Songs You Would Have Skipped
We’re uncovering the latest hidden gems – don’t sleep on these tracks.
“Overstayed” - 808vic, Cozy Kilo
Emma Barsky
808vic is your friendly neighborhood bedroom musician. The Nigeria-born, London-based artist dropped “Overstayed,” his first single of the year, on January 13.
Like most bedroom tunes, this song is hella experimental. The track opens with sounds that I could only describe as stimulating, followed by melodic bars discussing his focused desires to elevate his lifestyle. This shit is ear candy.
“Bonafide” - Emotional Oranges, Chiild
Nati Hazday
The Los Angeles duo Emotional Oranges are the coolest on the pop scene, and I’ve been excited about them since their 2019 debut. They dropped their latest vibey single, “Bonafide” featuring Chiild on January 13.
Their mysterious reputation is what elevates the whole brand. Never taking clear pictures or showing their faces straight on, the duo also have aliases, “A” and “V”. These pseudonyms supposedly stand for audio engineer and vocals. I think this enigmatic aura helps to focus on the art itself, rather than the artists.
Like many songs that have been released in the post-COVID world, “Bonafide” is about hope in uncertain times. An electric bassline accompanied with sly R&B vocals defines the track and fits the science that goes into an Emotional Oranges song.
In a recent interview, one of the members of the duo describes the inspiration and fruition of the song, revealing: “I wanted to make something that felt like it could score that iconic Black Swan mirror scene. We were listening to a lot of Sade and The xx at the time. Once we got locked in, Max from slenderbodies helped bring the idea to life in a couple of hours. Getting the Chiiild vocals on the hook was the cherry on top — we’ve been looking for the right song to do together since tour.”
The single is a precursor for the duo’s upcoming third studio album, Juicebox, set to release later this year.
“Raw” - LOONY
Emma Barsky
This dynamic track will make your heart melt. I’ve had it on repeat since it dropped last Friday. It’s about loving someone for who they are, unconditionally, in broad daylight. It’s about really seeing that special someone and being present with them.
LOONY’s beautifully smooth R&B/ neo-soul vocals are paired with an electrifying chorus and delicate instrumentals. Chef’s kiss.
