Hi friends,
This week was fun to put together because I discovered all of these songs quite organically. These artists have collaborated with favorites, performed live at shows I attended, or were played by a guest at a home listening sesh. Let's dig in!
Kayle Butler is an lo-fi producer based in Newcastle, Australia and he recently released a collaboration with someone I know you've all heard of before: edapollo.
However, this isn't that track. This comes from an album Kayle released earlier this year that I've seen best described as "fragmented, fractured, AND smooth." I know how much many of you enjoy lo-fi while you work or read and I'd encourage you to listen through the whole record.
Wongo and Blak Trash have easily held the top spot on the 4 Track playlist for "best song to sex to" for over a year, but I was recently reminded of this LA duo and they are here to make it a contest.
Sitting on the floor of the TOMS headquarters' concert space in Playa Vista (yes, the shoe brand has a concert space), I remember witnessing one of the most energetically sensual acts I've ever seen. Gabby Bianco and Jason Rosen have been making music together since 2013 and describe their own sound as "[presenting] the duo as distinct individuals, adept lovers, and powerhouse performers,"
Let me know which track you think deserves the top spot.
Last year something truly rare occurred. I went to a show and the opener was... good. Really good.
Clairo, an act which you'll recall is known for deeply personal "bedroom pop," toured alongside the undeniably grungy yet equally raw act led by Bea Kristi. I can more-or-less guarantee that you've heard her track, "death bed (coffee for your head)," which was a clever remix of Kristi's early release, "Coffee."
However, Kristi's band brought a much different sound to this live show, playing smashers like "She Plays Bass" alongside more garage-esque ones like this. What I enjoy most about this track is its slow burn where you can hear certain pieces of the arrangement stick out from the whole piece similar to what you might expect from a work of modern art. Except this time it's enjoyable.
Isa played this for me during a listening session a couple days ago and changed my life. Others, namely Jackie and Joe, had always recommended I listen to more Tash, but somehow I never got around to listening to much more than "Jungle" and Flow State. Returning to "Pretty Lady," I can hear how much the artist's sound has progressed and just how clean their production is. You can hear so much space throughout the track and the way their fingers lightly scrape the guitar strings during chord changes give it a distinctly human element and make it an audiophile's delight.
Tash is a solo artist from Australia who made massive waves after releasing homemade videos on YouTube. In fact, my first exposure to the artist was a performance of their own track on triple j.
You watch a whole track get built right before eyes by a single person. There's nothing quite like it and it's the reason they headlined so many festivals last year. Tash is currently working on their second studio album and I know many of us eager anticipate it.
Of course, don’t forget to reply with what you liked, didn’t like, and what you’ve been listening to.
And, as always, this week’s tracks are added to the collectors for all weeks' tracks on Spotify and Apple Music.
Cheers,
Tanner