Seven Fresh Songs #147
Listen to all our daily song picks on our playlists on Spotify and Apple Music.
Ishani — Powertripp
After a year-long hiatus, India and UK raised, London-based artist Ishani releases her new fascinating single “Powertripp.” The song unfolds slowly and tenderly like you might pluck petals from a plum, lush peony, one by one, admiring the flower’s beauty and enjoying its luscious scent. Asked about “Powertripp,” Ishani says:
This is a song about self-love and how you can overcome being in a toxic relationship where negative patterns repeat. You have to come to a point where you let go of the rope of that power struggle and choose yourself over the endless loops. Take off your mask and veil and walk away.
“Powertripp” is accompanied by a music video directed by Yolanda Barker and shot by Beatriz Delgado Mena, alongside an all-women base crew, which you can watch here.
Listen to “Powertripp,” our Song Pick of the Day:
Connect with Ishani here.
Jenny Bakke — He’s Too Famous Now
We dug Jenny Bakke‘s sound already when she made music under the moniker Helven and gladly featured her single “u my homie.” Now, the Liverpool-based Norwegian producer, songwriter, and musician releases new work under her real name but other than that, nothing has changed. Her sound is unique and edgy, with velvety vocals and a soothing, mellifluous production. As the title hints, the song reflects on a failed long-distance relationship and explores feelings of loss and sentimental bitterness, hence the track’s overall vibe is dark and whistful, yet utterly alluring.
Listen to “He’s Too Famous Now,” our Song Pick of the Day:
Connect with Jenny Bakke here.
Ellen Krauss — Tie Me Down
True love is hard to find, and sometimes you can be blinded by the obvious. That is the situation that Swedish singer/songwriter Ellen Krauss finds herself in her new song “Tie Me Down.” as she comes back again and again to the same person. However, the upbeat track comes with a light-heartedness that suggests that no hearts have been broken — yet.
“The song is about not wanting to commit to someone because you’re convinced you’ll find someone even better. But you still stick around just because it’s good and exciting. I wrote this song this fall, I was out and about, dating round and it was great but it was always like ‘she’s not you.’”
Listen to “Tie Me Down,” our Song Pick of the Day, on your favorite streaming service or below on SoundCloud:
Rose Gray — Promise Me
British pop singer/songwriter Rose Gray is on a roll, and there’s no stopping. Not only did her super catchy “Prettier Than You” make it into the FIFA 23 Official Soundtrack playlist, but she backed up the playlisting honor with the just released equally stunning and oh-so-irresistible “Promise Me.” When asked about the vibey track, Rose says:
“Promise Me” is about giving someone one more chance. I think you can hear my inner dilemma I’m having with myself. The production is my dream soundscape ravey anthemic bliss. Little nod to my Queen Donna Summers. Co- produced by Nick Sylvester (aka godmode) the king of cool LA house records. It’s a little more leftfield than some of my other records but a world in which I think is important to my project.
The song is accompanied by a vibrant music video shot on 16mm film and directed by frequent collaborator Rauri Cantelo, who says about the clip:
Highs and lows blur into an overstimulating sensory mush as she [Rose] reaches for a moment of clarity and a means of escape.
Listen to “Promise Me,” our Song Pick of the Day, and watch the video too:
Connect with Rose Gray here.
Una Rose — In The Garden Digging
“In The Garden Digging” — with that Montreal-based musician Una Rose means her mother, who picked up a new pastime during the pandemic isolation. But in the bigger picture, gardening can have a deeper meaning. This is what Una Rose muses about in this lighter, shimmering track. “I think that in gardening, writing, and loving, you’re creating something that exists outside yourself,” she says, and she has a point here.
“In the Garden Digging” is on Una’s ethereal debut EP Myth Between, out now. Listen to our Song Pick of the Day below:
Sam Himself — Mr. Rocknroll
It’s a very fine day when a song like “Mr. Rocknroll” drops. Add an aesthetically pleasing and entertaining music video, and your day is made. “Mr. Rocknroll” is the new, absolutely brilliant single by songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Himself. When not touring, Sam can be found in his home country Switzerland or his chosen other home in Brooklyn, NY.
The beauty of “Mr. Rocknroll” lies in its catchy hook and irresistible vibe that draws you in from the very first beat and keeps you engaged throughout the song. Sam’s smooth baritone vocals possess just the right edge to lure you in and stay interested in what’s coming next. The song’s off to a grandiose start with a lyric like:
What doesn’t kill you
Might not get you outta bed
But would it kill you to brighten up
Just a tiny bit
But what pushes the song further into the territory of ‘genius’ is the actual music video, directed by Raya al Souliman, filmed by Horatiu Sovaiala of Romanian-Swiss Carnation Studio, based on a script by Sam Himself and YVY founder Yvonne Reichmuth. It sees Sam prancing through an empty Zurich café, his reflection in the mirrors the only feedback he receives.
The video tells a visual story with a fantastic flow and could become the gold standard for being the only star in a music clip, plus some -admittedly- very sexy leather pants. We also get a vibe that sits somewhere between mid-80s Bruce Springsteen and early-80s Billy Idol, with Sam having the body and perfect dance moves to pull off what he set out to do. He makes this look real and convincing. Bravo!
Sam Himself announced the European leg of his tour in support of his upcoming album Never Let Me Go; pre-safe the album here. We don’t even need to wait until next year to see Sam Himself because he’s playing Brooklyn’s Sultan Room on December 4th, hosted by Swiss label Taxi Gauche Records.
Watch the video for “Mr. Rocknroll,” and enjoy our Song Pick of the Day:
Connect with Sam Himself here.
Abbie Ozard — ford (drive)
Manchester-based indie pop musician Abbie Ozard loves driving. In “True Romance” two years ago it was a symbol for never-ending freedom. Her new song, “ford (drive),” is about being driven around by someone special and listening to music together — which indeed comes with a special kind of intimacy.
Abbie says:
“I wrote this song before I passed my driving test this year, and I thrived off being a passenger in the front seat of the car. ‘ford (drive)’ is subjectively a love song but with a twist of angst (a recurring theme I seem to have in most of my songs).”
Abbie Ozard will be on tour in the UK this winter. Listen to “ford (drive),” our Song Pick of the Day, on your favorite streaming service or watch the video directed by Charlotte Rudd below:
