<![CDATA[THE AURAL PREMONITION

<![CDATA[THE AURAL PREMONITION - Music & News]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 21:51:06 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[Pop-punk outfit Capture This opens up, connects with fans about mental health on new single, “Headspin”]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMThttps://www.theauralpremonition.com/music--news/pop-punk-outfit-capture-this-opens-up-connects-with-fans-about-mental-health-on-new-single-headspin

"Headspin" artwork by Ron Totman (hlfmsr.com)

Today is not just new music Friday — it's my birthday! — so I'm stoked to feature one of my favorite new singles of the year: acclaimed Denver pop-punk outfit Capture This has released their latest track, "Headspin," with an accompanying music video, original art, and will be hosting a meet and greet before their next upcoming show in July.

I spoke with lead singer Leah Drost about their new song, the meaning behind it, the music video, and what they're most excited about this year as a band. Read more for insights from an interview with Drost, to check out the single, and details on where you can both hang out with the band and see them perform this summer!

When I featured Capture This last fall in "Four local Denver artists to add your rotation," I hadn't seen them live yet, but was wildly impressed with their debut EP, Tangled. I finally had the chance to see them live this past April at 7th Circle Music Collective in Denver, with Goalkeeper, Public Figure, and Bury Mia — and what a blast! (Why did I wait so long??)

Think Paramore, combined with whichever pop-punk bands got you dancing around in your living room back in the 2010s. Their music is both defiantly upbeat and will get you moving, while also addressing serious topics — which why I wanted to learn more and speak with Drost about their new single, "Headspin."

Left to right: Alex Balister, Andrew Wilson, Leah Drost, Zach Brennan

A quick recap: formed in 2021, this Denver-based band consists of the talented and energetic Leah Drost on vocals, a tireless Alex Balister on drums, the high-octane-on-stage Andrew Wilson on guitar and backing vocals, and steadfast Zach Brennan on bass. Since getting started five years ago, band's lineup has changed a bit, but in the past two years it has solidified and is currently comprised of people who are intentional about and committed to their instruments, said Drost.

And it's paid off: Their single, “Halothane Dreams,” won them the KTCL Channel 93.3's Hometown for the Holidays competition in 2024, and at the end of 2025 they joined the 93.3’s Not So Silent Night ticket, with for Wet Leg and Bob Moses, at Mission Ballroom here in Denver. And they're just getting started — this new single "Headspin" is a catchy hint at what's to come, with another EP in the works, and plans for a 2027 tour in progress!

"Headspin" jumps right out of the gate with lush pop-punk rock guitar and drums for days, followed by Drost dropping some of the most relatable lyrics I've heard in a hot minute — noting "it's all in my head," racing thoughts, and feelings of overwhelm. From the bridge to the chorus and back, the concepts of spiraling, burn out, and restlessness are integrated seamlessly into the driving beat, the catchy riffs, and the endless energy all four members bring to this music with an important message.

But when Drost belts out, "why am I restless over nothing that's worth it over time?" ...could she at least gently hold my hand, before holding up the mirror right in front of my face?! Yet despite the mention of second-guessing oneself in this single, there is nothing to regret or redo here — "Headspin" is a passionate, raw, and yet also perfected take on the frustrations of living with anxiety and related mental health struggles, in a world and timeline where simply existing is often a severe source of stress.

The depth of the sound and harmonies in this track also hits a sweet spot that makes my brain happy — so listen to this with your best pair of headphones, please! Props to the team at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado, where "Headspin" was recorded, and then produced, engineered, and mixed by Colton Krohn, and mastered by Jason Livermore.

Want to hear "Headspin" live? Capture This' next show is with the Idobi Radio Summer School tour on Sunday, July 19, at Summit Music Hall in Denver! It's a packed lineup, also featuring Chase Petra, Winona Fighter, South Arcade, Games We Play, and Honey Revenge. Don't want to miss our local Denverites on stage, but have work on Monday morning? Doors open at 5, and Capture this is on at 6 p.m. Get tickets here.

The band is also hosting a meet and greet at Ratio Beerworks ahead of their next show, on Thursday, July 16 from 7 to 10 p.m.! Join the band for coloring time, board games, giveaways, and a listening party, as well as merchandise purchasing opportunities. Drost describes the evening as "just an all-around of fun time to like connect and hang out with us, and other like-minded music fans."

Digging the new single, but not able to come out and see them live? Stream them on Spotify and Apple Music, or purchase "Headspin" and/or their 2025 debut EP Tangled on Bandcamp.

