Shiny Penny – “Love Isn’t Easy”: In many ways, this single is exactly what one should expect from Shiny Penny. And that isn’t a bad thing at all. Their trademark pop/blues-rock fusion is on full display in this song, the band’s first release in three years. I’ll never forget a show at Rumba Cafe I attended where the entire crowd—young and old—was bouncing in unison to the rhythm. This song brings that image back to mind very clearly, and it makes me smile. It was sometime during the bridge of this song that I realized I could also visualize this performance happening in an arena. And I realize…wait! Shiny Penny has already done that. They’ve played with Bon Jovi. Hopefully, this becomes a more regular occurrence.

KiND – “Slide on Ice”: “Feel the rhythm in your soul!” the song implores. Sage advice for anyone, whether or not you’re into the nu-disco sound of the Nashville collective, who we’ve been fortunate enough to have on a Tuned Up event (back in 2016, if you remember). This is the first taste of the group’s Fall Over EP, which comes after somewhat of a hiatus. For those whom have been following KiND for a minute, you might notice that this song bears some similarities to their previous release “Body Heat.” The cadence of “Slide on Ice” makes it a proper sequel to the 2016 single, and it is no less catchy or danceable.

Charodey Jeddy – “Soul Control”: I heard about this track by way of our blog submission form. The producer represented here is on the Ukranian label Danceproject. I think it’s noteworthy that the artist lists that he’s a dancer as well in his bio. It makes me think of the main character in Everything Is Illuminated. If needed more funk in your life with an EDM twist, look here. It’s a free download on Soundcloud. And it continues with the bouncey theme of songs in this write up.

Sigrid – “Sucker Punch”: If you still feel like bouncing (I’m starting to sound like Tigger) here’s an epic single straight from Norway for you. Everything about the song seems to encapsulate that word, actually. The melody bounces, existing in multiple octaves. The beat bounces (self-evident). The cadence of Sigrid’s voice, and the way she enunciates her words bounces. The mood even bounces, going from sassy to angry to pensive and back again.

CONTACT – “The Dark II”: The dark synth-pop group returns with a single decidedly in the dreampop realm, and drifting a bit toward shoegaze, if I dare say. This emits a feeling similar to The 1975’s “lostmyhead,” with its swelling guitars in a major key, bathed in swirls of everything else that sonically seems to be coming at me from every direction. I’m only listening through earbuds, yet I feel surrounded. And that’s not a bad thing.