BEST OF INDIE POP - WEEK 10

[NOTE: Usually our All-Everything Beca handles the Best of Indie Pop posts, but she went and gave birth so you’re stuck with me while she’s on maternity leave.]

While we’re all basking in the afterglow of Solange and 2 Chainz dropping a couple of nukes on us this past Friday, the pop culture world is reeling as titans Luke Perry and King Kong Bundy left this mortal coil earlier in the week.

The crushing, never ending change of creation is the one constant in life.

Sometimes it easier to notice than others.

ELOHIM - TV

The thing about life is, all we really have is our attention. So in a sense, what we pay attention to becomes our life. It’s green where you water it, etc.

And it’s obvious to anyone who’s been bothering to pay attention that Los Angeles-by-way-of-Iowa artist Elohim is a freakin’ pop savant.

Her latest effort, “TV”, is another electronic gem in a catalog full of them. The singer has been open about her mental health struggles in the past, and “TV” is a deepdive into her physique and the multitudes of negative thoughts that lie therein.

This can get lost in the brilliant pop song construction if you’re not listening intently.

MARK RONSON - VALERIE (FT. AMY WINEHOUSE)

How is it that Mark Ronson gets top billing on this track? No shade meant to the brilliant pop auter, but let’s be real: This is an Amy Winehouse song through and through.

When thinking about all that might have been with Ms. Winehouse, let’s just be glad we at least got this song.

TYZO BLOOM - SUCKER (FT. GIGI)

Gonna go out on limb here and guess that Tyzo Bloom is not my man’s given name. Final Fantasy name having ass.

Jokes aside, the Los Angeles based newcomer has already built quite an arenal of pop hits. His collaboration with Gigi is his best work yet. He creates the perfect soundscape for Gigi’s hauntingly gorgeous vocals to explore.

This is the type of woozy, bedroom dream pop we all need more of in our lives. Everything about this song is perfect and these two Angeleno artists should just settle down and put out a full album together already.

SARAH BUXTON - ONLY THE TRUTH

Late last year when I couldn’t stop listening to Golden Hour, I worried that I was awakening something deep within myself. And now that I can’t stop listening to Sarah Buxton’s newest single “Only the Truth” I can confirm that I only want to listen to synth pop done by female country singers.

Everyone in Nashville please sell your guitars and buy some casios.

KEHLANI - NUNYA (FT. DOM KENNEDY)

Last month Oakland native Kehlani dropped her latest mixtape While We Wait. One of the standout cuts is “Nunya”, in which she sets the record straight about a possessive ex (looking your way Demi!).

Dom Kennedy makes a cameo as the dope Kehlani left in the dust wondering what might have been.

ELLIE GOULDING - FLUX

Do you Ellie Goulding is capable of writing a song that isn’t cinematic in its scope?
Who knows, who cares. “Flux” is another great Ellie Goulding song that sounds absolutely massive, even if it’s restrained and never fully unleashes the tsunami of emotions it builds up.

What I’m trying to say is, it’s really good

CARDI B & BRUNO MARS - PLEASE ME

If Maroon 5’s Super Bowl Halftime performance proved anything, it’s that we should appreciate Bruno Mars a whole lot more.

Adam Levine looks like if the guy from Memento had to keep reminding himself he was an asshole pic.twitter.com/LKCpLxS2MC

— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) February 4, 2019

Let’s start with “Please Me”, a sexy duet with Cardi B that will be inescapable for the next 6-18 months.

MYLES CAMERON - YELLOW

Myles Cameron is a self-dubbed Lonely Suburban Blackboy. Along with being a senior at Yale, the twenty one year old is a budding songwriter and R&B star. “Yellow” is his most refined tracks to date and it’s rather stunning.

Rather than a cover of that whackass Coldplay song, Cameron’s “Yellow” is a warm, intimate mediation on the utopian visions love induces.

Or something like that. I don’t know, the musics really good and it’s got me feeling lyrical.

J. COLE - MIDDLE CHILD

J. Cole hasn’t released a solo single since the rollout for his 2013 album Born Sinner. UNTIL NOW.

Although that’s far from the only thing that makes “Middle Child” notable. There’s some probably shots at Kanye. A notable collaboration with producer T Minus for an artist who’s known for being a lone wolf.

Oh yeah, it’s also a dope song.

REIGNWOLF - OVER & OVER

There’s been a lot more stops than starts since Rolling Stone declared in 2014 that Canadian indie rockers Reignwolf were one of the “10 New Artists You Need to Know”. But they finally released their debut album this month and with tracks like “Over & Over” it seems the wait has been worth it.

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Until next week, watch what you pay attention to. We’ll take care of finding the best indie pop songs for you.

Photo by Carles Rabada

Calvin Paradise is not any one thing. The half-hearted vagabond and forgetful luddite currently resides in Los Angeles and how he spends his time is none of your damned business.