Hot Half Dozen 5.31.22

We cut off submissions this weekends, so only 91 songs this week, but the ones we got were great. And we will have 200 more next week

91 submissions this week (cut off was this weekend, so  about 30 will be covered next week)

Nocturno, album by Elston Torres.  An album of healing for the heaviness of our times  The renowned love song singer now turns his attention to loving the world. Ten songs that ride smoothly on a rippling lake of music in your mind, and if you understand the Spanish, make you reflect on our existence. Beautiful, longing, captivating. Spanish. Available on all major platforms.

Hyaline, album by Maria BC. Slow, rare, haunting, intimate.  Maria BC’s vocals, based on a classical mezzo-soprano training,  make you feel like the first time you saw the night sky from the mountains – like the heavens were singing to you, softly.  Maria BC creates sound that is  both music and mystery. They are a wonder to hear.  Stream/buy on Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube.

Alegoria, album by Gaby Moreno.  Moreno’s seventh studio alum ranges from blues to boleros, from sweet to sad;  it is a masterpiece of music, songwriting, and production.  If you are a Gaby Moreno fan you know what she can do (which is why she has a Grammy) and this album does it beautifully. Spanish and English  Stream/buy on all major platforms. 

 Soledad, single by Flor de Toloache. The Brooklyn-based mariachi never ceases to amaze. This powerful, soaring, deeply emotional pop song with a  mariachi heart combines the two forms seamlessly in a  gut wrench but toe-tapping melody unlike anything you have ever heard. Simply brilliant. Album to come. Stream/buy on all major  platforms.

Summer ’22, single by BINX. Who better to set off on a summertime trek with than  the bouncy, poppy,  sometimes slyly devious and always entertaining Binx. Haul out the surfboard, crank open the convertible, and set off on the road to the shore with this one up loud. Before the first tank of gas is gone, you will be singing and rapping the lyrics and grinning in the wind.  Available on all major platforms.

Talk to Me, single by Mary Scholz. Catchy, hooky, slips under your skin as it melodically peruses one of the problems we all encounter – someone who just won’t talk. Not just one-to=one, but a whole country full of people who won’t talk to each other. A song for our times, but with an uplifting twist. Love it. Available on all major platforms.

BONUS: La Doña livestreams a new song  tonight and releases and NFT.  6 pm PT/9 ET. https://bit.ly/3M4B4lU

Patrick O’Heffernan

Hot Half Dozen introduces new talent or mid-list talent that maybe on the edge of a breakthrough. We receive songs, albums, videos from artists, agents, managers, labels – between 100 and 250 a week, and listen to them to find the Hot Half Dozen.