HOT HALF DOZEN 2.15.22

256 submissions this week. Y’all been busy. Here ae my top 6

256 submissions !!

Lovers and Friends, album, by Irene Diaz. The long-awaited album dedicated to friends and lovers and those who are both from the queen of love songs. A delicious  buffet of tempos, emotions, and styles, but all with Diaz’s unique voice and arrangements.  A milestone in her decade-long career  that will stay in your mind and your heart. English. On all major platforms.

Punk, single by Girl Ultra with Little Jesus.  A switch up from her cool R&B, this song moves with a tightly wound energy held in check with her hushed vocals and melodic chorus, but then breaks through with Little Jesus’  guitar chords.  Spanish.  Full of hooks and notes to grab you.  On all major platforms.

A White Album, album by Rain Perry.  I love Rain Perry and her music. This album is a 9-song collaboration with her producing partner Mark Hallman that delves into being white, and does it in a beautiful, unforgettable way. And there is a cameo by the incomparable Betty Soo!  Not available until April 15, so keep an eye out (we’ll remind you).  English.

White Lies, single by Lucius.  This urgent, harmonic, penetrating song by the insanely popular Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig – the core of Lucius –  will grab your heart and your gut with song from their new album, Second Nature,  first since the 2016  album Good Grief.  The album drops April 8, but “White Lies” is on all major platforms now. English. Pre-order the full album  at https://lucius.ffm.to/secondnature.

 Como La Flur, single by Francisca Valenzuela.  Valenzuela uses melody, lyrics, and her vocal magic to let us know that here is good in the world and we can be attuned to it . A song you will listen to over and over and learn something new each time. Produced by the talented team of Ali Stone and Sebastian Keys, it is emotional, nostalgic, hypnotic. Spanish.  Stream on Spotify. Video on YouTube and Vevo.

Fotos and Recuerdos single by Kat Von D. Wow!  Kat Von D’s reimagining of the Chrissie Hynde/Ricky Vela song popularized by Selena will blow you away.  Von D brings all of her considerable power to the song while weaving dreamsounds into the music’s fabric. Spanish.   Stream/buy on Spotify, Apple Music, deezer.

BONUS. 30^th anniversary edition of Natalie Cole’s Three Grammy-awarded smash hit Unforgettable ….with Love released  by Craft Recordings. Available at https://found.ee/nc-unforgettable-g

Patrick O’Heffernan