How Does Magic in Music Happen?
glamglare newsletter #23: There is more good music around than you think.
A week ago, Taylor Swift released her new album, Midnights, and her music shows up on the front pages of streaming services and is widely included in algorithmic playlists. Detailed album reviews are written that analyze every song. Billboard headlines tell us how quickly the album goes to number one, and Apple Fitness+ has a special spotlight where Taylor’s unique abilities are praised.
This begs the question if Taylor Swift and her collaborators indeed have unique talents that make musical magic happen in a way that is elusive to others. Or is it more that Midnights is presumed to be a great album simply because the previous album folklore has already been presumed to be great?
Celebrity matters. There is something fascinating about people who made it to the top and musicians that have audiences in the millions rightfully enjoy some benefit of the doubt.
On the other hand, music is the art form that connects most directly to the artist’s personality. There is this expectation of “authenticity,” of the artist truly meaning what they say. Taylor Swift has lived a life very different from the rest of us since she was a teenager. How authentic can she even be?
The judgment about this is left to the listener, and undoubtedly Taylor’s music and that of other superstars connect in one or the other way with millions of people. But it is also true that the industry’s bias towards celebrity and guaranteed successes eclipses many artists who deserve to be heard.
Once you downgrade popularity – measured by media exposure, streaming numbers, or followers – as a quality criterion for music, a whole new world opens up. Back in the day, that was restricted to the “Alternative” bin in the back corner of a good record store. But today, almost every album ever made is as easily accessible as Taylor Swift’s to everybody.
Top 40 hitmakers probably have a rare talent for pushing music to as many people as possible and likely gaming the numbers. However, the talent to make musical magic happen is spread far broader. So read on and enjoy new, fresh music off the beaten path.
Song Pick of the Day
Listen to all our daily song picks on our playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Madison Steinbruck – Kathryn
Once trust breaks, it often cannot be established again. In “Kathryn,” Nashville-based singer/songwriter Madison Steinbruck makes this fact very clear to somebody who cheated on her with the titular woman. Her anger manifests itself in heavy, earthy guitars, and it becomes obvious that she will not change her mind.
“Kathryn” is Madison Steinbruck’s second single. It will be on her upcoming album “Australia’s Lonelier.” Listen to our song pick of the day below:
Seven Purple Tigers – Smoke Communiqué
Seven Purple Tigers are an American-German duo who just released their new fabulous single “Smoke Communiqué,” complete with a very unique and compelling video. Austin Horn and Phil Dyszy, who together form Seven Purple Tigers, conceived “Smoke Communiqué” during a session for their previous single “Ignorance Is Blitz.”
They say about “Smoke Communiqué:”
The song felt like a great successor to ‘Blitz’ stylistically, pushing us further into our indie-rock side, so we chose it as a single. The song addresses our feeling in today’s day and age that those with the dumbest opinions or the worst, most negative things to say are always the loudest and get a lot of attention. Those with a more rational, sensible, or informed perspective are left feeling as if they are arguing with a brick wall – and that loud, obnoxious, and dangerous displays of idiocy are the work of those who hold a lot of power.
Makes me want to thank Austin and Phil for creating such a beautifully catchy song, with meaning and purpose. Bravo! Listen to “Smoke Communiqué,” our Song Pick of the Day and check out the video too:
Connect with Seven Purple Tigers here.
Sval – Grenade
No, it’s not going too well in Sval’s life. At least, she thinks so in her new song “Grenade” about those moments when you want to throw everything out of the window or – metaphorically – drop a grenade. But then, this is an upbeat pop song that wants to show you a way out of such a stalemate.
Sval explains:
“I had so much fun creating ‘GRENADE’. It was the type of session where we just played around and did what felt natural. Sometimes I tend to make lyrics more complicated than they need to be, but on this track I wanted to keep the message clear.
“To me, ‘GRENADE’ is a self destructive and liberating song at the same time. It’s about embracing sadness and anger, and even though the song has a sad tone it’s something beautiful about owning those feelings completely.
“Whenever I’m feeling sad, as long as I get to sit with those feelings for a while, I’m fine. The song has a certain kind of loneliness attached to it, thoughts of others not understanding your feelings. Hopefully people can release to that.”
