Music lovers unite! We’ve got a fresh list of songs and albums in the local and international music scene to share with you. Get through the month with our handy playlist of new music releases by local artists and beyond.
New local and international music releases in March 2021
New single: Medusa by Jasmine Sokko
Singaporean singer, songwriter and producer Jasmine Sokko comes through with a single that’ll get you pumped and ready to take on the world. Titled “Medusa”, the tonally dark yet catchy number is all but skin deep. “Medusa is the beginning of a new chapter, a story of renewal and reinvention after an inconvenient and uncomfortable phase of pushing past my own old self. New song, new me,” she says. We’re already jamming to the single, fresh off International Women’s Day…
New EP: Ideals by Jason Yu
Jason Yu’s debut EP, “Ideals”, is released today, bringing together his 5 original songs culminating with his latest single, “I Miss You”. Having amassed more than a million streams on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, the singer-songwriter is holding an online concert for his fans, and to celebrate the EP’s launch.
New single: Something by Dayglow
Bring on the warm fuzzies ‘cos we’re currently squealing over Dayglow’s feel-good anthem. The uplifting track, “Something” explores how contemporary life can be overwhelming as there are two sides to it – digital and IRL. We also wish this song could last longer. It’s only under two minutes!
New single: Team V2 by Josh Makazo
Multi-hyphenate artist Josh Makazo delivers a fresh new sound and it’s far from the usual breakup song. “Team V2” puts the spotlight on the authentic realities of overcoming a difficult breakup. Trust and betrayal take centre stage in this track, as well as the triumphant recovery of a breakup. Bop your heads to this smooth and electrifying track that blends a mix of urban hip-hop, rap and R&B.
New single: Leave Me Alone by Amanda Ong
Don’t be fooled by singer-songwriter Amanda Ong’s smooth vocals and upbeat jazz-funk mishmash. For us, “Leave Me Alone” evokes a sense of melancholy and cuts right to the heart with unfiltered lyrics. It gives us a peek inside Amanda’s ambiguous emotions that she struggles to untangle. It’s not all doom and gloom though. The lyrics actually perpetuate the hope for a (literal) better tomorrow amidst sentiments of dejection. Amanda’s also dabbling in multilingual songwriting and a cappella. We hear a Malay version of “Leave Me Alone” will be premiering on 23 April, titled “Biar Ku Bersendiri”.
New single: Stay Up Till I Sleep by jaye
Dealing with insomnia is one thing but having your loved one share the burden is another. jaye’s new release “Stay Up Till I Sleep” is the brainchild of the artist’s sleep issues and the effects it had on his wife who stayed up with him. Though he loved spending more time together, he noticed that the lack of sleep took a toll on her. The pop lullaby has poignant lyrics like “don’t want my habits to turn into your kryptonite” and is ultimately a love letter to his wife.
New single: I’m Fine by Nathan Hartono
Penned by Nathan Hartono and produced by Myrne, “I’m Fine” takes a different route from Hartono’s usual style as it steps into the electronic sonic realm with ‘80s synth-wave styling. The song is basically an answer to the question “How are you?”, which we get almost everyday and usually reply with an “I’m fine”. “In my head, every time someone asks me this question, I want this song to play for them instead. Because I think it’s such a loaded question, that requires so much context and understanding that just cannot be achieved in a short social exchange. So, we just say ‘I’m Fine,” when there’s always so much more to that story,” Hartono explains.
New single: Cowboy by Allison Ponthier
Singer-songwriter Allison Ponthier blows our minds with her latest single “Cowboy”. Blending electro-pop and country genres, the track is wonderfully bizarre but it works. Oh, and the campy music video is literally out of this world – it’s a visual spectacle as the singer alternates between an alien and her human form, meeting a flying saucer, a skeleton on horseback, and a giant carton of cigarettes along the way.
New single: Enjoy Enjamii by Dhee ft. Arivu
This new indie track by singer Dhee and rapper Arivu is full of life. Aside from catchy percussion beats and traditional folk art forms that are native to Tamil Nadu, “Enjoy Enjamii” is a celebration of the artists’ roots and ancestors. We also love how the vibrant music video perfectly captures the pulse of traditional and modern music.
Follow Honeycombers on Spotify for more curated playlists and new music releases.
Other new music releases we’re listening to
New song: Oh Boy by Flanery
We’ve swooned over her gorgeous floral arrangements via Ask a French. Now, Aude Giraud has taken on a new avatar as a singer/songwriter, in the form of Flanery. Her first single, Oh Boy was created during her travels across Greece, Singapore and New Zealand. Equal parts whimsical and haunting, the raw and ethereal track will remind you to take a breather and slow down a little.
New album: Evermore (Deluxe Edition) by Taylor Swift
Just when we thought we got a decent dose of T-Swift’s magic in 2020 – with the surprise release of Folklore in July – she gifts us another album. The haunting album art in Folklore depicts her being in the woods and Swifties can easily think it’s a reference to her song Out Of The Woods, but it’s actually an indication of what’s to come next.
Five months after Folklore, she sent another shockwave through the internet when she released another album, Evermore. This time, she goes deeper into the woods and explores the depth of indie-folk. It’s safe to say the album lacks sonic cohesiveness but if you look at the tracks individually, they are pure poetry. Evoking a stream-of-consciousness vibe, Taylor puts lyricism first to her stories. Tracks like Willow, No Body No Crime, Coney Island and Champagne Problems are on repeat. For those sceptical about the new albums, we say put them on a rainy day and get lost in the world of Evermore.
– Review by Venkat Gunasellan aka our resident Swifty
New song: Better With You feat. Benjamin Kheng by Gentle Bones
Homegrown singer-songwriter Gentle Bones (aka Joel Tan) collabs with fellow contemporary Benjamin Kheng for his latest EP, Better With You. With uplifting lyrics like “take a leap of faith”, “you are stronger than you imagine” and “this world is better with you around”, the track emits major feel-good vibes. Exactly what we need right now.
New song: Repack feat. Raina Sum, Chae, Shai by Ihasamic! and Wovensound
Local hip-hop/visual artist Ihasamic! and producer Wovensound have joined hands to produce Repack. The four-track EP explores the struggles of mental health and how life can sometimes fall into a loop. As a result, one experiences the same thoughts and convos with themselves but repackaged into various ways. Though the tracks are quite a bop with foot-tapping beats to vibe to, we can’t ignore the poignant lyrics.
New music: Vibez by Zayn
The former One Direction hottie is back with a new album! Ahead of his third studio album’s release, Mr Gigi Hadid drops his single, Vibez. Yes, with a Z for Zayn. The track centrals around sex (in true Zayn fashion) and his relationship with his baby mama. There’s no doubt this is going to stay on the airwaves for a bit.
New album: Days to Morning Glory by Shye
Singaporean musician Shye releases her debut album, days to morning glory. The 18-year-old electro-pop artist delivers with a beautiful mishmash of multiple genres. All 14 tracks are absolute treats, with a mix of folk, techno and indie-pop layered with R&B, modern rock and classical elements. We particularly like the haunting once and the catchy I’m fine, no.
New song: Driver’s License by Olivia Rodrigo
17-year-old Disney alumni Olivia Rodrigo puts her crisp pipes to play in her debut single, driver’s license. Though it’s your typical pop tune about a breakup (sounds like a certain pop star we mentioned here… ), the track garnered over two million views in the first 24 hours. Say what you want about it but we reckon it’s going to be played to death.
Did we miss out on any cool new music releases? Hit us up at hello@thehoneycombers.com with your suggestions!
The post #NowPlaying: New music releases that should be on your radar in March appeared first on Honeycombers Singapore.