CHVRCHES – “He Said She Said”: Are you in the mood for some angsty lyrics that will make you feel like you’re flying? “He Said She Said,” the new single from Scottish electropop trio CHVRCHES is here to satiate that craving. I’m going to venture that this is the band’s best lead single since The Bones of What You Believe. This fits in with some classic deep cuts like “Science / Visions” and “Under the Tide.” The chorus echoes like a ruminating thought but encourages you to get lost in your feels as well. [CHVRCHES promo photo by Sebastian Mlynarski & Kevin J Thomson]

Cristina Soto – “Lifted (Acoustic Mix)”: EDM culture is one I’ve existed perpetually on the periphery of. Mainly, I’ve familiarized myself with the big names by watching the bookings of my local EDM promoter, Prime Social Group, also known for their Breakaway Festival. My comfort zone has been more so in the indie space, and pop bubbling just under the surface of the mainstream. Perhaps that’s why Cristina Soto’s acoustic mix of “Lifted” resonates with me. The former vocalist for Tritonal certainly knows her way around one segment of the industry, and “Lifted” is her staking her claim as a versatile artist for the world to know.

LeTrainiump – “So Alive”: If you’re doing a double take reading this, it’s because we’ve covered this single already. This was the Louisiana pop artist’s initial foray into the interwebs. Yet, he outdid himself with this re-release of the track. I have a tendency to be a bit too generous in my praise on this blog, so pay attention to what I’ve about to say next: I 100% believe this could be an iconic “Song of the Summer” type radio single. LeTrainiump took an already great single and made it more cohesive and somehow more anthemic and optimistic than before. He’s had a hellish year between the pandemic and losing his mother—I’m a momma’s boy so I can’t imagine his pain. And yet, he delivers this upbeat track. Blast it, blast it, blast it! No I’m not mad—I’m telling you to blast this in your car today. People are starting to wake up—like Tank and the Bangas, St. Lucia, and more (or so Instagram tells me).

uglyboy – “i can’t recover”: You know I have a soft spot for Columbus, OH–based artists, and especially pop artists bubbling underground. uglyboy harbors a DIY spirit that will be charming to some and an acquired taste for those folks expecting something polished right off the bat. This is the sort of thing I’d expect to experience in someone’s basement once house shows return. Bring out the disco balls and lava lamps. Also, there’s something about this track that vaguely reminds me of vaporwave.

La Poré – “Love Song”: I have to give the spotlight to a long time supporter of Tuned Up, the Los Angeles by way of Columbus alt-pop act La Poré. Here, he highlights a wholesome love song. It’s even in the title. Something that I find striking right off the bat is the atmospheric, almost storm-like synth backdrop that seems to swirl around me. If the title wasn’t “Love Song,” I might consider this a foreboding mood. However, I wonder if this is by design—as love is a choice often transcendent of circumstances. However, as the stop motion video indicates, there are few things better than a house cat curled up on the sofa. I would know—earlier this evening I watched a James Bond movie at a friend’s house, and their golden-haired cat Ramses made a temporary home on the couch with us.

SCOUT – “Never Fade”: SCOUT blurs the lines between synthpop and synthwave in never “Never Fade,” a debut single in which it seemingly seems to live up to its title. How? Each element of the song seems to fade into one another, in a way where it’s hard to tell where one element ends and another begins. SCOUT’s vocals threaten to get swallowed up, and seem to narrowly avoid that fate at multiple points during the song. Mixing flaw or a metaphor for resilience in the face of a trial? We’re inclined to think it’s the latter. This is heartbreak in a slick package.