We’re kicking off April with ten more tracks added to our Discovery playlist on Spotify and Apple Music, including two tracks we premiered earlier in the week. Norwegian musician, artist and author Jenny Hval is our track of the week with her new single “The artist is absent”.
“The artist is absent” is the second track to be released from Hval’s forthcoming album Iris Silver Mist – which is out May 2nd on 4AD and Remote Control Records (pre-order). Not content with just one, there are two versions of the track released – the album version and an extended mix entitled the “89 second rewrite”. The latter comes with Jenny Merger Myhre directed visuals.
It’s as idiosyncratic as you’d expect from Hval. It’s atmospheric and moody, with an almost dronelike quality at times, and a strong percussive element too. But, then there’s moments of almost unabashed Scandi pop, with one commentator on YouTube describing it as the ‘Eurovision mix’. It’s contrasting, and maybe conflicting, but Hval’s ethereal vocals bring the song’s dual elements together beautifully. Captivating and charming. Iris Silver Mist is going to make for an interesting listening experience.
Charlie Collins has put out “Transactional Deal”, the first single to appear since the release of her 2022 second album Undone. It’s a beautiful and sensual slow-burner, as Charlie sings of the often transactional nature of dating. “You want me to shut my mouth / You don’t care about All the things I feel / I’m a transactional deal / I’ll play the part / I’ll be your own porn star.”
As always, Charlie doesn’t miss, and shares her emotions honestly and eloquently. “I’m not one to shy away from confrontation when it comes to stuff like this,” she says “I want to encourage women in particular to be bold and talk about the uncomfortable, we can also be real and raw with this and say it how it is.”. The video is also well worth checking out.
This week saw 5SOS’s Michael Clifford release his debut solo single – “cool”. The single is from Clifford’s debut solo album Sidequest which is coming soon. The single was co-written with bandmate (& best man) Callum Hood and explores feelings of self doubt and navigating insecurity. According to Clifford, “This song speaks for itself, and my hope is that when fans hear the lyrics, they’ll understand me and hopefully themselves a little better.” The track itself is a bright, energetic and fun slice of pop punk – one that will surely appeal to fans of early 5SOS, and will no doubt quickly find its way onto high rotation.
“Chamomile Tea” is the latest single from Naarm First Nations-led indie punks Chasing Ghosts. It’s the latest to be teased from the band’s new album Therapy, which drops May 16th (pre-order vinyl & pre-save). The track is a return to the band’s signature uptempo indie punk rock, and as you would expect it gets its hooks into you pretty quick. According to frontman and songwriter Jimmy Kyle, “Chamomile Tea” is ‘a tongue in cheek take on a time in my life that was very dark. It’s about struggling with Insomnia from stress and anxiety…’ . The band have also announced they’ll be out on the road throughout June heading up and down the East Coast. More information and tickets is available HERE.
Gold Coast quartet Girl and Girl have dropped another garage rock gem, in “Okay”. A glorious wall of guitars and passionate vocals has this band at its best. Frontman Kai James shares on the track, “You give yourself enough time, things will be okay, sometimes not great, or even good, but more often than not, things, at the very least, end up okay. And that’s okay, it’s okay to just be okay. That’s what the song’s about.”. The band are currently touring North America with Naked Giants.
“Sgleinio” is the new single from Welsh band Melys. The single, the latest from the band’s new album Second Wind (out April 12th) is an uplifting and joyful slice of synth-infused indie pop that explores the pressures of the modern online world, in particular social media and the need for self-acceptance. It’s a lot of fun, with finger clicks and clapping giving way to lush layered vocals, crashing guitars and uplifting synths. Sgleinio is the Welsh word for shine and that’s what this one does!
Also added to the playlist this week is “it’s not that deep” from Melbourne alternative emo outfit Belle Haven and “Roundabout” from The Grogans.
Finally we’ve added two tracks we exclusively premiered earlier in the week – “Store Clerk” from Big Vacation and “Cold Modern Life” from Butternut Sweetheart.
Catch all the new music updated every Friday on Apple Music:
and on Spotify:
Here’s the complete list of new additions this week:
Jenny Hval “The artist is absent”
Charlie Collins “Transactional Deal”
Michael Clifford “cool”
Chasing Ghosts “Chamomile Tea”
Girl and Girl “Okay”
Belle Haven “it’s not that deep”
Melys “Sgleinio”
The Grogans “Roundabout”
Big Vacation “Store Clerk” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
Butternut Sweetheart “Cold Modern Life” [Exclusive Single Premiere]
Header Image by Jenny Berger Myhre
