The retro futurism of Skylar Spence combines with the electronica of The Knocks to form Amelia Airhorn, which is about as fun and danceable as you might suspect. “NY Is Red Hot” has all the feeling and heart of a classic disco song, with some modern sampling and effects to prime that pump and do something fresh. It’s a little difficult to describe the new Keep Shelly in Athens track “Leave In Silence,” and that’s a good thing. It takes synth-pop and adds a few experimental tweaks for some dramatic weight. Then there’s the new one from band to watch Sleeping Bag, who dive straight into the post-punk pool and go for a quick sonic swim. “Doin’ It Alone” may not last longer than two minutes, but it accomplishes everything it sets out to do. Other songs in this set come from A$AP Ferg (x2!), Cardiknox, Drop the Gun, Exit Someone, Oly, People Like You and more!

Amelia Airhorn – NY Is Red Hot

Keep Shelly in Athens – Leave In Silence

Sleeping Bag – Doin’ It Alone

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Oh wow, this is a great set of music for your mid-week blues. Amy O’s “Sunday Meal” is a complete delight, moving from a somewhat quiet and serene ballad into a fun little ball of energy in just over two minutes. If you’re a fan of beautiful piano ballads, Gordi’s latest single will hit you right in the feelings. She’s got a new album Reservoir out at the end of August that’s going to be one to keep an eye (and ear) out for. Those in search of some interesting electronica might do well to check out the new track from Makeness, which somehow manages to feel energized yet restrained. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart also continue to evolve their sound by exploring some ’80s-style synth pop with a bit of modern flair on “When I Dance With You”. Other artists in this set include A$AP Ferg (x2!), Mumdance & Logos, Otzeki, Pink Frost, Viceroy (ft. Tom Aspaul), Yoko Ono, along with a solid Hercules & Love Affair remix of a Sharon Van Etten track.

Amy O – Sunday Meal

Gordi – Heaven I Know

Makeness – Micro Boss

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – When I Dance With You

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In terms of modern R&B artists, I think one of the main reasons why 6LACK is starting to get lots of attention from fans of the genre is because he’s demonstrated a unique ability to occupy the creative space between Frank Ocean and Jeremih. That impressive dynamic continues on new track “That Far,” which is magnetically compelling. Fascinating, to me at least, is Diet Cig’s new song “Together We Can Conquer Whatever,” which takes the pop-punk band’s sound and softens it up a bit. They just put out an album a couple months back, but this is a one-off track they contributed to the soundtrack of an Amazon original special American Girl: Summer Camp, which might explain the sense of child-like wonder that radiates from it. It’s kind of an odd choice to have a band named Diet Cig do a song for a children’s film, but when it works, it works. Also making it work is Kyle Bent on his new track “Just A Little Bit”. It’s a solid rap track that lands somewhere in the neighborhood of Future and D.R.A.M., so if you like them then you’ll probably like this. Other artists in this set include The Aces, alxxa, Blondage, Cam Maclean, EMBRZ, Jayaire Woods, Minke, Thea & The Wild, and Wingtip (ft. Delacey).

6LACK – That Far

Diet Cig – Together We Can Conquer Whatever

Kyle Bent – Just A Little Bit

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Get your psych-pop on with another characteristically odd yet catchy song from Ariel Pink at the top of this set. It’s sure to prepare you well for “Another Weekend” (sigh, I know). You may be familiar with Jack Cooper from his band Ultimate Painting, but he’s venturing out for his debut solo album Sandgrown, which will be out at the end of August. You can hear a pretty chill yet lovely track from it below, following in the tradition of many other singer-songwriters before him. Thee Oh Sees have been around for quite awhile now, but with their next record they’re making a change. Specifically, the “Thee” has been chopped off to leave just Oh Sees. Good thing they haven’t lost any of their edge, as “The Static God” absolutely destroys. And then there’s Chicago’s own Twin Peaks, back with a new track as part of a “Sweet ’17 Single Series”. It’s a nicely fuzzed out jam that may not be their loudest or catchiest, but still very nice for your summer playlist. Other tracks in this set come from Action Bronson & Big Body Bes, B Boys, Nidia, Peaking Lights, Pierce, Secret Colours, Slotface and Tyga (ft. Vince Staples).

Ariel Pink – Another Weekend

Jack Cooper – North of Anywhere

Oh Sees – The Static God

Twin Peaks – Tossing Tears

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The line between pop and R&B continues to be blurred with EXES’ “Cain,” a song that evokes feelings of Lana Del Rey or The xx filtered through Frank Ocean. It’s lovely and sweeping and minimalist while firmly planting its tender hooks into your ears. If you’re a fan of glitchy electro-pop, the latest from FEMME will satisfy quite nicely, as it bounces and loops with recklessly joyful abandon. Instrumental tracks don’t show up on Pick Your Poison playlists too often (not purposely, I assure you), but Mikey Young’s “Walking For Pleasure” is an offbeat delight, taking synths and other electronic elements into an almost sci-fi or outer space type of atmosphere. Then there’s EDM artist RL Grime, who teams up with Miguel for a new single, which basically blends airy beats and drops with R&B flair. Other artists in this set include Gramatik & Eric Krasno, Jaymes Young, Lunice, NOTS, Sleep Party People, Tall Friend, Todd Terje (ft. Det Gylne Triangel) and more!