I had the chance to speak with Drost about the inspiration behind the band's new track, and am immensely grateful for her sharing it with me. As someone myself who deals with mental health issues, this song is one I am honored to highlight today, and I hope that both the single and its message connect with new listeners in a meaningful way.

TW: This interview discusses serious mental health topics.

What was the inspiration for "Headspin"?

Drost: The inspiration for this song was, I found out I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder as a toddler. And I've grown up with this disorder my entire life, and it's something that's always been an ongoing battle that I've had to navigate. It's one of the most debilitating disorders out there, so I'm very fortunate and grateful that my parents were able to recognize my behaviors and symptoms, and be able to get the bring me to the right people to get that the help and resources that I need. And it's still an ongoing battle, but I do think I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't find out this diagnosis is such a young age.

And so for me, when I was writing a song like this, I wanted to shed a light on the disorder, because I feel like it doesn't really get talked enough about ... but I also wanted to make sure it was ... widely relatable to people ... as far as like anxiety or depression, or mental health in general, and knowing that there's so much more than just the surface layers of what people can see.

What does this song mean to you and the band?

Drost: I think for this song, but even all of our music in general, it really has helped a lot of us in a therapeutic sense. Even if I'm the one that's writing the lyrics ... each of our band members can relate to it in one way or another. We all have our own personal stories that we can draw from to relate to the song.

"[...music to us...] it's something we love to do, but it's also our way of healing, too." — Leah Drost, lead singer of Capture This

For me, personally, it's very therapeutic process of writing something that feels very personal to me, and then ... recording that, and being in my emotions, and experiencing that state of mind. And then going from recording to playing it on stage, and connecting with myself, as well as the other people in the audience who are also relating to it in some way or another... This song in particular, it's a very therapeutic process, but I think also with all of our other songs it's always felt that way, which is why music to us is, it's something we're so passionate about, because it's something we love to do, but it's also our way of healing, too.

What do you hope listeners and fans take away from the song?

Drost: I think for me the biggest thing for listeners to relate is the feeling of anxiety, and know that they're not alone. Anxiety can also mean ... any sort of mental disorder, or something that they're struggling with ... Anxiety is such a commonly used word, right? So on the surface it can look like, "oh, it's just someone being anxious," but in reality it really becomes so much more than that. It can really become detrimental, and it really affects someone's life, because it can create this domino effect that causes you to spiral and crash or burn out, which is actually what's talked about in the lyrics of the song.

As a listener, it's to really help them understand that whatever you're struggling with, whether it's a situation or mental disorder — or in this case, more specifically, the feeling of anxiousness — there's so much more to it than just the surface level. I think that doesn't get talked about [enough], and that's why it's called "Headspin" — you are spiraling on thoughts, or you're having intrusive, compulsive thoughts, and that leads from one thing to another, which can cause you to spiral and burn out.

Tell me a bit more about the music video shot at 7th Circle Music Collective — I think I was there!

Drost: We wanted to give back to our fans in a way that was beyond all the other typical stuff that we do, such as like Discord or Tik Tok Lives or Patreon. We sat there as a band, and we thought, what's something that we can do in a very meaningful way to give back to our fans? And so what's interesting about this whole music video concept was, it really wasn't focused so much on the meaning of the song, it was really more geared towards how we can show up for fans — and so that's what gave us the idea of having it shot at the 7th Circle Music Collective, and bringing all of our fans and supporters [together] in a way that we can all be here in this one collective space, to be a part of something that's fun, but also meaningful.

What are you all most excited about for this upcoming summer school show?

Drost: We are the most excited to get to play with bands that we look up to in the pop-punk scene. I think what's really fun is being able to have have bands and artists that have influenced us in one way or another, or just artists that we regularly listen to, and getting to share the stage with all of them. For me in particular, I really love the band Honey Revenge, and ... every time that they've come to Denver, they've always like sold out the show within, it feels like minutes ... and so I've never gotten the chance to see them as a guest! And I think what's funny ... [is now] I get to see them when I'm going to be sharing the stage with them. But I think just speaking for all of us [in the band], it's being able to play with bands and artists that we've always been influenced by in our very well-known staples in the pop pump scene.

Past the upcoming show in July, what other plans does the band hold for this year?

Drost: We have so much exciting stuff! But the two things that I want to focus on is we will be recording an EP album in August in Nashville, and we are all incredibly excited. TBD all on further details.

And we're so, so excited for next year, we're actually working on some potential tours that will be throughout the Midwest and the East Coast. We would love to play the West Coast sometime soon, so hopefully we can get around to that, but for now, we're focusing to get back out on the road and to come see all of our fans, all of our supporters, and get to do what we love.

