Author Spotlight
Nora Lynn
We all need something to look forward to while staring at the same Canvas screen for seven hours a day or waiting in anticipation for whether or not sports will be canceled. Pressing play on the newest work by my favorite artists always brightens my day. Spotify’s most recent “New Music Friday” released a few singles and extended plays (EP) on Oct. 23 –– and I’d say they’re worth checking out.
Ariana Grande: positions
This single is clearly a tribute to Ariana Grande’s current boyfriend, Dalton Gomez, but depending on your interpretation, it can also take a very feminist turn. With the music video featuring her as president, it manifests Grande holding a position of power and is referred to in her lyrics when she says, “switching the positions.” This takes an occupation typically held by a man and “switches” the gender roles.
I love the soft, yet strong sound of this single –– it could definitely associate with her famously feminist song “God is a Woman.” Other than the iconic belted runs Ariana is known for, her voice in this song is quieter, complimenting the main instrumental sound from the intro.
Listen to “positions” by Ariana Grande here.
Wallows: Remote
Remote is an alt-indie EP, but I think it has a distinct originality –– it’s Wallows’ own take on the genre. Wallows started working on this project early in quarantine, and it features more lighthearted songs than their past work that I enjoyed.
Virtual Aerobics: The lyrics in this song are overall very relatable –– they sit well with this year. For example, when singer Dylan Minnette says “let’s do some virtual aerobics,” it symbolizes accommodations we’ve had to make for this year to work. It makes sense that it came out while we’re in quarantine, whether our accommodations are missing summer camps, going to foco or wearing masks for fall sports.
The interesting, off-beat lyrics in the first verse that morphed into the chorus and the piano melody in the intro were an attention-grabbing way to start off the EP.
Dig What You Dug: Immediately, the intro had me loving this song. Interestingly enough, it was originally two different songs that were mixed together to create one that they finally released. The title came from one of the band’s friends, Albert Hammond Jr., a member of the band “The Stokes.” Hammond Jr. said to them “I dig what you dug, and I dug what you dig,” which I interpret as “what you like, I like.”
The band described this song’s sound as “vintage Wallows,” and I agree. It has an 80’s vibe that differs from the other songs on the EP, fitting the meaning of the song –– being like your friends.
Nobody Gets Me (Like You): In the EP, this particular song’s sound is closer to a 2000’s pop vibe than alt-indie. Wallows’ inspiration for it was pop. They wanted it to sound like it was for a party.
This song has a teeny-bopper ambiance that can be associated with teen movies like “The Kissing Booth” or “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” It fits with that classic storyline where the two characters seem to fit perfectly together. If you like Wallows’ “Are You Bored Yet (feat. Clairo),” this song would probably sit right with you.
Coastlines: Conveying the journey through quarantine, “Coastlines” is about our separation from other people this year. It was initially about wanting to be at home with the people that you really want to be close to –– which is ironic that it came out now and it almost switched the song’s meaning. He says, “I don’t wanna think about it,” referring to thinking about being so far apart from one another.
The overall sound of this song wasn’t the fun and upbeat vibe that I appreciated in previous songs, but the meaning and purpose of it is an important part of this year’s emotions.
Talk Like That: I absolutely love how the chorus of this song has short rests breaking up each line –– needless to say, it’s a bop. “Talk Like That” bounces more than the rest of the songs, like it’s meant to be listened to in the car with your friends on the way to the beach. Of the whole EP, this is definitely one of my favorite songs.
The spoken outro transition at the end of this song is one of my favorite parts of the EP, just because it sounds so vintage. Along with other aspects of the EP, it sounds like a mix of different eras that work well together.
Wish Me Luck: This song didn’t click like the rest of this EP did, and it was probably my least favorite. Nothing seemed to stick out to make it memorable. Even though the overlapping and blurring of the voices closing out the song was a calming touch, the whole song sounds like a lesser version of “Talk Like That” and “Coastlines” combined.
The tone of the song also differs from the rest of the EP. It has the same vibes as Wallows’ single “1980’s Horror Film II,” which you might enjoy if you liked this song.
Listen to “Remote” by Wallows here.
AWOLNATION (feat. Grouplove): Radical
Though the original song was released in April, “Radical (feat. Grouplove)” is an upgrade. Grouplove’s contribution to this alt-rock single gave it an indie-pop twist that’s very fitting. This collaboration feels a lot different than AWOLNATION’s most well known song, “Sail.”
As I read deeper into the meaning of the lyrics, it sounds like it could be a political statement. It changes slightly from the original song that states, “my left ear’s weak, but my voice is loud,” referring to the singer’s democratic views. However, in the version featuring Grouplove, it sings, “But then the story I write will end in catastrophe,” commenting on the perfect world Grouplove’s lead singer envisions but is continuously torn down.
Though this song leans towards a heavier rock base, it still caught me and I ended up really liking this song. The base drop before the chorus is the biggest selling piece and what drew me into the song.
Listen to “Radical (feat. Grouplove)” by AWOLNATION here.
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