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Dora Jar – “Smoke Out the Window”
After several single and EP releases, indie singer-songwriter Dora Jar recently released her first LP No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire. With her soft, haunting vocals and virtuosic guitar work, Dora has spent years crafting soundscapes that often feel like they’re made for foraging in the woods, convening with elves, or summoning the powers of the moon after nightfall. The sound is mysterious, a little witchy, and very addictive. On her new album, Jar includes a few tracks that are asking listeners for something different — namely, to dance. The vocals remain soft and haunting, but on “Smoke Out The Window,” Jar bounces between falsetto and whisper-speak, asking listeners: “Who’s gonna take me out?” Then she shreds on her electric guitar over a skintight beat that practically dares you not to move. It’s a burst of energy from a gifted performer who’s just as talented at calming you down as she is at pumping you up. – Sam Sanders (Host, KCRW’s ‘The Sam Sanders Show’)
More: Sam Sanders on current favorite songs + dream musical guests for his new KCRW podcast
Maribou State – “Otherside (Feat. Holly Walker)”
Maribou State, the electronic duo/staples of your late 2010s playlists, are back with a funk-forward bop that’s triumphant in more ways than one. After announcing a pause on production back in April due to band member Chris David’s rare brain condition, the pair’s third studio album Hallucinating Love is set for release on January 31st (2025). This single, which brings vocals into the mix courtesy of London singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Holly Walker, suggests a bright and thoughtful album to come — bravo boys, so glad to have it.
Ela Minus – “BROKEN”
This brilliant builder from Colombian multi-hyphenate artist (very much including her percussion prowess) Gabriela Jimeno Caldas, aka Ela Minus, captures so much we love about the dance-pop space. Click quick for enthralling layers of synths and samples, a heart-pulsing BPM that’s rave/dancefloor friendly, and the bright, hopeful sound that inspires so much of the dancing in “dance music.” Jimeno sings with a hushed quality, even when her voice is at full capacity, bringing an intimate softness to lyrics about owning your past as a well-earned battle scar.
pablopablo x Helado Negro – “Lejos de Más”
Creative collaborations in music run the gamut — from a remotely produced feature, to a true tét-a-tét. This gorgeous and soulful single from Spanish artist Pablo Drexler, aka pablopablo, and Helado Negro’s Roberto Carlos Lange is firmly in the second category. Their alignment practically oozes from the gentle bars of this sweet song and its Facetime-footage video. Of this collaboration, Drexler notes: “We were very lucky; I felt that every idea we had was enhanced in the hands of the other.” The two met when performing (separately) at Pitchfork Paris in 2023, further enforcing the power of creative spaces to foster future art. Click play to hear them come together via music.
Samantha Crain – “Dragonfly”
Consider that “life is a gift to enjoy.” This is the sentiment asserted in this swingin’ single from Choctaw Nation and Oklahamon singer-songwriter Samanta Crain. Crain’s been a steady winner with her raw-edged blend of indie rock and country folk, and we’re always keeping an ear out for new work from her since she wowed us with her acclaimed 2020 release, A Small Death. A 1960s vibe infuses this track with cool, rebel-youth energy, and Crain’s groovy performance in the sepia-psych video backs it up. Click play for a mesmeric chorus and get your shoulder syncopations on to the groovy bass and “do-do-dos” of the backing track.