PHX Sounds: 3 Tracks for October
We’re back with three new tracks from Phoenix-based artists, each following a different path, but all making interesting, compelling work. From expert rappers to up-and-coming indie poppers to gothic death rockers, there’s always plenty of new stuff to love coming out of Phoenix’s fertile underground music scene. Keep your eyes out for these three artists, because we’re confident you’ll be seeing a lot more from them soon.
Roqy Tyraid “Den of Thieves”
Roqy Tyraid’s newest album, “Space Ghost’s Revenge” is a tonally diverse, eclectic collection of songs from the veteran Phoenix rapper, indebted to the hip hop pioneers of the 1990s with an eye towards the future. Lead single “Den of Thieves” is killer display of Roqy’s talents as an emcee, a tapestry of lyrics unfolding over laid-back, sparse production, his impassioned delivery and dexterous wordplay taking center stage. The space-y track is structurally interesting as well, featuring just one densely packed verse bookended by a reflective chorus, leaving listeners wanting more, eager to hit repeat (or explore what other treasures await throughout the record). It’s been a long road for Tyraid and his experience and wisdom radiates from the entire record. @RoqyTYRAID
Tassel “Pity”
The brand new debut EP from Phoenix post punk project Tassel just hit your streaming service of choice just a week or so ago, we’ve had it on repeat ever since. This chilly collection of industrial jams is full of bangers, including “Pity,” a propulsive, claustrophobic track with lyrics full of the sort of self-loathing and despair one comes to expect from any gothy post punk band worth a damn. Trey Sequeria, who anchors the band, wrote, recorded, and produced the album, and gets close to a thesis statement track with the lyrics “I don’t want your prayers if you just want me to change, don’t like myself either, think I’d rather self pity.” During their magnetic live shows the tracks are fleshed out with the addition of members May Winterhalt and Ash Barrett, but solo nature of these recordings and the reflective, moody atmosphere showcases Sequeria’s clarity of vision. @tassel_music
Madilyn Mei “Nepotism”
Phoenix singer/songwriter/ukelele maestro Madilyn Mei has developed a massive following online in just a few years, with listeners drawn to her quirky songwriting and unique production, standing out among an increasingly large landscape of bedroom pop indie auteurs. “Nepotism,” the second track on her latest EP “Where No One Knows My Name” demonstrates her skills as a storyteller, a reflection on her struggles with jealousy and bias growing up. With the backdrop of a comparatively low-stakes scenario (a middle school talent show), for three minutes, Mei puts you in her shoes, raging against the toxicity of petty tyrants and privileged little brats whose parents run the show. @madilynmei