Tag Archives: Emerson Leif

Playlist: Akurei

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Akurei

Australian artist Akurei has just released his most exciting EP of the year, ‘CLOVER’.

Lucky for Akurei, venues have now opened up in Australia, which has promoted him to recollect about those nights out where you drink to feel comfortable.

So with all that social anxiety in mind, whack on his dreamy and nostalgic playlist and drift off into a state of bliss.

Hovvdy – Runner
Most of the people I’ve spent time with over the last few months could attest to the fact that I’ve been humming this daily. I’ve made it a goal to write a song that makes people feel the way this one makes me feel – light, hopeful and nostalgic.

Hether – Twinkle
Obsessed with this song, and everything Hether has done really. It all sounds like falling in love.

The Nicholas, Odessa – Rockshow
I’m lucky to be friends with The Nicholas, I’m so inspired by his song writing and production. This songs been on repeat since its release, the melodies are so so catchy.

Buddy Ross, Gabriel Delicious – Bored Again!
This one just feels so good, it’s hard to have a bad time while it’s on.

Porches – I Miss That
I’m a new Porches fan. The drum loop pulled me in and I stayed for the lyrics and the melodies, so infectious. Also the synth parts are really interesting.

Huron John – Why Do People Grow (Long for the Day When I Had That Flip Phone)
This one hits the sweet spot between fun and self deprecating.

Billy Lemos, Tati – Midlife Crisis
I’m new to Billy Lemos. This song is wild, along with the album he dropped this year.

A. G. Cook – Being Harsh
I could just listen to the first 30 seconds of this song all day, that alone is so captivating. It’s just a really beautiful and simple song.

Dijon – alley-oop
Pretty much every time Dijon drops a song I think “Damn I wish I wrote this” and this song is no exception. He has the most expressive voice and melodies, and the lyrics to this song are so nice.

Golden Daze – Blue Bell
This song will probably be in my Spotify ‘Top Songs of 20__” for the rest of my life.

The ‘CLOVER’ EP is out now on sumoclic records.

Sounds like: LA Bouquet, LANY, The 1975, Golden Vessel, Joji, No Rome, Kevin Abstract, Emerson Leif

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Golden Vessel – midwest

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Golden Vessel

Music genius Maxwell Byrne – aka Golden Vessel – is releasing the video for new single, ‘midwest’.

Once again crafting a unique sound with a simple and endearing visual treat – this time co-filmed & directed by Maxwell Byrne and Matthew Howard – ‘midwest’ is about getting on the road.

Showcasing Emerson Leif‘s Hofner bass guitar, the track blends elements of electronic music with hip-hop, R&B and alternative modern pop.

It is the first taste of his upcoming second album ‘colt’, and is being released via the recently launched label, sumoclic, which he co-owns with his good friend Akurei.

Sounds like: Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, Four Tet, Toro Y Moi, Brockhampton, Akurei

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Akurei – SEROTONIN

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Akurei

After teaming up with his good friends Golden Vessel and Emerson Leif, Australian artist Akurei releases three stunning tracks that form his ‘SEROTONIN’ EP.

The title track covers the morning after a big night (remember those?!), when you don’t want to get out of bed.

“I started thinking writing for this project almost immediately after I put out my last ep ‘September’, but it really came together in February. I took Maxwell (Golden Vessel) and Caleb (Emerson Leif) out to regional Queensland for three days to write music and be creative without any distractions. It was hugely refreshing and productive, we left with the bones of 6 songs.”

‘SEROTONIN’ is also the debut release for the recently launched independent label sumoclic, which is co-owned/operated by Akurei and Golden Vessel.

Sounds like: LA Bouquet, LANY, The 1975, Golden Vessel, Joji, No Rome, Kevin Abstract, Emerson Leif

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Playlist: LOVER

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LOVER

Rising Australian artist LOVER has just released his genre-bending EP, ‘It’s A Wild World’.

A body of work he’s been working on since late 2019, it reflects the time in LOVER’s life, as well as in the world around us.

To coincide with the release, LOVER has kindly put together a “Headrush” themed playlist for us. Listen below.

“Headrush” – Like a rush of blood

Dijon – CRYBABY :*(
Damn. I really wish I wrote this song. The video is beautiful too – one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME.

Jean Dawson – BRUISEBOY
My parents had me when they were young, so I remember my Dad mainly listening to early 90’s music – The Smashing Pumpkins, Third Eye Blind etc. This has the perfect combo of the influence of this generation of music w a modern twist.

