By the Nuance Editorial Team
And we’re back! Amazing how time flies, it feels like yesterday was Friday and its already Friday again! Well, if every day were Friday, no one here would complain if it meant we got amazing new music every day. Anyways, I guess we will get to that amazing new music now.
Starting out, per usual, with the mainstream stuff. Today, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio released his first ever solo acoustic album titled mercy. As with all of Trey’s music, the album takes a lot of influence from classical composition, but takes on a modern and poignant feel. Really not a ton to say about the album that we didn’t see coming: the guitar work is fantastic, the chord progressions are complicated and unexpected yet somehow still melodic and pleasing, and the lyrics are cryptic and almost as confusing as the chord progressions. With that said, anyone (like me) who is a fan of Phish or TAB or any other Trey projects has a deep love for his complex compositions as much as they do his incredible improvisational abilities. Anytime Trey Anastasio releases a studio album, its worth listening to from a musical standpoint.
Okay, enough rambling from a Phish head. We have plenty more music to get to. First off, lets take a quick dive into Lucky Daye’s fresh new album, Candydrip. The 17 song album clearly roots itself in R&B, but the beats and instrumentals give off more hip hop vibes. The hip hop feeling is bolstered by the a-list of features including Smino, Lil Durk, and Chiiild. Vocally, Lucky Daye’s voice has his trademark crooning, but the more fast paced and driving beats push it more into the Afrofuturism from which it takes inspiration. As expected, the whole thing is masterfully produced, providing the kind of instrumentals that really lift up and meet his unique vocals where they are.
Next, Mooski releases his album Melodic Therapy 4 the Broken which features his Tik Tok smash hit “Track Star.” The rest of the album is equally catchy with gliding melodies over somewhat trap beats. The album has 13 songs, the last of which remixes “Track Star” with some of the biggest names in the industry such as Chris Brown, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, and Yung Bleu.
Another new EP worth giving some time to is August Royals’ Inhaler. This kid has some serious top 40 potential as a pop star, but there seems to be more to it than just manufactured pop. It certainly has the production and style of the stuff you find at the top of billboard charts, but it definitely has a darker side to it. At just 25 minutes its a fairly quick listen, so if you’re into pop, give it a listen.
August Royals shot by Ashlan Grey
And finally, our last section of today’s Nuance Music Friday will feature an artist thats just getting started. The Isabel Bailey Band released their second ever single, “Always (I’ll Be Waiting For You),” today. With the big horn section and incredible female lyricist, they have strong hints of Melt, but with a more southern swing to it. Every instrument in the recording fits perfectly in its place, patiently pushing the song forward. Bailey’s vocals give off the perfect energy fort this love ballad, matching the smooth tone of the instrumental underneath. This band will be worth keeping an eye on with more singles on the way in 2022.
Alright, well that wraps up this edition of Nuance Music Friday, hope you all enjoyed! As always, if you feel like you or someone you know is worth including in Nuance Music Friday or in our magazine, please let us know by submitting your work through our submission portal for article and playlist consideration. If you are a fairly active artist or creative, consider our Subscription plan that allows you to submit as much music as you want for guaranteed consideration.