Ekoh, Look What You Made
The Ekoh-verse continues to expand, this time with the rapper’s first alternative album. “I think I always knew I had these songs buried in me; I just didn’t know I had the skill set to make them,” the Las Vegan said in a social media post. “I’ve put out a lot of music in my life, but these songs are some of my favorite things I’ve ever made. This album was for me.”
Tonally, Look What You Made strips down, trading the speaker-rattling bass and blow hard bars of past installments for fender guitars and acoustic arrangements. Topically, it’s Ekoh at his most introspective, as he raps (and sings!) about poverty and privilege, past addictions and the tension of feeling like an outcast even when you’re famous on the internet. linktr.ee/ekohmusic
Los Emptys, 6-Pack
Art by Brian Martinez
It’s been a year since these East Vegas surf rockers formed Los Emptys, and they’ve been steadily building a fanbase in backyards and bars around town since. At first listen, 6-Pack succeeds at adjusting your mindset, transporting you to sun-drenched coasts with groovy riffs. Singer Cristian Alfaro’s howling vocals give the EP a particular grit, especially on “Crush,” where he bellows lyrics to the point of pain, ultimately admitting what he always knew: “You were my crutch.”
“Each song on our EP varies in flavor, kinda like those create-your-own six packs you get at a grocery store. It’s a sampler of different genres and styles we enjoy,” Alfaro says. “We’re honing in on a West Coast blend of garage, indie and surf. We all come from different musical backgrounds and it comes through in our music.” linktr.ee/losemptys
Natalie Kalei, Stick Around
Style maven, TikTok star and R&B singer Natalie Kalei channels the sass and sonic brilliance of Kehlani and Summer Walker on this debut EP. We were hooked from the opening 808s of “Motion,” and that feeling only builds with every cutthroat verse from the play-no-games Kalei.
There’s a delicacy to her voice, but on tracks like “Selfish” and her skit “Back 2 Ur Hoes,” she’s a unyielding force, regarding the lying men in her life and bravely discarding them from her life. “Stick Around” stands out with freshly laid trap beats and a bop-worthy chorus that’ll inspire you to give the dating apps another try. Keep an eye on this new addition to the local R&B scene, because she’s definitely going places. withkoji.com/@nataliekalei, @nataliekalei
The Dollheads, What Teenage Angst?
Not many teens can say they’ve had a summer like The Dollheads. The sibling trio has played Life Is Beautiful, recorded at National Southwestern and debuted a new album with production assistance from Ted Sablay, touring guitarist for The Killers. What Teenage Angst? plays like a fast-flowing ode to plucky pop-punk, evoking fond comparisons to The Donnas. Guitarist and singer Angela Avery, 15, leads with confidence and conviction on the 10-track LP, and though the source material can feel a bit junior at times, that’s kinda the point.
“We definitely explored the theme of feeling ‘stuck in between,’ which is from our perspective of being teenagers,” Avery says. “People have expectations of us, but at the same time they limit us, which makes those expectations all the more difficult to meet. Each of us wanted to capture that feeling of what it’s like being a teenager and growing up, and we all wrote a song about it.” linktr.ee/dollheads
Arnold Benton Smith, “Time We Spent”
We couldn’t get this hummable rock tune out of our heads even if we tried. These songwriters and longtime friends have cracked the code, delivering polished production and wistful, singalong hooks. linktr.ee/arnoldbentonsmith
Sonia Barcelona, “Que Me Amas” (ft. Komataya)
The singer-songwriter’s first-ever Spanish single fits seamlessly into her soothing repertoire, while musician/producer Komataya casts a romantic, bossa-nova spell over the listener. ampl.ink/amor
Amarionette, “Moving On”
Frontman Issy Berry lays down the vocal magic on this high-energy rock track ahead of Amarionette’s Gemini album release on October 21. If this is any indication of what the rest of the LP sounds like, we’re in for a treat. linktr.ee/amarionette
Foster, “Meant to Be”
It wouldn’t surprise us if pop singer Kaylie Foster went full EDM after this successful foray into the genre. Her buttery vocals and Nourey’s intricate and delicately arranged production will drive you onto the dancefloor. linktr.ee/whoisfoster
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