Music, show, and event information: bandcapturethis.com

]]><![CDATA[Playlist: 45+ new songs released in 2026]]>Sat, 16 May 2026 22:24:06 GMThttps://www.theauralpremonition.com/music--news/playlist-45-new-songs-released-in-2026I love making playlists! Last night, I was inspired to put together almost 3 hours of music by 45 different artists — all of the songs having been released this year, in 2026. My aim was to challenge myself with diversity in genre and style, to make it global, and to include artists who are well known, as well as many who are obscure. Many of these musical acts are also on tour this year, and you might be able to see them live in your city!

If you prefer to hit shuffle, go ahead. But as someone who honed their playlist skills on burning custom CDs for friends in high school, I love curating a playlist for an enjoyable and entertaining listen. I picked each song specifically to play in the order listed, for an experience that ebbs and flows, with smooth transitions and treats for the ear. (The "+" is because I know I'll likely be tempted to add a couple more songs in the coming weeks.)

Click "read more" for the playlist below. :)

Full disclosure: Yes, this playlist is on Spotify. I've had a Hulu/Spotify account for super cheap since I went back to grad school, and it's been a great way to make and share playlists for the past decade. Since the end of last year, I have been struggling to find a platform that allows you to easily build, share, and embed playlists online that anyone with or without an account can listen to for free. I have a feeling it might actually end up being ... Soundcloud? (It would be hilarious if we came full circle back to Soundcloud after all these years! I love Soundcloud.)

So, as I figure out how to transition to another public playlist service that is more supportive of musicians, and less supportive of late stage capitalism, please use this playlist as a discovery tool, and/or to build your own version on your streaming service of choice (Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, YouTube Music, Soundcloud, etc.), and then go seem them live in your city (many are on tour this summer and fall!), and/or buy their music online directly through platforms like Bandcamp. I'll make it a bit easier for you below.

2026 playlist artists

Elizabeth & the Catapult -- https://elizabethandthecatapult.com/
Cannons -- https://www.cannonstheband.com/
Jackie Evans -- https://jackieevans.music/
OUT IN FRONT -- https://oifband.com/
EXES -- https://weareexes.com/
Searows -- https://www.searows.com/
Olivia Belli -- https://oliviabelli.com/home
Jessie Ware -- https://www.jessieware.com/
RAYE -- https://rayeofficial.com/
New Constellations -- https://newconstellations.band/
Bleary -- https://blearyband.com/
Holly Humberstone -- https://www.hollyhumberstone.com/
Telenova -- https://www.telenovamusic.co/
DRAMA -- https://thedramaduo.com/
Absolutely -- https://www.absolutelyofficial.com/
Mirah -- https://www.mirahmusic.com/
Kaki King -- https://www.kakiking.com/
Yumi Zouma -- https://yumizouma.com/
Meltt -- https://www.meltt.ca/
Bayonne -- https://www.bayonneofficial.com/
Culture Wars -- https://culturewars.io/
Metric -- https://www.ilovemetric.com/
Yves -- https://yves.bstage.in/
El Ten Eleven -- https://elteneleven.com/
Lykke Li -- https://lykkeli.com/
So Below -- https://www.sobelow.co/
LINA -- https://www.lina-official.de/
CRi -- https://www.crimusic.net/
SYML -- https://symlmusic.com/
Gem Club -- https://iamgemclub.com/
James Blake -- https://jamesblakemusic.com/
Robyn -- https://www.robyn.com/
MUNA -- https://whereismuna.com/
Edgehill -- https://edgehillband.com/
Hana Lili -- https://www.hanalili.com/
Nine Inch Nails, Boys Noize (yeah I'm cheating on this one a little bit) -- https://www.nin.com/peel-it-back-tour-2025-with-boys-noize/
Arlo Parks -- https://www.arloparksofficial.com/
googly eyes -- https://www.marathonmusicworks.com/tm-attraction/googly-eyes/
Annabelle Dinda -- https://www.annabelledinda.com/
Ásgeir -- https://www.asgeirmusic.com/
Kate Boy -- https://www.instagram.com/kateboyofficial/
ARY -- https://www.instagram.com/ary.forevig/
Overcoats -- https://www.overcoatsmusic.com/
Asha Banks, Novo Amor, and Lowswimmer -- https://www.ashabanks.co.uk/; https://www.novoamor.co.uk/; https://lowswimmer.com/
Blackbird Blackbird -- https://blackbirdblackbird.bandcamp.com/album/d-r-e-a-m-s-t-u-c-k

]]><![CDATA[Four local Denver artists to add your rotation]]>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 19:21:12 GMThttps://www.theauralpremonition.com/music--news/four-local-denver-artists-to-add-your-rotation

Recently, I’ve fallen for several female-fronted musical acts here in my home base of Colorado – and of course I wanted to share them with you! If you’re looking to add some new local music to your rotation, here are four Denver-based artists for your consideration.

