Elihu Okay
A large, thorny scalp tattoo that reads “BS & EC'' juts out beneath Elihu Okay’s buzz cut. Judging by his face-tats, wife-beater, and ripped hunting jeans, you wouldn’t anticipate that it stands for “Bella Swan & Edward Cullen,” but indeed it does. It’s not the vampires, the abs, or even The Twilight Saga itself that compelled him to do this: it’s the very notion of sappy, fantastical love—intoxicated, obsessed, and unapologetically dramatic. Picturesque mainstream romances (including Justin and Hailey Bieber and Tim Riggins and Lyla Garrity from Friday Night Lights) provide the foil and fuel for Elihu Okay and his debut album, Friday Night.
When growing up in Western Massachusetts, Elihu Okay (FKA Honeyfitz) graced basements and DIY venues with candid ballads about small moments that hold big sentiments. Those records (Cutting Your Hair, Old Patterns) are charming, replayable soundtracks for taking trains, crushing on baristas, and ultimately, growing up. Now, equipped with potent, homegrown songwriting, on his first album under his real first name, Elihu Okay falls head over heels with the feeling of falling head over heels.
Across ten propulsive tracks, Elihu Okay carries us through the delirious highs and crushing lows of loving hard. His starry-eyed desires fight off red flags and responsibilities through stadium anthems and intimate vignettes. Despite its late-2000s influences, Friday Night is progressive to its core—both sonically and emotionally. Elihu Okay is not afraid to be pop, not afraid to be gushy, not afraid to give his all, and not afraid to fail. This raw courage leaves room for unforeseen perceptions and discoveries within himself, his music, and his audience. It leaves room for fulfillment; it leaves room for love.
Sundried
Sundried is more than psych-rock; it’s a psychedelic itself. The indie project of Brooklynite Sam Unger transports listeners to an alternate realm where country and slowcore cuddle on the carpet, beams of light brew your morning coffee, and life is a backseat nap through the canyon.
Eddy Baker
It’s hard not to love Eddy Baker, a master of juxtaposition, and a trailblazer of underground rap. His cuddly frame humbles his gravelly voice, his slight lisp humanizes his trap-focused lyrics, his sinful habits grind against his devout Christianity, and his nihilistic lifestyle characterizes his role as the CEO of Healthy Boyz, his immediate rap group with Chilly Sosa and Celes Karter.
In the early 2010s, Eddy Baker first appeared as a member of Raider Klan, the underground supergroup that first popularized phonk, a demonic breed of trap inspired by 90s Memphis-rap, Texas horrorcore, and niche internet phenomena. Phonk soon spread across SoundCloud, leaked into the mainstream, and became an intrinsic element of the trap sound we know today.
When Raider Klan–which included Denzel Curry, SpaceGhostPurrp, Ruben Slikk, and dozens more–disbanded in the mid-2010s, former members Eddy Baker, Chris Travis, and Xavier Wulf (fka Ethul Wulf) formed SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ with Bones, and went on the become the most dominant underground rap group of the 2010s.
Now, Eddy Baker makes catchy 80s-inspired love songs, Mexiko-Dro-style trap anthems, and G-Funk bops that honor his California roots. From the Pro Club to the Dodger fitted, Eddy radiates a SoCal charisma that cannot be faked. Even so, his music exists cross-regionally, timelessly, and ahead of whatever comes next.
Big E
Big E says he’s the DJ Khaled of underground rap, and while that may seem hyperbolic, it’s actually understated. Big E, born Elias Alvarado, willed dozens of the most influential rappers of the mid-to-late 2010s into their best selves, and ultimately, the limelight. Alvarado runs Big E Records, an iconic studio-label within the Los Angeles music scene. He and his team have gone Multi-Platinum, but like many successful artists, Big E had to hit rock bottom before skying to the top.
Around the end of high school, Alvarado felt deeply unfulfilled. “If I’m going to be successful at anything in my life,” he thought, “it’s going to be through music.” So, he moved from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, enrolled in music school, and scored an engineering internship at Atlantic Records.
Quickly, Alvarado realized, “All these underground kids I’m meeting (Playboi Carti, Famous Dex, Key!, etc.) get thousands of plays with low-quality mixing. If I can get them sounding up to par, I’ll get them millions of plays.” Within weeks, these “underground kids” struck fame and Big E’s dream materialized.
Then, Big E dropped Turn Me Up Big E volumes 1 and 2, which feature Rae Sremmurd, Xavier Wulf, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, and many more. He signed 6x Platinum producer BigHead, 5x Platinum producer Gnealz, and 2x Gold vocalist Lil Tracy to Big E Records, along with up-and-comers Doobee, Drago, and Ghostface. Even though he’s found success, Alvarado hasn’t lost touch with his love for the underground. “I just want to work on music that I actually like,” he tells me, “only songs that I can’t wait to get in my car and listen to, when I’m done mixing of course.”
