Week 3: 14.01.2024 - 20.01.2024
A snapshot of the major music releases for the week.
Hi Pal,
Fresh on the Shelf is a new content series that I started to highlight weekly releases. Links are embedded in the titles. Before we get into it, I’d like to welcome all those who subscribed this past week.
calm woods — Asaph’s Arrows
Lofi hip-hop (Single)
It feels like this week is a bit of an instrumentally focused one and this is our first entry. Asaph’s Arrows released Luna, Vol 1: Reflection last year as one of the best Lofi projects of the year. This tune is the first entry in the second volume of this series.
Breaking Dawn — Simon Wester
Ambient (Single)
Ambient worship has become a reoccurring theme in my morning and evening routines and not many artists do it as well as Simon Wester. This is a lovely tune, to say the least.
delightful — Sarah Nathalié
Alternative R&B (Single)
Sarah Nathalié took a bit of a hiatus last year to focus on milestones in her personal life. She’s back this year with a new single and I didn’t know how much I missed her until I heard this song.
All of this Fuss — Embleton
Indie Folk (Single)
I started to listen to Embleton this year and I’m surprised at how quickly I’ve fallen in love with sound. His two singles from this year have displayed an affinity for emotive indie rock and indie folk. I can’t wait for what he does next.
river — Stephen Willo
Neo-Soul, Worship (Single)
Stephen Willo has one of the most compelling voices I’ve had the privilege of listening to. This song is a prayer born from a heart of worship and it has blessed me greatly since I started listening to it.
deception of affection — CHANGETHEWXRLD
Shoegaze, Alternative Rock, Hip-hop (Single)
CHANGETHEWXRLD is a unique project that I discovered last year and his album, HEART OF FLESH, is quite good. He has a way of fusing alternative rock and shoegaze sensibilities with hip-hop. I would encourage everyone to check it out.
I Have Decided — Joseph Goulding
Hip-hop (Single)
This is a really beautiful song that touches on many sensitive themes with an honest and genuine outlook of spiritual love. Joseph Goulding’s cadence and rap style is one that I am very fond of so I tend to love most of the things that he does.
I Will Trust (Isaiah 12) — Ordinary Time
Folk, Americana (Single)
I have been waiting for a new album from these folks for a bit and I hope we get one this year. I just love how distinct they are and this song means more to me because it is inspired by a chapter of the Bible that is special to me.
Reverie — Cassidy Godwin, melo
Lofi (Single)
Every time melo jumps on a track he brings a completely different feel to it with his smooth sax infusions. Before him, I would not have imagined that a saxophone would do so well in Lofi music but here we are. Cassidy Godwin is also one of my top new artists in the scene over the past four years.
Here We Go — John Lee, yohanee
Lofi, Neo-Funk (EP)
John Lee’s brand of Lofi is always fun for me to listen to. I’m always fascinated by how an instrumental genre like this can ultimately have different flavours and feels. I will be listening to this for a long time.
Prophetic Man Pt 1 — JoHanna Romero
Indie Pop, Synth Pop (EP)
Sometimes I find a new artist that reminds me of the reasons why I began to write this newsletter three years ago. It would be a gross injustice if art like this does not find a way of reaching its intended audience. Please check this out if you haven’t already.
That’s it for today.
Catch you at the next one!
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