Capture This

If you’re looking for something upbeat, angsty, and nostalgic, you have to check out pop-punk band Capture This, who released their debut EP this year, Tangled (available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp).

Formed in 2021, this Denver-based band consists of the talented and energetic Leah Drost on vocals, and Alex Balister, Andrew Wilson, and Zach Brennan on drums, guitars and backing vocals. This recent release is essentially a full-length album, with 7 songs full of raw emotion and relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, driving guitars and drums, and overall fantastic production.

They take some of their inspiration from Paramore and Evanescence (with Drost's vocals more than up to the task!), and have shared the stage with the likes of Plain White Tees, The Spill Canvas, and Andy Grammer. So in their music, there is not only nostalgia for the pop-punk of many millennials’ teenage years, but a revival of its best parts. The band also makes a point to support women in the arts and early-career musicians – the type of support this genre didn’t have two decades ago.

Their single, “Halothane Dreams,” won them the KTCL Channel 93.3's Hometown for the Holidays competition in 2024. This year, they're opening for Wet Leg on Dec. 7 at Mission Ballroom, for 93.3’s Not So Silent Night!

Can't make it? Check out their YouTube for a taste of the live experience, and keep an eye out for updates and future shows on their Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok (@bandcapturethis).

Laurlyn

I was hooked on Denver-based alt-pop artist Laurlyn’s work after hearing her single “The Thread,” a sonically and lyrically rich track that tugged (you betcha) right on the strings in my heart.

“And at some point, I lost the thread, and a lot of things get in my head. And at some point, I lost myself, trying to help everyone else,” she sings, over guitars, piano, and drums. (Boy, can I relate.)

Her classical piano training, combined with her desire to tell a story, makes for gorgeous soundscapes and songs that make you feel like she wrote them just for you.

She doesn’t have any shows scheduled at this time, but keep an eye out for something in February. You can find Laurlyn on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Barbara

Every once in a while I come across a band where, upon first listen, I am a bit slack-jawed. I feel intrigued, confused, and wait with bated breath for where the music will take me next. That’s what happened for me last week with my first listen to Barbara’s sophomore album, SO THIS IS LIVING, which dropped back in April.

I particularly love the mysterious, jazzy start to the album on "Burn Me," the depth, layers, and reinventions in "y r u here?" (and the title, to boot), as well as the intro guitar and bass lines in the title track. Did I mention these songs are almost all at least 4 minutes long?

The Denver trio “remains wobbly and dreamy at their core,” with a DIY approach, figuring things out as they go, and promoting a psych rock scene in the Front Range. Yet, it’s no surprise this release was mixed by James Barone of Beach House – while brand new, this music also has deep sonic roots in decades past with strong flavors of shoegaze, jazz, and synths.

Camilla Vaitaitis (guitar, vocals, synth), Bridget Hartman (bass, saxophone), and Anna Panella (drums, trombone) met in music school studying composition, jazz and commercial music, and classical trombone (respectively). They moved in together, and the rest is history. Find them on Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.

Catch them live at Cervantes’ Other Side on Jan. 22 in the new year (2026).

Elyse Therose

I have yet to hear of another musician who takes inspiration from Lynn Gunn of PVRIS, whose music I love. So naturally, I’m a fan of the alt-rock indie music that Denver-based Elyse Therose (Erin Elyse Jeffreys) makes!

A project rebooted from about a decade ago, her most recent singles, “I Wanna Forget,” and “So Perfect" have matching cover art – which makes me hopeful there might be a new EP (or even LP?) in the new year.

As described by CPR’s Indie 102.3 last year, the band's sound is “synthy alt rock that might give you a little ‘90s nostalgia is one way to describe it… Blending elements of electronic pop and ‘90s alternative, her songs intimately explore themes of love, relationships and the human experience while channeling the likes of Phantogram, Paramore and The Smashing Pumpkins.”

Count me in!

Elyse is the project’s sole writer, but she’s joined on stage by Brian Loeper (Guitar), Adam Cogen (Bass/Keys), and Matt Dire (Drums). Want to see them perform live? They're playing on Dec. 6 at Moe’s Original BBQ in Englewood. Otherwise, find Elyse Therose at Bandcamp, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Instagram, and Facebook.