Daisy Mortem - Charisma
London-via-France avant-pop duo Daisy Mortem makes the musical equivalent of a sinkhole that you didn’t know you needed to fall into. Their new Marine Snow exclusive single, “Charisma,” is cavernous-yet-futuristic, ominous-yet-enchanting, and murky-yet-razor-sharp. They carry you through passages of harrowing cyber-pop, trance, and trap to arrive at an ecstatic tidal wave of house loops. Daisy Mortem is comprised of multi-disciplinary artists CINDY BLURAY and VAMPI, both of whom incorporate methods and motifs from their collective excursions in filmmaking, acting, and gaming into their music—independently, and as a duo. Daisy Mortem keeps you guessing, which is only one of many indications that they’re here to stay. — Gabe Allanoff
5v - not cool enough
There have always been old heads. Whether it’s jazz’s objection to rock, rock’s objection to hip hop, hip hop’s objection to trap, or trap’s objection to hyperpop, the prior generation of innovators have always deemed the following sound indulgent and detrimental.
That’s inevitable though; youth-music is oftentimes designed to repudiate adult-music. Now, the newest “devil-music”—hyperpop—is taking seclusion a step further. It’s so illicit that even most kids in their mid-teens feel too old to “get it.” On German hyperpop vocalist 5v’s latest Marine Snow exclusive single, “not cool enough,” he illuminates the familiar building blocks of this often unparseable genre.
Slowed-down spin-backs call back to Mexico Dro trap beats, promcore synth arpeggiations pull from the digital side of emo-rap, and glitchy, pitched-up vocal wafts resemble the nightcore remixes of yesteryear. It’s a perfect gateway drug for hyperpop and an ultra-catchy tour of the collective consciousness of today’s youth.
Emissive - Envelope
Emissive’s new single “Envelope” evokes an underwater Boiler Room set where bodies carom against each other, bubbling about in harmony. It’s no coincidence that Emissive’s sound is this enveloping; he thoroughly studied the nuances of his local electronic music scene in Toronto, and now he essentially teaches it. Emissive–born Evan Vincent–runs an event series called Planet Island, hosts a monthly radio show on n10.as called Vitamix, mixes and masters for other musicians, and co-produces in the techno duo Active Surplus—all in addition to creating immaculate dance music as Emissive. “Envelope” puts his expert versatility on display. He takes Detroit-style drum-breaks and icy Euro-bred synth plucks on a journey across trance passages, house loops, and Thundercat-style bass grooves. Hang on for the ride.
Braxton Cook - The Answer
Braxton Cook is everywhere. He’s showing up on front pages, homepages, “artist to watch” lists, and even a Grammy-nominated album. Despite the pressure and expectations, this Maryland-bred jazz multi-instrumentalist remains humble, introspective, and vulnerable in his music. His new single “The Answer” is a woozy, nostalgic surrender to naivety. He lures his audience with honesty, not advertisement—which is not only a formula for longevity, but also a testament to his character.
John Moods - Open
John Moods’ Marine Snow exclusive single “Open” is the musical equivalent of a Snuggie. It’s cozy and soothing, with velvety vocals, warm bass, and 80’s-style electric guitar flourishes; but it’s also practical, a surefire vibe-setter that’s fit for any occasion. Although “Open” has a playful feel, it's a legitimate masterclass on minimalism. Each instrument acts only to support the next, and every melody is tactfully trimmed, leaving only the catchiest parts. It’s teamwork, in a sense. Without any instrumental ball-hogs soaking up the spotlight, each note works in harmony, building an impeccably balanced foundation for John Moods’ mellow mood.
Mirella
Mirella captures the peripheral charms of life’s turning points and throws them into motion. This alt-rock trio, which comprises three solo musicians – Sam Friedman, Alex Leombruno (Councilor At-Large), and Vinny Sacchetti (Bozozo) – formed in Rome while studying abroad. Now, residing in Brooklyn, the three bandmates complete each other. Each member accents, challenges, and rounds-out the others to collectively make seemingly small moments sound as big as they feel.
KiddHeartbreak
Some say ‘SoundCloud Rap’ glorifies a world of drugs, clout, and recklessness, but this world is omnipresent, expanding, and must be documented. KiddHeartbreak is here to share the truth. This San Diego emo-rapper turns the grimmest parts of our collective consciousness into catchy hooks and ear-worm verses. He’s only 19, but he strives for timelessness, and aims to uplift future listeners for centuries to come.