Man, I was not prepared for how busy summer became. June and July were relatively chill, but August and September were completely unprecedented. In between moving, a new job, and a mess of other little things, I have made it out the other side (finally). All the chaos and craziness has played out to another great collection of songs and artists from across the globe. Here are a few that really stuck out to me.

QYZĞANAMYN – Ayau

I’ve really been enjoying exploring the world of Kazakhstani music, particularly Q-R&B artists like Ayau. Her latest album, LALAGÜL, shows much artistic growth from her first album, Ayaulym, and QYZĞANAMYN, which translates as “I get jealous”, has been running through my head constantly. Vocally, Ayau is breathy and sultry, yet sweet, so it’s interesting to pair her vocals with funk-inspired guitar riffs and heavier drums. I love the vocal percussiveness of her performance – the clipped delivery is punchy and is a great contrast to the more flowy prechorus.

À une passante – Little Nemo

There’s something about the intro of a deliciously off-key piano that immediately drops to a bass and synth beat that just sticks in my little brain like an earworm. I found this track during a search for Coldwave tracks. This Dark Cabaret ditty from French outfit Little Nemo has been a favorite of mine since I first heard it. It’s a quick track, clocking in at just two and a half minutes, but it leaves a lasting impression. The haunting intro melody makes way for the dark synth chord strikes and the wistful singer, lamenting a second encounter with a stranger who he’ll never see again.

Do Better – Jazzbois, Goya Gumbani, Franky Bones

I am always a sucker for Jazz, and Jazz Fusion is something that always feels especially exciting – it always feels like a mini adventure into endless possibilities. So, a blend of Jazz and Hip Hop from my favorite Hungarian Jazz Fusion group? Sounds fantastic. You can hear a little bit of funk influence on the bass melodics in particular, and it sounds like something you might find on an album like The Low End Theory.

All In My Head – The Linda Lindas

I’ve been eagerly awaiting their next album drop, so I’ve been playing some of my favorite songs by The Linda Lindas recently. I saw them live, opening for Green Day back in 2024, and it was my first real introduction to them. “All In My Head” is one of their most relatable tracks, talking about the difficulties of trying to do anything while dealing with mental health issues. To release a sophomore album while some of the band members are still in middle school, all while having a very clear artistic and sonic identity is a massive feat. Melancholic and powerful with an angsty edge, “All In My Head” is a fantastic example of a punky ballad.

HARDLY EVER SMILE(without you) – POiSON GiRL FRiEND

I really do love scrolling through live performance videos on YouTube in the wee hours of the morning. I find some really incredible older live performances, like this one of POiSON GiRL FRiEND performing “HARDLY EVER SMILE(without you)”. Ethereal, poetic, and a mix of instruments you wouldn’t think to pair together (like violins and drum pad beats – incredible), “HARDLY EVER SMILE(without you)” is a fantastic example of the kind of artist POiSON GiRL FRiEND is – a poet who pieces together music using the most unexpected combinations of sound.

Lighthouse (feat. EBBA) – Dana and Alden, EBBA

I’ve listened to quite a few releases by Dana and Alden, and this opener from their newest album, Papa’s Boat, was a very unexpected sound to come from them. The majority of their work is much calmer, living in the Jazz Fusion neighborhood where Neo-Soul, Nu Jazz, and Lounge live next door to Smooth Jazz and Neo-Psychedelia. “Lighthouse” takes much more influence from something more in the Hip Hop neighborhood, with dark, futuristic synths and sharp drums cutting through the trumpet and guitar. It’s effortlessly cool, but I do wish that they ventured into this neighborhood of sound a little more often!

feminine adornments – julie

I still think about seeing julie live at Outside Lands at least once a week. Drenched in reverb and a quiet rage, “feminine adornments” reads to me like “we’re done and I’m going to stop fitting in the neat little box you want to put me in”. There’s a very relatable rage in the chorus – “I’ll defile, I’ll be clean / I’ll be mean and raw” – like there’s certain expectations I must meet, but also, even if I do meet them, I still can’t fully embody them in the way someone else wants. Therefore, I’ll just do what I want, even if it’s not pretty or pleasant in their eyes.

Do You Take This Man? – Diamanda Galás, John Paul Jones

I’ve loved this song for a long time. The punchy bass played throughout the song is one of my favorite bass lines of all time, and the fact that Galás – a renowned experimental artist – and Jones – the bassist for Led Zeppelin – collaborated on not only this song, but a whole album, is really cool. Galás delivers the story of “Do You Take This Man?” completely in character of the deranged bride, taking a good song and making it a great song. I love the raspy, breathy “I will” under the “vows” portion of the song – it really adds to the creepy feeling that’s under the lyrics.

Patient – Corpus Delicti

I truly do love Gothic Rock, and this French Gothic Rock band has been in my rotations a lot recently. Their album, Sylphes, is one of my top 10 Gothic Rock albums. This song is the opener to that album, and it’s nothing short of excellent. It takes a leaf out of Bauhaus’ book, leaning into dark and moody instrumentals and somewhat discordant vocals, creating an essential Gothic Rock sound.

Tonight – Miranda Sex Garden

Listening to this song makes me feel like I’m sitting in a futuristic smokey jazz lounge. Sultry, synthy, and sexy…what more could you want? I don’t quite remember how I found Miranda Sex Garden, but, boy, am I glad that I did. Katharine Blake’s vocals float above these heavy, raunchy synths, and are punctuated by a squealing clarinet. The lyrics are a siren song, quite literally – Blake sings of leading someone to a watery grave like the others. It’s a call, a forbidden desire, and a warning wrapped up in gauzy jazz trills.

Blue Dress – Depeche Mode

There is something about Violator by Depeche Mode that is just so…incredible. I mean, you have some of their most famous tracks, like “Personal Jesus” and “Enjoy the Silence“, on this album, plus some of my favorite tracks, like “A World In My Eyes” (one of my favorites!) and this exquisite piece, “Blue Dress”. It’s a much different side of Depeche Mode in comparison to the aforementioned tracks and what the band is most known for. “Blue Dress” is slower, sensual…it’s actually one of the few tracks where Martin L. Gore does the main vocals. This song is about the simple joy and excitement of seeing your partner wear your favorite outfit. In this case, it’s a blue dress. I love how such a small intimacy has been celebrated in this song.

I had a lot of fun exploring new artists this summer and returning to some of my timeless favorites. Oddly, this list is almost a 50/50 split between songs from the 90s and songs released within the last 3 years. Autumn is already shaping up to be a fantastic season for new releases, so I’m excited to see what it has in store for me!