]]><![CDATA[The Aural's Best of 2024]]>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.theauralpremonition.com/music--news/the-aurals-best-of-2024Hi friends and followers, you might notice that while dated for the end of 2024, this "best of" list for 2024 has been published at the end of May 2025. This was not intentional. I was halfway through finishing this post in late December of 2024 when my beloved cat, Gertie-Socks, took a sudden turn for the worse, spent several days in the vet ER, had one last weekend at home with me, and then died in my arms on the last day of the year. Her genetic heart condition got much worse in 2024, and the medication she took probably gave her a couple extra months with me, but there was nothing that could prevent her early heart failure once it had begun. She was 6 years old, the sweetest tuxie there ever was, and the love of my life. I have been devastated since.

Returning to finish this piece has been a struggle, largely due to grief, but also chronic illness, my day job, and *gestures wildly* everything awful happening in the U.S. and around the world in 2025. Every month I have tried to sit down with this music list, and every month until now I have failed. Finding the words has been impossible. Even in this moment, it is difficult to hold space for my emotions, to not close the computer and walk away from this once again. I've also thought a lot about if finishing this list is even worth it, given how little I write for my own music website anymore.

Since moving to Colorado in 2016, this (unpaid, labor of love) site has taken a necessary back seat to many other school, career, and life priorities. And just when I was starting to do more with it again, in 2018 and 2019... live music and the industry drastically changed in 2020, and my life also hasn't been the same since. As a result, writing here has frustratingly become much less of a joy and cathartic release, like it used to be, and more of a guilt-inducing responsibility that I feel dread about not keeping up with. (Hello, ongoing burnout!)

In order to find a more sustainable balance of work and rest in my life, and to release myself from the burden of extra unpaid work that chains me to a computer screen (after 40+ hours a week at my day job, volunteer emails, life emails, and paid freelance writing), I will likely just be doing these once a year "best of's" and whatever strikes my fancy (if anything), for the foreseeable future. It pains me to purposefully take a step back, when I still have so much love for music — but if I don't, I'll become so burnt out that I could lose even that, too.

However, 2024 was a year with some really great music, and I don't want to forget that. So please enjoy this (delayed) best of 2024 list and playlist. I hate that it's late. But sometimes, I have to admit that done is better than perfect.

Top Albums of 2024

Sofi Tukker, BREAD

There is no question that Sofi Tukker is the best at what they do: Portuguese language global indie dance rock, or something... along those lines. Weird, fun, upbeat and unexpected. It's often explicit and always a good time. Their music speaks to something in my soul that needs to be fed — and they do that oh so well with BREAD.

Favorite Tracks: "Cafuné" and "Jacaré" (but really, all of them)

Novo Amor, Collapse List

The short story is: if you like Bon Iver, you will *love* Novo Amor. This second album is absolutely gorgeous, and builds on everything from his first album, while also being a completely separate experience. This is the album that I listened to when I cried in 2024, and don't blame me if it gets you all up in your feels. That means it's working.

Favorite song: “Years On”

Frances Forever, Lockjaw

This album is such an absolute delight. It's indie pop rock at some of its absolute best: summery, savory, and sassy. It has a series of narratives about navigating the world as a woman, both poking fun at others and oneself, that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Favorite tracks: "Weeb" and "Mr. Man"

Everything Everything, Mountainhead

These guys are incredibly weird, and I LOVE it. I read somewhere that apparently this is a concept album, but I just think it's an album of wildly catchy and experimental songs, and one of the best examples of what "indie" can (and should) be these days when it's pushing boundaries.

Favorite tracks: "Wild Guess," "R U Happy?," and "Canary"

Bear Hands, The Key to What

My love for Bear Hands goes back at least a decade, if not more — and this latest release does not disappoint. They make angsty, unhinged indie rock that speaks to ragey goblin inside of me who just wants to be set free. This is one of the albums that got me through the stress and frustrations of 2024, as I scream sang along to it in my car.

Favorite tracks: "Floor it," "Intrusive Thoughts," and "Adderall / Ambien"

Tsatsamis, Our Shame

Knowing nothing about the musician behind the moniker, this listening experience was a novel one with no expectations. I was blown away by the rich soundscapes, lyrics, and artistry in these songs. They sparkle in my ears, like glimmers of a lens flare during sunrise or sunset.

Favorite Tracks: "Dive In" and "Everybody Wants a Piece of You"

Middle Kids, Faith Crisis Pt 1

I have a crush on the music that Middle Kids make, and was in love with their 2021 release "Today We're The Greatest." It's so heartfelt, genuine, and speaks to the experience of being a human in the world: making meaning through the feelings we share with others.

