This Week In Music - March 30th - Part 2

Free Form Telephony is your premiere destination for music discovery.

Today we explore the pop stylings of self forgiveness with Qveen Herby, the perpetually upbeat electro pop of ALWZ SNNY, the impressive fingerpicking guitar of Jesse Reid, and a frantic dive into the anxieties of 2020 with Northlane.

And, as always, remember to check back on Tuesday when we begin the process again and guide you through 24 more songs you need in your life.

Brent Faiyaz - Show U Off

Born in Columbia, Maryland Brent Faiyaz started making music at the age of 12. His passion for music often distracted him from his schoolwork rising the ire of his parents. However, this love of music was transformed into motivation and in 2014 he began uploading his experimental music to Soundcloud, ultimately deciding to relocate to Los Angeles. On his 21st birthday he released his first EP to positive reviews. Show U Off is an uplifting ode to the women of the world encouraging them to seek out those who will empower and appreciate them.

I’ve been listening to a lot of street, a lot of DMV. I’ve been listening to CEO Trayle, I think he’s from Atlanta. I discovered this real indie-alternative band called Purr. They are fire. It’s different, it’s all over the place. I like being on shit before anybody be on it. Oh, and 10K Dunkin. His shit is hard, he’s from Atlanta too.

Qveen Herby - Alright

Amy Renee Noonan Heidemann, better known as Qveen Herby, was born and raised in Seward, Nebraska. She began her career as part of a pop duo Karmin posting cover songs on Youtube, with her now husband Nick Noonan. After a short stint with Epic Records she rebranded herself as Qveen Herby, initially garnering criticism for black cultural appropriation when she released a video using far too much bronzer. A few years later she's stepped into a style much more her own. Alright is a sonically lush song about letting go of your past and remembering at the end of the day we create our our own problems. If we take the time to work through them, then, yeah, everything is gonna be alright.

My producers, my creative director on that video, and the hairstylist that braided my hair that day were all Black. It was such a magical experience on set, but I didn't take into account what the world might perceive it as—a white girl with braided hair and a spray tan, surrounded by melanin. If I could go back in time, I think I would have communicated better about what my intentions were with that song and with that video, rather than remain silent and let the controversy spiral, because what upset me at the time was that it made that video get more views since people were arguing about whether or not it was appropriation.

Crowded House - To The Island

Originally formed as The Mullanes in 1985 they changed their name to Crowded House at the behest of their record label. Best known for their 1986 single Don't Dream It's Over which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Unable to achieve the same level of success with their second album they eventually disbanded in 1996. Then in 2006 the band reformed with a new line up and have recorded 3 albums since. To The Island is the second single off their latest album Dreamers Are Waiting. It's a bouncy rock song about the desire to get away and start all over.

To withstand the ups and downs of whatever the public or the media are saying about you, your tight little unit is such a powerful device for maintaining belief and reassurance. There’s a lot of things out there that are conspiring against you, especially with longevity as well. I suppose, once that initial gloss rubbed off your relationship, if you have a success and it’s going really well, and all of a sudden people are a little bit less interested in something that you’re doing, that’s when the band needs to find its heart and its soul.

Allison Ponthier - Cowboy

Born in the outskirts of Dallas, Texas Allison Ponthier always had a beautifully strange imagination. She uses this gift to express her feelings of coming to terms with her queer sexuality. She brazenly decided to leave Texas for Brooklyn and initially regretted the idea of moving to a city where she knew no one. Overwhelmed, friendless, and struggling to keep up with rent, Allison began embracing the calamity of being a self-identified goody-two-shoes Texan living in the epicenter of brazen East Coast hipsterdom. Cowboy is the culmination of her experiences of finding her truest self and the feeling of being unable to hide her differences no matter what outfit she wears.

Although ‘Cowboy’ is a metaphor, I think that people clearly know what’s happening. Instead of hiding how I felt, I used metaphors to augment my feelings and make them easier to understand, especially for people who haven’t gone through what I have gone through.

ALWZ SNNY x Prezence - My Time

ALWZ SUNNY began his career studying audio technology and sound engineering allowing him to work in and out of the studio with a wide array of musicians. His unique blend of EDM mixes his love of country music with sounds inspired by Marshmello, Martin Garrix, and Avicii. This creates a truly positive vibe helping all who listen embrace a life that is all about having fun and being kind. My Time is a prime example of this. Mixing country guitars with an electro pop synth beat the song compels you to live life in the moment.

I like taking a song I really like and attempting to remake it. Usually, you will not be able to remake it, and along the way, you start tweaking it and it becomes your own completely different song.

ENNY - Peng Black Girls

Enitan Adepitan, better known as Enny, was raised by Nigerian immigrants in Thamesmead, London. At the age of 7 she joined a local street dance group, the youngest of crew, she carved out a style all her own. She released her first single in April 2020 at the age of 20 and was quickly discovered by Jorja Smith who signed her to her label FAMM. Peng Black Girls is an empowering song geared towards all the women who don't fit the unrealistic mold of our cultural standard of beauty.

