Magdalena Bay 

royale 9.18.24

Jane Remover and quannic 

brighton music hall

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"Espresso" - Sabrina Carpenter

"Magic I Want You" - Jane Remover

"Two Star & The Dream Police" - Mk.gee

"Aquarmarine" - Addison Rae

The power of a hot girl cannot be overstated, and “Espresso” is a pure display of this sentiment. Carpenter exudes confidence as she nonchalantly delivers statements that could have been made up on the spot. “I'm working late, ‘cause I’m a singer / Oh he looks so cute wrapped ‘round my finger” — what comes out of her mouth doesn’t really matter, she knows everyone is in awe of her regardless. With little more than a synth-pop beat backing her you’re-so-obsessed-with-me energy, the sonic simplicity accentuates her lyrics to make it crystal clear that she is that girl. If you didn’t, now you know: “That’s that me espresso.” 

For Jane Remover, experimentation is the baseline. After she made a name for herself in the glitchy, distorted depths of Frailty, she turned towards equally loud, yet more refined instrumentals on her sophomore Census Designated. “Magic I Want U” comes with three other singles released in two parts since the summer, combining both of her previous sounds and pushing towards new territory. Where her previous records strived for perfection and depth, “Magic I Want U” is Remover letting loose. Beautifully disjointed between its rapid beat, descending chords, and warped whistles, the last minute pulls together in bouncy, light pleasure, fully surrendering to a new infatuation. 

Two Star & The Dream Police is a collection of songs to play by a campfire – if that campfire was in the middle of an abandoned warehouse. Mk.gee’s vocals and guitar reverberate across the walls and shape the sharp industrial space into one that is soft and soothing. No sound is free of a bend, jangle, or warp, transforming what would be a familiar indie record to one that breaks new ground. Mk.gee is completely at ease as he delivers deep, other-worldly guitar effects and wobbly electronic sounds in layers that fall just behind each other. Where most would fear the delay might drag the record down, Mk.gee trusts each track to fall into place on its own. This trust is key to the record, as it allows him to experiment both instrumentally and lyrically. He explores the transitory nature of love – how quickly it can leave life but linger in the mind. The limerence of the lyrics is backed by the beautifully curated atmosphere, resulting in a simple yet highly experimental and emotionally poignant record that delivers on all fronts.

No one yet has carved the TikTok-star-turned-pop-diva path as effortlessly as Addison Rae. Her new single “Aquamarine” may not push any sonic boundaries, but its energy is perfectly aligned with the moment — upbeat and half-serious with little flairs that, while simple, are instantly iconic. In line with her previous single “Diet Pepsi,” Rae proves that she loves a switch-up. In place of the second chorus, Rae trails off on a vocal run so ethereal that it will change lives for decades to come. It’s moments like these that separate her from the rest and keep her at the top of mind for haters and fans alike.