So when they released a new album in 2024, I knew I was toast. In "Your Side, Forever," Hannah Joy sings the devastating line: "It's a great great sadness that never goes away / But it's alright / I'm on your side, forever." And when she sings in "Dramamine," "You are the only reason I believe in anything / I hope you don't take this the wrong way," my heart simply ... explodes.

SHAED, Spinning Out

Somehow, I did not know one of my favorite bands had a new album in 2024 until (gasp) early 2025! Oh how I wish I had had Spinning Out in 2024, but I'm so glad it found me all the same. The brilliant vocals in this indie band destroy me every time I listen, especially when they switch from more upbeat tracks like "Everybody Knows I'm High" to the dramatic love ballad "Rocket in the Sky," and the devastating and relatable "Spinning Out."

Breymer, When I Get Through

I had not previously heard of Breymer, and I was completely blown away by this album. And then to find out the album release last fall was in my favorite city of Minneapolis! It feels very much like there is a home in these songs for me, a sonic anchor of sorts.

This is the kind of music I would love to make myself, and to listen to it is a transcendent experience. The piano lines and layered vocals absolutely *send* me. A special thank you to Breymer for making "Darkness," which I listened to about 50 times in December and early January, as I cried desperately over the loss of my cat. But all of these songs have a very special place in my heart, as they carried me through the blinding pain when nothing else could.

Favorite Tracks: "Darkness" and "The Feeling (When I See You)"

Nothing But Thieves, Dead Club City (Extended Deluxe)

One could argue these guys might be a bit "Top 40" in their indie pop rock-ness, but I absolutely loved this album. Love love loved. It's an upbeat, alt-rock album with gorgeous vocals and clever writing. The stripped version of "Overcome" is amazing. And I don't care if it's technically from 2023, this was a 2024 album for me.

Favorite tracks: “Overcome” and "Pure You"

Honorable Mentions: 2024 Albums

I listened to these releases a little bit less than the ones listed above — but they were still stand outs from 2024 that I really enjoyed. Highly recommend a listen to them all!

Telenova, Time Is A Flower (Deluxe) -- "Teardrop," "Discotèque Inside My Head," and "Temples"

Still Woozy, Loveseat -- "Again" and "Shotput"

Phantogram, Memory of a Day -- "Happy Again," "Feedback Invisible," and "Running Through Colors"

LAUREL, PALPITATIONS -- "Burning Up," "Breakfast," "Change," and "Deathwish"

RUFUS DU SOL, Inhale / Exhale -- "Lately," "Music is Better" and "Break My Love"

Arctic Lake, How Do You Make It Look So Easy? (Deluxe) -- “My Weakness”

Odie Leigh, Carrier Pigeon -- "Either Way”

Luca Lowe, Big Deal EP -- “Giving Up” -- this woman makes brilliant music, keep an eye (ear?) on her!

Mild Minds -- singles "TEARDROPS and "IN YOUR EYES" -- these are both now part of a full 2025 release, GEMINI

Olivia O’Brien, everywhere i go, there i am -- “Lower”

Honorable Mentions: 2023 Albums and Songs

Each year, I inevitably stumble across a couple albums released in the previous year that I listen to a bunch, and that I want to highlight in this list and in the playlist.

Bayonne, Temporary Time

BEL, Read the Room EP

CRi, Miracles

Half Moon Run, Salt

The Rest of the 2024 List

I'd recommend a listen to any of these albums as well! If you'd like a custom sampling, the playlist link is again here.

AWOLNATION, The Phantom Five
Allyn, Until You Know
Aziya, BAMBI EP
BAYNK, Senescence
Blu DeTiger, All I Ever Want Is Everything
Caribou, Honey
Charli XCX, BRAT
Empress Of, For Your Consideration
googly eyes, Starlet
Hana Lili, Taking Care of Myself
Kylie Minogue, Tension II
Lola Young, This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway
Loma, How Will I Live Without a Body?
London Grammar, The Greatest Love
mxmtoon, liminal space
Neon Trees, Sink Your Teeth
Nilüfer Yanya, My Method Actor
Pedro The Lion, Santa Cruz
renshortshort, clean hands dirty water
Soccer Mommy, Evergreen
Storefront Church, Ink & Oil
Teenage Dads, MAJORDOMO
Tyla, TYLA+
Vallis Alps, Nothing More Than Human
Zara Larsson, VENUS

Still looking for more music from 2024? Check out:

Several previous writers for Pitchfork and other outlets came together to found a new music site, Hearing Things, which is already off to a great start.
NPR lists: Best Songs and Best Albums of 2024
Under the Radar’s Top 100 Albums of 2024 Part 1 (#1-50)

Finally, thank you to my friends and followers who still read this list every year. It means a lot that people engage with and enjoy the music that I love and love to share with the world, as I am able.

