“A-okay” - Gusty
Written by Cliff Chesnut
To begin, I would like to state that this song is a personal 10/10 for me. Though the artist is a close friend of mine, I rate with no bias. The raw/unmixed instrumental feels very authentic to me. Paired with the quiet vocals, other members of the band are able to share the spotlight. This track reminds me of home in a way no other song has before, listening to it brings me a sense of comfort. I would highly recommend this song (as well as the rest of the project) to anyone who enjoys music that invokes nostalgia and wants to say they were a fan before he’s famous.
“Cry about it!” – Kali Uchis (feat. Ravyn Lenae)
Written by Man Duong
Kali Uchis dropped her single “Cry About It!” on September 11, serving it as a direct message to her haters: you can not stop her from rising and shining. The melody of the song is very dreamy and airy, but don’t you mistake it for being soft and passive. Its sweetness carries a weight for confidence and sharpness, and that’s the beauty of Kali Uchis’s music. Imagine hating her and her response was: ”Go cry about it,” with a heart emoji. How spicy was that?With the contribution of Ravyn Lenae, the song became even more dynamic, as each artist brought her own signature style while seamlessly complementing the other. One thing to note is that in order to fully grasp the spirit of this song, one should be able to understand a little bit of Español, or have Google Translate open next to you like I did. Bonus points if you are already fluent in both languages.
“Cry about it!” - Kali Uchis (feat. Ravyn Lenae)
Written by Julia Cabezas
This week, pop artist Kali Uchis released her highly anticipated single “Cry about it!,” featuring Ravyn Lanae. As her first release following her May album, Sincerely, the song sticks to Uchis’ traditional dream-like sound, but sticks out from the rest of her catalog thanks to Lanae’s contributions. Alternating between Spanish and English, Ravyn and Kali sing to their haters and wish them well as they drown in the envy they feel for them. Their gentle, but high pitched vocals don’t undermine the intensity of their message, but rather complement it by showing just how unbothered by the hate they are. Soft piano and bass melodies play in the background and transport listeners to a state of melancholic bliss and power her fans constantly crave.
“Fate” - Kashmira
Written by Arkin Sawhney
“Fate” by Kashmira is a serene, introspective track that balances delicacy with depth. Right from the intro, you can sense the space in the production airy instrumental layers, minimal but thoughtful percussion, letting Kashmira’s voice shine. Her vocal delivery is intimate and controlled: she doesn’t need big dramatics, but there’s authenticity in how she conveys longing, uncertainty. Lyrically, “Fate” explores the tension between accepting what life gives and pushing against it love, regrets, what-ifs, and the pull of destiny. She waxes poetically about the pain of not being in control of one’s fate, and hoping fate has good plans for her. The chorus is memorable, partly because of its melodic simplicity, partly because of the emotion it carries. The arrangement builds subtly: little crescendos, harmonies that add warmth without overwhelming, moments of pause that let the listener breathe. If there’s a weakness, it’s that some of the transitions feel a bit too gradual. The song overall feels quite uniform. But maybe that's intentional, the constant supports the theme of fate as something that persistently unfolds quietly. Overall, “Fate” is evocative, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant especially for someone who appreciates songs that linger in the mind.
“How Could I Have Known” - Big Thief
Written by Olivia May
The final track on Big Thief’s highly anticipated new release Double Infinity packs a stunning emotional punch in just a few verses. Like many of the band’s best songs, “How Could I Have Known” is unembellished in production, simply showcasing the beauty of musical collaboration and songwriter Adrianne Lenker’s ability to synthesize ineffable emotions. The ballad, evoking fond memories and wistful goodbyes, is carried by its bittersweet vocal melody. Against the backdrop of steady drums and drones, Lenker muses “How could I have known in that moment / what we’d turn into? / I was alone in that moment / when I first met you.” Perfect for a bike ride along the Esplanade or staring at your ceiling in the dark.
“New Shoes” - Steve Lacy
Written by Betsy Solomon
Steve Lacy’s “Nice Shoes” is so classically him—the vocals are high on reverb, making Lacy appear farther away, also emphasizing the iconic percussive sounds that are similar to those in his earlier album, Gemini Rights. The upbeat tempo of the song almost disguises the more hopeless sounding lyrics Lacy writes about his search for love but only finding lust. The chorus as well as the verses are quite repetitive, and these flat dynamics are emphasized by the lack of melody throughout the song. The element that lifts it up are the unique synths and whistling-alien-like sound effects that play over the rest of the production. It is a less popular one of his songs, and understandably so, but anything from Steve Lacy will always be a gift.
“Shining” - Mac Demarco
Written by Natalie Skelly
“Shining” is the opening track on Guitar, Mac Demarco’s latest album, released on August 22, 2025. “Shining” is a quintessential Demarco song, featuring the gentle acoustic guitars, subtle bass lines, and light drumming commonly heard throughout his discography. Demarco utilizes a higher falsetto voice in the song, a vocal choice he uses frequently as the album progresses. The muted instrumentals of “Shining” help to emphasize the sound of his voice, adding a layer of intimacy to the track. As the first song, “Shining” introduces the theme of the struggles of love, a recurrent theme not only in Guitar, but in many of his previous albums as well. Overall, “Shining” is a strong opening track that encompasses Demarco’s distinct sound and sets the tone for his latest album.
“Silver Lining” - Lil Yachty (with Sauce Walka)
Written by Lyon Hyams
Lil Yachty has seen an immense evolution from his Soundcloud era days to his current amalgamation of psychedelic rock, abstract rap, and hard-hitting trap anthems. “Silver Lining” continues his run of singles showcasing his immense versatility. A similar vibe to “The Secret Recipe” and “A Cold Sunday," the instrumental is centered around a soulful sample that keeps the song flowing. Yachty’s lyrics in both verses represent his pride for his place in life and career. Sauce Walka’s verse highlights his pride, but also contrasts it with growing up from struggle. The song as a whole feels like you’re taking a smoke break at a dinner party reflecting on your success. It’s exciting to see Lil Yachty’s constant growth, and fingers crossed he’ll release a solo full-length project this year!
“Vivid Light” - Blood Orange
Written by Josh Connolly
“Vivid Light” by Blood Orange is a track on his most recent album, Essex Honey. This track is a unique R&B song that includes many jazz and orchestral elements and instruments. These mix really nicely with modern the R&B feel, but specifically the piano chords and riffs complement his vocals and bounce off of them. The flute has an extremely jazzy feel in this track that really stands out and I think it’s my favorite element to this song. The vocals are airy yet psychedelic, it gives the whole thing an almost dreamy feel to it. Personally, I feel this song would be the perfect song to listen to on a crisp fall morning walking to get a coffee.
