It’s Monday again, which means another edition of my hand picked selections for the week. Recently, I found myself listening to more conventionally pop sounding tracks – not sure how my ear has changed or why, but my taste has shifted a little bit in that direction. The last two weekends have been manic – over four hundred submissions between them. A lot of music has been shifted through to bring you this collection. These are the pick of the bunch and the ones that got me swaying around the place!
This week we feature music from : Golden / Thom.ko / Iska Dhaaf / Isak Gaines / Aaron Taos
Aaron Taos x Lonely God x Huron John / Control (Mix)
Aaron Taos has been a frequent submitter to the blog over the last year or so – his style tended to be a little too commercial for me. It wasn’t until this remixed version of his 2018 hit Control came my way, that I really stepped back and admired. Taos is a really accomplished artist who has been lapping up coverage from the majority of SubmitHub curators consistently. Now I understand why, Control is the absolute nuts. The retro indie guitar riffs and bubbly synths are to die for.
This is a sunshine suited tune and a lovely blend of Indie and Pop. The track features rap words from both Lonely God and the young Huron John, two of Taos’s favourite acts. The original has already clocked up 70,000 Shazams and a sync on the NBA 2k20 computer game – not bad.
All it needs is a FIFA 2021 sync – Come on EA!!
Golden / Hate
It’s not the first time NY singer Golden has featured on The Sound Sniffer. Last year, I wrote some words about her early single Unaccountable which was very languid and pleasant. She returns to my headphones this week with yet another laid-back offering. Hate is a slow burning thing filled with soft synths, a lo-fi backdrop and Golden’s soft spoken whispering vocals. Her music is totally non-intrusive, almost to the point that you may not even notice it passing by. It’s like a really good massage – it doesn’t intrude too much, yet leaves you feeling great afterwards. What the feck am I writing here? …it’s a nice song.
It even has a NASA video accompanying it now!! Double love.
Thom.ko / Confusion
Thom.ko is a 21 Year old economics student based in Los Angeles. His recent single Confusion landed on my desk recently via Beth at Danger Village PR. I reckon Beth has sent two hundred artists my way in my short blogging career to date. Most are totally pop oriented and I politely decline, occasionally a gem is filtered down the line.
This time Thom.ko’s wonderful single Confusion cut the mustard and has made it through. I love this tune – it’s modern and totally chirpy. This young producer has the knack, I reckon after he completes his economics degree, an exciting career in music awaits. Whether that comes under this alias or producing beats in a studio for others, he will make the grade. A nice find.
Isak Gaines / Vanity
Another heavy electronic selection, this time from Seattle born artist Isak Gaines. I have chosen his recent single Vanity to get behind, but could have chosen a couple more to feature too. Gaines has been releasing a bunch of songs recently which is nice to see. He put out an album titled ‘Displaced‘ last year, 2020 saw him release an impressive two part EP titled Revelries Pt.1 & Pt.2. If you like the sound of Vanity – you have plenty of catching up to do and lots of opportunities to enjoy Gaines’ trippy, psychedelic talents.
Isak Gaines is criminally underrated – his work is quite similar to that of Gold Panda and Weekend Wolves in places, especially on the Displaced album. Glitch central.
Iska Dhaaf / Crying In Your Sleep
New York City Duo Iska Dhaaf sneak into this week’s list with their atmospheric single Crying In Your Sleep. Calming electronica, subtle keys and a bouncy bass line provide contrast as the lyrics of this one ripple around. There’s nothing uplifting about the lead vocal hook here, the phrase ‘crying in your sleep’ is repeated again and again. The song kind of makes my anxious – yet the quality (and depth) of the beatwork makes it weirdly dance-able. A very clever track, downbeat and uplifting at the same time! It got me typing tonight anyway, that’s the main thing.
About ‘The Sound Sniffer’
The Sound Sniffer is a one-man music blog which is still only a baby – Founded and run by Kevin Coakley in early 2019. He is a music writer and ghostwriter. ‘The Sound Sniffer’ also runs gigs and showcases in London since Oct 2019. The showcases are picked from artists I find in my submissions inbox.
Check out my Interviews HERE
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