Angelina’s Corner: Roundup
Words by Angelina Singer
Fairmount
This is the perfect track for a beach day with your BFF’s — even if it’s raining out, because this song has built-in sunshine. With the perfect mix of the Jonas Brothers and 5 Seconds of Summer, you’ll love the smooth vocals with the subtle country vibes and a hint of sultry flirtation sprinkled throughout. I also loved the harmonizing lead guitar solo, with lots of enthusiasm to make you smile even on your worst days. If you’ve been looking for the perfect song to turn that frown upside-down, this one is it.
This song is a glittering diary-entry of being in your mid-twenties and navigating the world through that still-young-but-getting-older complicated lens. Every lyric is thoughtfully curated to reflect those experiences in such a poetic way — “picked up a six-foot stray / said he’d take us out for lunch today” sounds so deliciously reckless yet romantic at the same time. But she still remembers “we’re still here and we’re still young” as a reminder to give herself — and others her age — some grace in this transitional chapter of life. The beautiful vocal performance with the bright indie-pop sensibilities make this tune one that you’re going to want to keep on repeat.
To Be Loved is to Be Seen by Summer Grace
This song is a tender narrative of the vocalist’s struggles with being abused by toxic relationships. It’s a minimalistic sonic approach of what it’s like to be navigating difficult romantic dynamics as a young, inexperienced adolescent. The tone is presented like a cautionary tale, but the gorgeous minimalist instrumentation makes it an incredibly poetic ode to life lessons that were learned the hard way. I applaud this artist for being brave enough to share her story, and hope that she finds safer footing in a healthy relationship soon if she hasn’t already.
Yet another gorgeous storytelling gem made it onto this week’s roundup — but this one is all about a slice of life of the average small town woman, and the lessons she’s learned. It’s thematically all about living life without regrets, and the subtle country intonations bring this tune staunchly into the folk genre, but it’s got a relaxed tempo that’s better suited for calm reflection than a line dance. I love the way it brings the listener into the sensory experience of a woman working in a diner, with the haunting themes of the passage of time. I also really liked the way the guitar riffs matched the vocal melody. This song is haunting and poignant in all the ways you would want it to be, so listen to it often for the full effect.
This syncopated rhythm meets listeners right where they’re at, but ethereal vocal harmonies paint a brighter picture as the song builds into the chorus. Somewhere between folk and country, this tune is carving out its own space in the mental health realm “there’s a million reasons I could fall apart but with you I’m all good”. There’s also the component of romance being the glue that’s holding her together. I love the way this song is emphasizing the power of true love to cast out fear and stress, and maybe listening to it will encourage you to keep an eye out for your once-in-a-lifetime kind of connection.