. The lyrics are largely repetitive, but if you’ve ever been in love you know that feeling of just begging for someone to move you. You hang on their every moment, thought, and word. This song transports me back to a long time ago when butterflies in my stomach felt like sustenance. This one’s a treat.

Julia Jade – “missin’ out”
-This song is about fear. It’s also the sweetest, bounciest little song I’ve heard in a long time. It’s about how we collectively need to overcome these very real fears so that we don’t miss out on our own lives. There’s an inherent, sincere expression about the fears we have in love and the potential for rejection. As someone who’s been spinning on this rock for more years than dear Julia Jade and has been in a lovely relationship for the majority of that time… let me just say it gets a little easier until it’s not. But this song is a lovely, endearing expression of those uncertainties. It’s going to be ok… I hope. But music like this at least helps to put a smile on my face thinking about those uncertain times in these uncertain times.

alyson witt – “nothing could go wrong (at the end of the day)”
-If you’ve been around my writing for any length of time, you know I’m in the Dodie Clark and Jacob Collier fandoms, so it’s not at all surprising that I adore this type of piano-driven indie pop. There are times that I want the vocal to open up a bit more, but honestly this is the style. The understated, sweet expression just under the substance of the instrumentation is part of the way this type of indie pop is supposed to sound. The endearing vocal layering on the chorus really allows that section to pop more than the verse (in a good way). The poppy jazz element makes it feel timeless and the electric guitar break pulls it into some unique genre territory, but I’m here for it. I feel like fans of musical theater will feel gently at home with this composition (and no, I can’t quite put my finger on why). Check it out.

*TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This is a joke. I hope you smiled. If you didn’t, try flexing your mouth muscles in the upward trajectory. Keep trying. Use a mirror or a best friend if necessary.

Image courtesy: Alyson Witt IG