OFM New Music: August 2021

This month’s must-catch new releases from the artists you already love and the musicians you need to know. 

Halsey

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

Pop powerhouse Halsey continues to push creative boundaries with If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.  The singer-songwriter, poet, and influential, queer icon-in-the-making  blurs the line between art and life and has created a concept album that places us directly in the mind of the artist.

In their fourth studio album, the nonbinary musician explores the contrasting, simultaneous experience of the  joys and horrors of pregnancy and childbirth. After recently giving birth to their child, Ender, Halsey has publicly spoke of how being pregnant changed their perception of binary gender and their relationship to the body, recognizing it as a vessel of creation and commentary. Sexuality and parenthood co-exist in a space which illicit feelings of both admiration and admonishment, and in both peace and power, Halsey reclaims their body, and their autonomy, from the mindset of ownership which society enacts on celebrities.

The cover art of the album is used as a way of visually communicating the intention of the music. Showing the sexual and strong beauty of the body postpartum, Halsey aims to eradicate the stigma around bodies and breastfeeding without sterilizing or hiding the health of connection and nourishment. 

Zachary Knowles

Tendency To Be a Loner

Tender pop meets anthemic introspection with the debut album by Zachary Knowles. Mirroring the flow of emotions, Tendency To Be a Loner explores the energy of an introvert: the highs and lows of the struggle to connect. With a melodic vocal styling that is both a lullaby and an energetic spark, Knowles leans into acoustic inspirations while building on the familiar singer-songwriter aesthetic. Exposing the commonalities of the human condition, this album will bring a sense of belonging. 

MAY-A

Don’t Kiss UR Friends

Breakout artist MAY-A releases her debut album and adds a whole new layer of dimension to her catalog. Threading together her previously successful, pop singles, MAY-A expands her queer songwriting stories with new songs that share the artist’s journey throughout the course of a relationship. Gaining confidence both in life and in love, the music shows a maturity in sound and lyricism, as the songstress churns out track after track of catchy, moody, and relaxing features in  Don’t Kiss UR Friends.

alexalone

ALEXALONEWORLD

Through dark, droning, and muddy spaces, art is found and brings relief from the monotony of life. The new album from alexalone brings that breath of pulsing energy with the release of their first, full-length album, ALEXALONEWORLD. Emotion swirls as guitars shred, and the drama continues to build, as each song on the record ups the ante, contrasting the soft tones of vocals with the harsh and dissonant quest for the peaceful place where mystery meets self-actualization. 

Dakota Jones

Black Light

NYC-based funk-rock band Dakota Jones, led by vocalist Tristan Cater-Jones, delivers a blend of invigorating blues and sultry soul with the release of Black Light. Unafraid to explore the mess of life, the album features stories of the ups, downs, and in-betweens, all while featuring powerful and confident rhythms and rhymes. Funky layers emphasize the magnetism of instant attraction to nostalgia, the refreshing revelation of modern soul, and the essence of vintage blues. Tried and true, Dakota Jones delivers something that is both fresh and timeless.

Shannon & The Clams 

Year of the Spider

Raging against death, darkness, and disease, the sixth studio album from Shannon & The Clams is a reflection and intimate portrait of overcoming the odds and thriving in the process. Showcasing a blend of garage psych, doo-wop, classic R&B, and surf rock, Year of the Spider showcases the band’s authentic and innovative sounds paired with a message of community and love. Through swelling, pop arrangements and bewitching vocals, we find the classic rockers at their best. 

CHVRCHES

Screen Violence

After a decade of making music together, CHRVCHES is still going strong with the release of its fourth studio album. The reality of pandemic life of human connection through monitors and screens, a concept collection of songs was born to provide both escapism and expression. The alt-pop trio lean into its distinct tempos paired with surprising beat structures which highlight its ability to write catchy and dynamic melodies. Screen Violence is the release to catch this month.