]]><![CDATA[The Aural's Best of 2023 (full year)]]>Thu, 28 Dec 2023 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.theauralpremonition.com/music--news/the-aurals-best-of-2023-full-yearFrom beginning to end, 2023 has been both a sprint and a marathon. And while so many things in my life have changed from this time just one year ago, so much has also stayed the same. What always reliably marks the passage of time for me, however, is new music—and 2023 will have created many memories for years to come.

I didn't see much live music, but I did spent a lot of time in my car this year, listening to songs that soothed or spoke to my heart. But by the time it came time to put my feelings about this year's music into words, I was worried I didn't have them. I struggled to finish this year-end review; it felt like the words were there, but blocked from coming out. So tonight, I did what I do best: I put on my headphones and hit play.

There were so many times like that this year: when I worried I wasn't capable of completing something, or wasn't going to finish it in time for it to matter. But each and every single time, I came through. Music played no small part — many of these albums and songs were critical soundtracks to my success. Sometimes, it's simply a matter of finding the right musical companion or cheerleader for the moment, and I hope that some of the below might serve you in this way, like they did for me, in the new year and on. The songs on these albums have been my friends, saviors, soft landings and side-by-side fighters in a year that took everything I had to give, returned the investment, and then still asked for more.

Music as motivation to keep going and take care of yourself has never seemed more important than now: the world is rather bleak and may feel pointless at this time for many. But "if life is getting old forever / at least we're getting older together," Hannah Cole sings in the heartbreaking chorus of "Hilda," a line that has kept me afloat for the past month. Hang in there, even if it's just to hear another year of amazing music, friends. See you this time next year.

Top Albums of 2023

Kiltro, Underbelly

This Denver-based, Chilean-inspired band is one of my all-time favorites, so of course I was thrilled when they released their long-awaited second album in June of 2023. I love this album as its own, and as strong sophomore album for the band. They help find the feelings I have somewhere deep inside me, and allow me to feel them—which is no small feat in 2023. Not only has Kiltro succeeded with their sophomore album in once again creating the kind of music that we don't hear anywhere else, but in trying to come to terms with the way the world has changed since their debut release in 2019, Kiltro is helping the rest of us do the same. As Chris Bowers Castillo sings in “Softy,” “Sometimes it seems I’m arriving / as somebody else.”

Read the full review here: Kiltro reveals soft side on sophomore release ‘Underbelly’

The Beaches, Blame My Ex

Sisters Jordan Miller (lead vocals, bass) and Kylie Miller (guitar), and close friends Leandra Earl (guitar and keys) and Eliza Enman-McDaniel (drums) have been making music together for more than a decade—and it shows. These four women together have made the best indie rock album of 2023, hands down. It's a brilliant mix of guitars, drums, angst, lyricism, melodies, harmonies, and raw energy packaged in succinct, punchy songwriting that is perfect for the kind of year when you just want to scream (and sing) along in the car. There's just something so 2023 about when Miller croons, "Cause I'd rather be dead / than with 99 percent of all men... When I'm with myself it's honestly zen..." in "Me & Me." These 10 songs are best listened to all the way through, in order; as one-offs for whatever mood you're in; or in any indie rock playlist.

Hannah Cole, Big Bite EP

I know almost nothing about Nashville-based artist and songwriter Hannah Cole, but I do know this: I love her latest EP. She snuck in late this year to my speakers, but she has since taken a "Big Bite" out of my life.

Cole is solidly indie rock/pop, but there are elements of so many good artists from the last two decades in her work. She's moody, grungy, but heartfelt and soft at the same time, with the perfect vocals to match each and every mood. I love this review of her EP by Abby Kenna on Ones to Watch that describes her music as having "guitars that somehow sit like a pit in your stomach while simultaneously lighting a fire in your chest."

And when I listen to "Hilda," she sings directly to the part of me that is locked away, deep in my heart, and all the walls I've put up in my life come crumbling down. Every time I listen to this song, I listen to it at least three times on repeat. Every time I listen to this song, I cry. And every time I listen to this song, I'm glad I'm still alive this year to hear it. Hannah, thank you for writing my favorite song of 2023, and one of the most perfect songs in existence. It will be with me always.

