Something For The Weekend : New Music Recommendations: If You Listen To Four New Songs This Weekend ….
Blondshell – “What’s Fair”
Blondshell, the music project of Sabrina Teitelbaum, has just unveiled a new single and accompanying video titled “What’s Fair.” Following her stellar 2023 self-titled debut album, as well as her recent Talking Heads cover for A24’s Everyone’s Getting Involved and her powerful collaboration with Bully on “Docket,” Teitelbaum continues to prove her mastery of grunge-fueled melodies and raw, poetic lyrics.
Everything she has released thus far has been magnificent, and her new single is no exception—it’s right up there with “Docket” as a contender for single of the year in my book.
Teitelbaum delves deep into personal experiences with “What’s Fair,” reflecting on the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. “I think that any relationship between a mother and a daughter is inherently complicated,” she shares. “Maybe it’s because of my own relationship, which was grounded in a lot of trauma and loss, but I think it’s always confusing. What are you allowed to expect, what is normal, what behaviour from a parent is okay or not okay, etc.? And to what extent does ‘normal’ even matter when your experience is all you have?”
She adds, “I was just trying to sift through the past when I wrote this song, and I mostly had a lot of questions.”
You can read my interview with Blondshell in the print issue Of Under The Radar (Issue 71) to. Read my review of her debut album here
Du Blonde – “TV Star”
Du Blonde (aka Beth Jeans Houghton) released “TV Star,” this week the lead single from her upcoming album Sniff More Gritty, set to arrive on November 1st via her own label, Daemon T.V. It raucous, honest, fun and incredibly catchy as Du Blonde’s continuous to emabrce the creative freedom she’s embraced since founding her own label and shed the interfering “industry suits” – You can read my 2021 interview with her HERE where she talks with real honesty about her experience of working with labels
“TV Star” tells the story of the corrupting power of fame, starting with a simple acoustic guitar before erupting into a high-energy pop-grunge chorus that captures the complexities of rising stardom. It’s a fine example of her ability to blend raw emotion with eclectic influences, setting the stage for an album that promises to be both bold and deeply personal.
Why Bonnie – “Three Big Moons ”
Why Bonnie, the New York-based project of Blair Howerton, released a new single and video this week titled “Three Big Moons” from the forthcoming album, Wish on the Bone, set to drop on August 30th via Fire Talk. The track is certainly imbued with a timeless Americana vibe, blending nostalgia with a wistful yearning for the familiar. The accompanying video has a kind of King of the Hill meets The Twilight Zone vibe, which brings out the themes of isolation and connection and manages to be humorous and touching.
With Wish on the Bone, Howerton promises to explore the quest for an authentic life through introspective lyrics that touch on personal growth and resilience.
ALT BLK ERA- “Straight To Heart”
ALT BLK ERA ,formed by sisters Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam have released their new single, “Straight To Heart,” from their forthcoming debut album. This track delves into vocalist Nyrobi’s experience with chronic illness, a theme that deeply influences the album.
Nyrobi explains, “I became chronically ill during lockdown where I was in constant, excruciating pain throughout my body. Partly due to my illness and partly due to the high-strength pain medication I was prescribed, I existed in a fog of dream-like, whispery moments where I slept for 20-hour days. Over the months and years, in my moments of clarity I noticed that my friends had forgotten about me and as I slowly came out of the fog I was in, they made no effort to reconnect. I was left out in the cold, forgotten about, so I had to deal with both the physical and emotional pain. I was incredibly lonely, and my life was a shell of just existing. This all happened during my teen years, an important time in my life where I was finding out who I was. The lockdowns and then my illness robbed me of important ‘normal’ teen experiences. The song will connect with anyone who is struggling with, or who has ever felt loneliness, being abandoned or neglected.”
And If You Listen to One Playlist This Weekend, Well, I Rather Like This One
Enjoy the weekend – may it be as delightful as the British summer— with the sun, as elusive as sincerity or compassion at a GOP rally.