Listen to “Grenade,” our Song Pick of the Day, on your favorite streaming service or below on YouTube:
littleuniverses – Sword
The brooding and utterly mesmerizing “Sword” is the new single by Canadian artist littleuniverses. While the track flirts with darker tones that became popular during the 80s, it is also as catchy as a pop song can be and settles comfortably and irresistibly somewhere in the middle. Think of the softer side of post-punk like Depeche Mode and the darker side of contemporary skillful pop like Billie Eilish.
As brillliant as a singer, littleuniverses truly convinces as a performer when starring in her own video. The push and pull between the different scenes and moods is very well captured. Asked about “Sword,” the artist says:
“Sword” is a love story about someone who fetishizes the digital version of their muse but continues to yearn for their muse in their true human form. As much as tech enhances facets of our lives, there is nothing that can substitute human touch. littleuniverses says, “I have seen people become incredibly sexually attracted to something that is not real and be in a state of dissatisfaction. I am led to believe that only human interaction can completely satisfy human desire.
“Sword” also marks the first single of littleuniverses’ debut self-titled album, out on February 10, 2023. The album’s producer, Randall Dunn (Zola Jesus, Anna von Hausswolf, Myrkur), brought littleuniverses’ dark and ethereal, poetic and cinematic dichotomy to life, reflecting the dark folk and dark gentle core, rock, and jazz styles embraced within the album.
Listen to “Sword,” our Song Pick of the Day, and be sure to watch the video too:
Connect with littleuniverses here.
Jessica Woodlee – Dairy Aisle
The dairy aisle of a grocery store is as good a place to fall in love as any other. But you have to act fast. Otherwise, you are left with nothing but dreams and hopes that a serendipitous moment will repeat itself someday. “Dairy Isle,” the second song by singer, songwriter, producer, and Berklee student Jessica Woodlee, is a nostalgic but upbeat tale about young love that can hit surprisingly deep and lasting.
Listen to “Dairy Aisle,” our Song Pick of the Day, below:
Jamie Beale – Champagne People
British artist Jamie Beale released today the sparkling and simply irresistible “Champagne People.” The beautifully upbeat track with just the right amount of wistfulness marks the third single from his upcoming debut album Hello Nimbus, out due November 25th. Asked about “Champagne People,” Jamie says:
I feel that we are living in this weird age where people are willing to do anything for fame. You see it all the time on social media – it’s so easy to put up a veil and hide all the realities and imperfections of life that ultimately make us human. Quite often, in these industries that promote the idea of fame as success, people surround themselves with an entourage of fake people; people that are only really there to further their own careers.
There is such a uniqueness to that statement! Sadly, it is as true in Bristol, England, where Jamie lives, as it is here in New York City. You come across those fake people on all kinds of social media platforms, yet also in person at your favorite bars and venues. I am tempted to dismiss it with “been there, done that,” but I am afraid this phenomenon is here to stay and might only get worse. The more we need seemingly wholesome artists like Jamie Beale, who further says about his inspiration to create “Champagne People:”
On the outside looking in, it seems that no-one in these circles are truly content, but instead are lonely and looking to fill that void with possessions or short lived moments of attention and gratification. I guess I can’t help but feel for these people, so I wrote a song about someone who’s trying to climb the social ladder, and ends up alone, hiding behind a pretty picture of how they want their life to look.
Music bloggers sometimes get a sneak peek into an artist’s upcoming album, and it was with especially great joy to listen to Jamie Beale’s Hello Nimbus and I can’t wait for the album to drop for everyone to enjoy it. It holds many little gems. For now, we have “Champagne People,” and an accompanying music video with smart and effective storytelling that is simple and so spot on!
Listen to “Champagne People,” our Song Pick of the Day:
Connect with Jamie Beale here.
Sable – Madwoman in the Attic
Singer, songwriter, and producer Isobel Hambleton aka Sable moved from Manchester to Berlin, which allows her to draw inspiration from two major music cities. Her new song, “Madwoman in the Attic,” indeed brings more complexity and unease to the table than your ordinary synth-pop song. This fits well with the state of mind the track is about: there seems to be no way back or forward, and you cannot be sure that she comes to the right conclusion in the end.
Listen to our Song Pick of the Day, “Madwoman in the Attic,” on your favorite streaming service or below on YouTube:
On Our Turntable
This week we have two excellent debut albums by Scout Gillet and Sister Wives. Californian singer/songwriter Sam Valdez released a new EP in collaboration with star producer Gianluca Buccellati. Also on the deck: new records from British indie rockers Asylum and Icelandic musician Ásgeir.
Find all album tips in our favorite albums list.