Porches – PFB
I love short songs. Looking around, it is all “Pretty Fucking Bad” too. Thank you Porches and thank you Golden Vessel for showing me this song.

daste. – Telephone (What’s Your Name?)
These guys are my mates from Australia, who I met from being a fan of their music and now we’re indie label mates! They have a lot of versatility and all three of them are great songwriters. I’m a big fan of this track from their latest EP ‘Same As It Ever Was’.

Ryan Beatty – Evergreen
Dreaming Of David, the second album by Ryan Beatty at the start of this year is the most slept on record. I cannot believe that after his HIT ‘Sugar’ with Brockhampton it doesn’t have as many streams as his older work. The songwriting is strong, his voice is something else and the production on this album, and particularly Evergreen, is fresh and inventive. Ryan, if you’re out there, I’m sorry they’re sleeping on this !!!

Phoebe Bridgers – Garden Song
Phoebe Bridgers is a phenomenon. Her lyricism across her catalogue is inspiring. Love the production on this track particular track, definitely was a big influence for the ending of my own track ‘Last Puzzle Piece’. I’ve read that down-tuned sounding voice in the chorus is actually her tour managers real voice haha.

Jon Brion – Phone Call – Score
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is one of my favourite movies. The soundtrack is immaculate too, and once I learned more about Jon Brion I realised he scored multiple of my favourite 90’s / early 00’s movies as well as the latest Mac Miller records (RIP). This track is a short lofi dream, about 20 years ahead of its time!

Oneohtrix Point Never, (Sandy) Alex G – Babylon
This song is what happens when you get a versatile producer in the room with a legendary songwriter. It transcends your usual soft acoustic track with the electronic elements, strings and the vocal layering. I really want to see (Sandy) Alex G live with a band someday and cry quietly in the back corner.

Kllo – Insomnia
Really tight, lush production paired with the singer Chloe’s glass vocals. I love them and they’re from Melbourne – basically my backyard! (if my backyard was a 10 and a half-hour drive away).

18YOMAN – Fireflies
Another Aussie. When I first heard this song on Triple J Unearthed I was like, fuck, ok, do I still release my EP? lol. It’s sooo good and the songwriting / production (which I believe he did himself) raised the bar for all Australian acts releasing in 2020 .. in my opinion!

Dijon – Rock n Roll
Had to put two Dijon songs in, I’m sorry! He’s too good. This is from his new project, the breakdown at the end takes me somewhere else.

Roland Faunte – Happy Life
One of the only songs I legit cry to. Roland Faunte’s story over the whole ‘Sewing Kit’ project is cohesive, honest, raw, poetic. It has a classic sound that I think is above ageing All the lyrics are perfect but I lose it at:

“Give me heartache if that means a reason
That I would continue; Please, I need them
Because you mattered, when nothing mattered
If I need something let me have her”

Radiohead – True Love Waits
I tried to keep this playlist as new as I could, but I couldn’t resist putting a Radiohead song in there. They’re probably my favourite band and different eras of their music has been in consistent rotation since day dot. This track was actually written in the mid-90’s, and from the live versions from that time that I’ve watched it was originally kind of uptempo and pop leaning like “High and Dry”. It didn’t get released until 2016, in a very different form. Imagine sitting and reworking a song for TWENTY years lmao. It’s that good.

‘It’s A Wild World’ is available everywhere now via Mammal Sounds Records.

Sounds like: Golden Vessel, daste., Emerson Leif, Akurei, JVLY, CLN, George Gretton, Luna Pines

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Weekly Gems 97

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Jinka – U Bit My <3

Jinka by Yannic Pöpperling

Jinka by Yannic Pöpperling

German artist Jinka shares her explosive new single ‘U Bit My <3'. Channelling emo and urban vibes with a playful way with wonky arpeggios of synthesized steel drums and piano samples that intertwine with a trap-leaning beat.

Sounds like: Kate Boy, I BREAK HORSES, Sigrid

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DAD – Fresher

DAD - Fresher

DAD (aka bedroom pop singer/songwriter Kei Wells) shares her new single ‘Fresher’.

DAD has teamed up with Grammy-nominated Austrian producer, artist and pianist Yakob. Our favourite of hers to date, this declaration of independence is the ultimate single girl’s anthem, with electrified pop sequences infused with synth-pop juice.

Wrabel and Gallant will feature on her forthcoming EP.

Sounds Like: Lolo Zouaï, Doja Cat, Snow Tha Product, Lil Miquela, Clairo, Beabadoobie

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Emerson Leif – Next2

Emerson Leif

Brisbane-based Emerson Leif gives us a taste of his upcoming debut EP, ‘Bad Company’ with ‘Next2’.

