Welcome back to a new semester of Tunesdays — here to ease your new music withdrawals. With every fresh start comes a fresh serving of tunes to begin putting together your fall soundtrack. September is almost over and midterms are quickly approaching, so if you feel like the month is going by too fast, reflect on the last few weeks with some fresh songs to add to your study playlists.
“ ‘Overlapping’ ” — DEYO
If you can’t get enough bubblegum bedroom pop, DEYO is here to pinch your craving. The single “ ‘Overlapping’ ” was released Sept. 13 as the fourth installment of a series of singles DEYO has released so far this year. A fairly new artist, the DIY production on this track is anything but amateur. Appealing to listeners who lie somewhere between Jon Bellion and Gus Dapperton fans, the bedroom pop glitter fuses with an electronic edge. DEYO’s debut LP will release Oct. 11, so keep this newbie on your radar.
“Graveyard” — Halsey
Released Friday the 13th, Halsey’s soft new single “Graveyard” sits in the same eerie vein that the pop artist is known for. Speaking of her lover that she would have “followed all the way to the graveyard,” Halsey reaches a place of vulnerability by singing about the conflict haunting the shadows of an unhealthy relationship. Partially produced by Jon Bellion, this single comes in anticipation of the artist’s upcoming album, Manic, which is set to release in January 2020.
“Baggage Claim” — The SAFES
The SAFES’ new album, Winning Combination, released Sept. 7, but the lead single “Baggage Claim” is still on our minds. If you miss Jack White’s gritty vocals, find them reincarnated on this short, but sweet, track. Hailing from Chicago, the SAFES is a family band most famous for its edgy 2013 hit, “Change the Game.” If you miss the glories of ‘90s garage rock, check out this single (and maybe the rest of the album if you’re feeling ambitious).
“Much After Feeling” — Turnover
What is this? A Turnover song that isn’t super depressing? Seems unlikely, but “Much After Feeling” is here to redefine the somber sounds you think you know and love. The title of this track, which released Sept. 9, is telling of the direction the Virginia rock band may be heading in for its newer releases (as “the feels” were more than present in the band’s initial releases a few years back). Paired with “Plant Sugar” as the B-side to this fun release, the kickback vibes are real for this new sound — and we’re here for it.
“Give it to Me Straight” — Gus Dapperton
Gus Dapperton takes a stylistic turn on his latest release, In Passing 001. As more of a passion-induced side project, this EP features heavy house influences that feel as if it were made for European clubs. “Give it to Me Straight,” the lead single which released earlier this month, is one of the more pop-accessible songs on the EP, leaning into the house genre without straying too far from the artist’s bedroom pop roots. While it may be a departure from what Gus Dapperton fans are used to, this track is definitely worth a listen (and should be an addition to all of your house party playlists).
“10/10” — Rex Orange County
For nearly anyone in college, this song hits home. The lyrics of this track may seem as if they’ve been pulled right from the diary of someone in Unit 2, but the messages are something we probably all need to hear right about now. If you needed any kind of motivation for a fresh start, Rex Orange County is here with this uplifting tune to pull you out of your funk and remind you that you too can be a 10/10.