EXES – Cain

FEMME – Fire With Me

Mikey Young – Walking For Pleasure

RL Grime – Stay For It (ft. Miguel)

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There’s warmth radiating out of Anna of the North’s new song “Lovers,” even as its synths tend to take on an almost icy distance. It’s her vocals that really re-center it, I think, in the most lovely and sensual way. Speaking of lovely and sensual, Mutual Benefit are doing more of what they do best, which is stunningly gorgeous folk music. They’re taking on a full album cover of Vashti Bunyan’s 1970 classic Just Another Diamond Day, and you can get a sample via “Jog Along Bess” below. A little more upbeat and catchy is the new single from synth-pop scenesters VHS Collection, which might make a nice addition to your summer playlist. Other tracks in this set come from Beauty Sleep, Cousin Stizz (ft. G-Eazy), Gang of Youths, Institute, Novo Amor, SahBabil, Shanti Celeste, Tora and more!

Anna of the North – Lovers

Mutual Benefit – Jog Along Bess (Vashti Bunyan cover)

VHS Collection – So I Met Someone

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Last weekend saw the revival of the campy Baywatch TV show, now turned into a film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zac Efron. Reviews were…not kind. Neither were moviegoers, as its abysmal performance at the box office would appear to indicate. But that’s no reason to associate the word Baywatch with bad things. The same could be said for Guantanamo. See, the band Guantanamo Baywatch makes some quality garage rock that’s far better than the other things associated with their name might imply. Also really liking the bouncy and hazy R&B groove established by Lion Babe’s latest single “Hit the Ceiling,” as well as the dynamic power punk of Pet Symmetry’s “LTCTLYB”. Other artists with tracks in this set include Alex Lustig (ft. Akacia & OnCue), Forever, G-Eazy (ft. Snoop Dogg), Jabu, Jakob Ogawa (ft. Clairo), JMR, Makeness, The Polyseeds (ft. Chachi), and Chicago’s own Secret Colours.

Guantanamo Baywatch – Video

Lion Babe – Hit the Ceiling

Pet Symmetry – LTCTLYB

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Memorial Day weekend is dead ahead, and Pick Your Poison is here to supply a fresh batch of tunes to keep your BBQ going strong. There’s something utterly compelling about Children of Pop’s new song “Poids” that defies easy explanation. It skitters and scrapes along at an almost minimalist level with vocals that barely rise above exhaustion, yet you don’t really want to turn it off or ignore it. DAWN continues her streak of spectacular R&B with an emotional yet soaring unreleased track. Chicago’s own Pink Frost return after a short break, and it’s clear things have changed in a big way for them, particularly since the light, semi-psychedelic acoustic guitar strums and piano combination is a far cry from the intense, loud and not-very-radio-friendly noise rock/drones of their earlier work. I mean, they had softened up a bit on their last album in 2013, but this is almost completely defanged. But it’s still pretty great, and I’ll happily recommend that you give it a shot. Other tracks in this set come from ALASKALASKA, Allure, Braqueberry, David Nance, DonMonique, Elysia Crampton, French Horn Rebellion, SAM F (ft. JVZEL) and Wafia.

Children of Pop – Poids

DAWN – Break Me

Pink Frost – Avian

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There’s something about “If Before I Wake,” the new song from The Districts, that feels like a gritty mixture of Interpol and Joy Division. Granted the vocals are largely responsible for that comparison, but there’s also some gripping aesthetics at play as it charges forward, like a man walking against high winds during a storm. Much more mellow and heartfelt is the slowed down, acoustic version that Maggie Rogers put together for her hit single “Alaska”. It makes a good case for the original version, which is not to say this acoustic one is bad, just so different that you understand better why the final record version earned her so many fans. If you prefer dreamy songs with a heavy synth component, I’ll also recommend the gorgeous new one from Sleep Party People. Other artists in this set include Amine (ft. Missy Elliott & AJ Tracey), Love Theme, Madou, Marnie, T-Pain & Lil Wayne, Xan Griffin (ft. WILD) and a whole bunch of remixes.

The Districts – If Before I Wake

Maggie Rogers – Alaska (Acoustic)

Sleep Party People – The Sun Will Open Its Core

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In terms of disco revival sounds, Luxxury do a remarkably good job of blending those classic flourishes with modern era influences to create something unique and fun and addictive on their latest single “I Need You”. After scoring a moderate radio hit earlier this year with the gospel-tinged acoustic ballad “Shine”, Mondo Cozmo keeps soaring with a sky-high anthem that burns bright with positivity. Then to balance it out, STRFKR create an emotional black hole on the appropriately titled mellotron ballad “Downer”. They can’t all be upbeat party songs. There’s plenty of other great stuff in this set too, from artists such as Baba Stiltz, The Floozies (ft. Ryan Zoidis), Jay Prince, Nina Las Vegas, Sofi de la Torre, Two Inch Astronaut, USA/Mexico, VACAY and Zola Blood.

Luxxury – I Need You

Mondo Cozmo – Automatic

STRFKR – Downer

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