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Top of The Drop

Gwangju News

By Daniel J. Springer.

Durand Jones & The Indications – “Witchoo”
Since the release of their second career LP American Love Call in March 2019, it has been quite the consequential couple of years for the group, especially for drummer and falsetto vocalist Aaron Frazer, who not only released his debut solo album in January this year but has started branching out into production as well. With this release, the band that originally met and released their debut as students at Indiana University have announced their third career album, Private Space. A supremely vibey, disco-inspired party track that is definitely a departure for the group stylistically, the album seems to be setting a marker for the band by showing where they’re going rather than reminiscing on where they’ve been.

Japanese Breakfast – “Posing for Cars”
For those unfamiliar, don’t let the moniker get you twisted, as Michelle Zauner was born in Seoul to a Korean mother. One of the rising stars in the indie game, her new album, Jubilee, is the artist’s career fifth, and this album really sees the artist going for it on a stylish and eclectic record that feels perfect for right now but still has the indie panache she’s become known for. “Posing for Cars,” the final cut on the LP, is a perfect example of this, as it just closes everything perfectly.

Adrian Quesada with Paul & The Tall Trees – “Don’t Stay Silent”
Record Store Day is June 12 this year, and the biggest release set for that day is the triple LP being released by Dallas-based Eastwood Music called The Truth to Power Project. Initially a small local project, it has mushroomed into a star-studded super album, with Grammy Award winner Leon Bridges and producer S1 joining the fray. You can also expect cuts from BadBadNotGood, Ghost Funk Orchestra, Holy Hive, Bastards of Soul, and this final single, featuring Paul Schalda and Grammy-nominated, Black Pumas man-behind-the-mirror Adrian Quesada.

Lucy Dacus – “VBS”
In what might be the most anticipated “indie” record of the year, Lucy Dacus is out with Home Video as of June 25. While not the final single released before the album nor the most notable in terms of hype, “VBS” very successfully conveys this narrative of looking back on one’s childhood, knowing now what you didn’t realize back then, and all the jagged emotions that accompany these realizations.

Ormiston – “Time Fades”
The artist here is a tremendously talented singer-songwriter and producer who dropped an ominously titled but exceedingly positive album called Hammer Down on June 4. The artist describes his sound as inspired by indie-pop, chillwave, yacht rock, and electro-disco, encouraging the listener to “think Toro y Moi meets MGMT” and you’ve got a good idea. Great LP to check if you’re having a downer of a day.

Sola Rosa feat. Thandi Phoenix – Something Good (High Hoops Remix)
After dropping his career seventh album, Chasing the Sun, last year in September, producer Andrew Spraggon still has a few tricks up his sleeve, with this being a notable link-up between two of the best beatmakers in New Zealand. For those unfamiliar, High Hoops is the solo moniker of Jordan Arts, who is also a member of Leisure.

João Donato with Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad – “Não Negue Seu Coracão”
Former A Tribe Called Quest member Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge have been cooking up something very special with their Jazz Is Dead label, inviting the absolute cream of the crop, from Roy Ayers to Gary Baertz to Marcos Valle, just to name a handful. Jazz Is Dead 7 (JID 007) sees another Brasilero legend in bossa pianist João Donato join the crew for another masterfully produced and innovative full-length.

Kesmar feat. Flore Benguigui – “Johatsu”
The main artist here is Sydney-based producer and songwriter Nathan Hawkes, who made his debut with a very well-received EP called Up to You. However, his latest EP, Forever Holiday, kind of takes it up a few notches with this tune featuring L’Imperatrice lead singer Flore Benguigui adding her usual pitch-perfect silk to the vocals. Be ye warned: The Empress can do no wrong.

Kevin Mark Trail – “Unfold”
After a rousing contribution to several tracks on Sola Rosa’s Chasing the Sun last year, it seems that the former collaborator with The Streets on Original Pirate Material is ready to truly get back at it. His latest LP, Heart String, is a beautiful rumination on recent times with the artist often going it solo on the piano therein, but there’s still a little bump and electronic magic to let you feel it along the way too.

Wallice – “Dramamine”
This is off the artist’s debut EP, Off the Rails, which just dropped June 4 and created a lot of great buzz. In an interview, when prompted to describe her music in the form of a dating app bio, she said, “Master of none overly sarcastic musician with too many hobbies and a love of arts and crafts, board games, and bowling (but not good at bowling).”

LOCAL FOCUS

Kamen Ross – “Very Distant Starlight”
While Kamen might not be based here in Gwangju since moving to Jeju, the brilliant Berklee College of Music grad is absolutely considered family here forever. In a new development, the artist is releasing her debut solo album, the scintillating classical piano-based instrumental collection I Dreamt We Fell in Love, due out September 9. This single drops July 7, and we’ll have Kamen on The Drop for an exclusive interview and playlist selection on Friday to talk about the new album and the sounds that inspire him as an artist. Don’t miss it!

June Releases

  • Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee (June 4)
  • Black Pumas – Capitol Cuts: Live from Studio A (June 4)
  • Garbage – No Gods No Masters (June 11)
  • V/A – Truth to Power Project (June 12)
  • Kings of Convenience – Peace or Love (June 18)
  • Mykki Blanco – Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep (June 18)
  • Lucy Dacus – Home Video (June 25)
  • Faye Webster – I Know I’m Funny haha (June 25)

Watch Out for These

  • Lana Del Rey – Blue Banisters (July 4)
  • Half Waif – Mythopoetics (July 9)
  • Chiiild – Hope for Sale (July 23)
  • Samia – Scout (July 23)
  • Molly Burch – Heart of Gold (July 23)
  • Darkside – Spiral (July 23)
  • Durand Jones & The Indications – Private Space (July 30)
  • Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever (July 30)

The Author
Daniel J. Springer (aka “Danno”) is the creator, host, writer, editor, and producer of The Drop with Danno, broadcasting nightly on GFN 98.7 FM in Gwangju and 93.7 FM in Yeosu between 8 and 10 p.m. Prior to this, he was a contributor to several shows on TBS eFM in Seoul, along with being the creator and cohost of Spacious and White Label Radio on WNUR in Chicago.

You can find “The Damyang Drop,” his monthly collaborative playlist with The Damyang House, on YouTube and Spotify.
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