It’s a soothing number and effortlessly cool (we wouldn’t expect anything less from Leif). Speaking about the track, he explains,

“It’s about realising you are valuable and loved. It’s about overcoming the fear of not being enough and embracing vulnerability through the process.”

Sounds like: Brolin, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, REFS

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Jon Olav – I Am The Thing

Jon Olav - I Am The Thing

We’re super excited about the sounds of Norwegian artist Jon Olav.

His new single ‘I Am The Thing’ opens with sparse piano chords (we instantly think James Blake), and bubbles into itself with deliciously sinister pop hooks and crystalline vocals as Olav looks inward to contemplate the pluses and minuses of attention.

Sounds like: James Blake, Sampha

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Approachable Members Of Your Local Community – Small Change

Approachable Members Of Your Local Community

With the best name we’ve seen for a long while, Approachable Members Of Your Local Community (let’s call them AMOYLC for short) releases the catchy ‘Small Change’.

The quartet – who met at school – fuse elements of indie, electro, funk and disco into their unapologetically spirited sound. But their new single ‘Small Change’ has a serious message. Dedicated to the firefighters and communities affected by the Australian fires, “it’s clear that small change can have a big impact.”

Sounds like: APRE, Vampire Weekend

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Molina – Vanilla Shell

Molina

Self-made art creator and songwriter Molina shares her bold single, ‘Vanilla Shell’, the title track taken from her new EP.

The sparse and inventive song weaves textured vocals with a fluttering flute and fretless bass into a psychedlic trip about love and youth, with captivating nods to the eras of 1960, 70 and 80.

Sounds like: IDER, Talking Heads, Cocteau Twins, Pink Floyd

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Gold Member – Stay On

Gold Member

Gold Member is a three-piece of producers and singer/songwriters.

Crossing genres between funk, soul and pop, their new single ‘Stay On’ is an easy, breezy piece of charge-soaked, soulful pop with a topical headline about Indigenous identity in white Australia, and the struggles of living in a system of cultural oppression.

Sounds like: Jungle, Michael Kiwanuka, TENDER

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Chaz Cardigan – Not Ok!

Chaz Cardigan - Not Ok!

What an anthem – ‘Not Ok!’ by Nashville based pop lothario Chaz Cardigan, released on Capitol Records/Loud Robot.

The track is an infectious tune about human imperfection, which sees Cardigan laid bare, both lyrically and visually. The Al Kalyk-directed video also features an astonishing number of gummy bears…

Sounds like: Harry Styles, Declan McKenna

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argonaut&wasp – TVS

argonaut&wasp

Wonderful duo argonaut&wasp is back with ‘TVS’.

A daydream about endless summer days, it’s the perfect antidote for a wet and cold January. The song was crafted early one morning using a drum loop and an oberheim synthesizer and is a call to a honeycoated time of romance and yearning.

Sounds like: MGMT, CHAPPO, Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, Phoenix, Pistol Shrimp, VHS Collection

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Emerson Leif – Wake Up With You

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Emerson Leif

Emerson Leif once again teams up with Golden Vessel on blissed-out new single ‘Wake Up With You’.

This time, Golden Vessel is on production & mixing duties, perfectly encompassing Leif’s smooth and enchanting vocals as he describes a period of lonliness where he wished for nothing more than to share these moments with someone special.

Sounds like: Brolin, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, REFS

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Emerson Leif x Golden Vessel – Hesitate

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Emerson Leif x Golden Vessel

Brisbane-based Emerson Leif shares the beautiful ‘Hesitate’, which was co-written with his good friend (and frequent collaborator) Golden Vessel.

Despite a satisfying life at the time of writing ‘Hesitate’, the notion of an elusive state of unhappiness continue to nag at Emerson,

“I found myself feeling very alone and without purpose. I could not accept that we just exist: eat, sleep, work, repeat. We are sold a kind of ‘happiness’ like it’s something we can work towards but what’s on offer is fleeting, if at all… had many questions about life but the greatest question was one of God. Or better yet, one for God. “Are you there?” Honestly, religion just felt so tired and insular. I wanted something tangible. I wanted to find truth. The idea of searching is perhaps most terrifying, because what if one finds nothing.”

This religious undertone can be found in the vocal and guitar loops that have been manipulated to sound like an organ.

Listen below.

Sounds like: Brolin, The National, Gang of Youths, Bon Iver, Alex Vargas, TENDER, Kanyon, REFS

Emerson Leif
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