The risk taking is what allowed me to meet Route 73,” she smiles. “I’d already made up my mind by the time I met them that I was leaving my job so it was kind of like we’d all crossed paths at the right moment, as I was leaving to jump off a plane with no exact idea where I was going, I crashed into them.

Pino Palladino + Blake Mills - Just Wrong

Giuseppe Henry "Pino" Palladino is a Welsh musician and prolific session bassist who has worked with The Who, The John Mayer Trio, Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Jeff Beck and D'Angelo. He began playing guitar at the age of 14 and picked up the bass when he was 17 beginning to play mostly funk, R&B, and reggae. Running contrary to most bassists he perfected the fretless bass and developed a unique sound which became highly sought after. Notes With Attachments is the first album he's released under his own name. It's a wonderful collaboration with a kindred spirit Blake Mills, who is a young supporting artist and producer.

D'Angelo explained to me the concept of how he wanted the bass to sound before we started playing. I attempted to put the bassline where I thought he wanted it. I would never have thought of putting it so far back behind the beat. But it becomes a different feeling: It stretches in and out of different accents.

Jessie Reid - Lifeboat

Born in one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties, Shropshire, it's clear Jessie Reid has spent a lot of time practicing on her guitar. She weaves an intricate fingerpicking style with emotive, soulful vocals and has quickly caught the attention of the music world. She received a grant from the Alan Surtees Trust that will enable her to release her debut EP later this year. Lifeboat is a enchanting example of her talents. She effortlessly tells a story of longing for someone to walk beside her while playing an amazingly complex guitar riff.

It was quite odd to drive out into the sticks and find a room full of some of the most amazing musicians so I definitely owe a lot to Shropshire and the musicians I met growing up. It also helps that it’s a very lovely place to live – very picturesque. I spent a lot of time drinking Shropshire cider and climbing hills!

Northlane - Clockwork

Northlane is a 5 piece metalcore band from Sydney, Australia formed in 2009, "pretty much, through the internet and common interest" according to the bands first frontman Adrian Fitipaldes. In 2014 he left the band due to health issues. He was replaced by Marcus Bridge who brought a heavier sound with him. The band has slowly been evolving its sound to include elements of nu metal, industrial metal and EDM. Clockwork is a frantic song diving into the anxieties around returning to songwriting after the devastating 12 months that was 2020.

I always want to push myself creatively but with life on hold and with no end in sight, I felt empty and lonely, running out of time as our self-imposed deadline approached.

White Sun - Teardrop

White Sun is an American musical group formed in Los Angeles, California made up of Gurujas Khalsa, Adam Berry, and Harijiwan Khalsa. The group draws inspiration from the world of mantra meditation combining these ancient mantras with modern sounds. Their sounds is entrancing winning them the 59th Annual Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for their second album, White Sun II. Wondering why they're wearing all white? They practice Kundalini Yoga which teaches white is the color that best amplifies one energy.

We wanted to contribute. We are yogis, and these are our songs. This is our first album, but we are already planning our second, third and fourth. I expect that our sound will evolve as we ourselves evolve, and as we grow even closer as a team.

Montparnasse Musique - Panter

Montparnasse Musique is the combination of Algerian-French producer Nadjib Ben Bella’s passion for raw organic beats, and South African DJ Aero Manyelo’s love of DIY synthesis in the digital realm. Together they produce an electro-acoustic sound full of infectious hooks with a sharp-edged, club-ready sound. Their debut single, Panter, features the powerful voice of Kasai Allstars’ Muambuyi, whose lyrics call upon a tribal leader to reveal his mystic powers in front of his followers.

We are always experimenting and collaborating with different musicians and there are no rules…so yeah, we’re full of interesting techniques…we recorded a corrugated iron roof as percussion yesterday.

Mavis Staples - Time Waits For No One

Born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 10, 1939 Mavis Staples began her career in 1950 singing with her family group. They initially performed in churches and during weekly radio broadcasts before gaining wider recognition. They eventually evolved from gospel singers to become the most spectacular and influential spirituality-based group in America. Mavis eventually struck out on her own gaining her own success. Her voice has been sampled by many musicians including Salt 'N' Pepa, Ice Cube, Ludacris, and Hozier. Time Waits For No One is the title track off her 1989 album and was recorded under the direction of Prince. An 80s classic serving as a reminder that right here, right now is the right time to embody your highest self.

I've been singing my freedom songs and I wanted to stretch out and sing some songs that were new. I told the writers I was looking for some joyful songs. I want to leave something to lift people up; I'm so busy making people cry, not from sadness, but I'm always telling a part of history that brought us down and I'm trying to bring us back up.

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And, as always, remember to check back on Tuesday when we begin the process again and guide you through 24 more songs you need in your life.

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Namaste,

Charlie Le Fol