Haley Blais, Wisecrack

Ever since Haley Blais' 2018 EP Let Yourself Go and its fantastic track "Small Foreign Faction" (for which I own the bright green t-shirt), I've always been eagerly awaiting more of her music. Following her debut full length Below the Salt in 2020, sophomore release Wisecrack is a bleak but beautiful soundtrack to an existential crisis, a journey down memory lane, figuring out who it is to be a person in the world. Each and every one of these 11 songs is a carefully cultivated experience, but a couple stick with me more than the rest. “Body” is a favorite journey, gliding through harmonies that display her gentle vocal agility. But it's “Baby Teeth” that has my heart, as Blais effortlessly sinks into childhood nostalgia, while piano and a jazz trio keeps pace to her morbid, yet reassuring announcement, "When I die I know I won't freak out."

Dessa, Bury The Lede

Dessa is as powerful of a storm as the hurricane she anticipates in the opening track of her first solo full-length album in five years, Bury the Lede. This singer, songwriter, and rapper who cut her teeth in my beloved Minneapolis comes out swinging with solid, catchy tune after tune on this release. Several years after relocating to NYC, she's got nothing to prove and instead, gives us straight grooves. Her wordplay is impeccable, her beats drop, her heart is on her sleeve, and I am here for it. "It feels right because it's true," she sings with confidence in "I Already Like You." It's been at least ten years since we lived in neighboring apartment buildings, but I've never felt closer to a version of Dessa than the one who is most freely and honestly herself, eating Oreos and drinking whiskey in bed ("Twelve to One") and wondering "what if I'm not ready for all I've been waiting for?" ("What If I'm Not Ready).

Jungle, Volcano

You are in for a treat—or rather, a beat—every time Jungle releases an album. Like clockwork, this British duo have been releasing albums every two or three years since 2013 that make life worth dancing to again. Volcano is their fourth studio album, following Jungle, For Ever, and Loving in Stereo. London-based producers Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland partner with a diverse range of talented singers and instrumentalists to create lush soundscapes saturated with 1960s and 70s vibes that make not only for upbeat, repeat at-home listening, but some of the most memorable live shows I've ever been to. I've not yet had the chance to hear Volcano live, but I'm sure I'll just about dance myself to death if I do, as I have so gladly each of the two times before.

PVRIS, EVERGREEN

Imagine my surprise when I find out that PVRIS' 2023 release EVERGREEN is their fourth album?!? I could have been listening to Lynn Gunn's music for the past decade?!? Well, I've been making up for lost time, that's for sure. Their dark electro-pop style is one of my all-time favorites, and EVERGREEN has been on repeat for me since I discovered it in November, followed closely by their 2020 album Use Me. I love reveling in the angry, dark, electric energy of these tracks, and dancing to them at home or in the car feels like shedding an old, unhealthy skin. While it's a stellar through-listen, standout songs for me on this release include: "GOOD ENEMY," “GODDESS," "TAKE MY NIRVANA," and "SENTI-MENTAL."

Lastlings, Perfect World

Siblings Josh and Amy Dowdle released their second full-length album this year, following 2020's First Contact. The Australian-Japanese duo blend sounds and emotions beautifully in their electronic, indie pop/dance songs. Perfect World picks up right where their previous album ends, like a new and improved B side. I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite track out of this perfect through listen, as each song has served me well in a different way this year, but the title track shines through as a fantastic example of their lyricism, songwriting, and production skills. Amy Dowdle on vocals makes a mastery of singing simple lines such as: "I still miss your voice coming through the phone." It's a hard set of songs to get out of your head.

Best Frenz, The Mall
Also check out: 30% Off! (Now With 25% More!) EP

If you like Joywave, you should listen to this collaboration between Joywave's Daniel Armbruster and Sir Sly's Jason Suwito. The pair worked on an escapist theme for this debut full-length project, in the form of a metaphysical mall. As stated the album bio: "In the same way one finds a hodgepodge of sushi, shoes, plushies, and CDs at the local shopping center, you’ll discover bossa nova, indie rock, tinges of hip-hop, and house music all sitting next to each other." It's heavily Joywave, so it's wonderfully weird, fun, and some of the best that indie rock/pop has to offer in this modern, late-stage capitalist society. I especially enjoy “The Carousel” and “Sunshine and Milkshakes.”

Billie Marten, Drop Cherries

This spring was a breeding ground for releases by moody, soft-sung female vocalists, and so I was initially hesitant about English folk-pop singer-songwriter Billie Marten. Would this release just be another Phoebe Bridgers genre sound-alike? To my pleasant surprise, it is not. In her fourth album at only age 23, Marten takes the best of many popular trends, new and old, and does them better. She is Feist 2.0, the modern female version of Nick Drake, a complementary rival to New Zealand's Nadia Reid—and something very much, entirely her own. Drop Cherries is lush, warm, and perfectly produced, from the glorious but understated "I Just Can't Get My Head Around You," to the rolling chords, warm bass, and harmonies of "Just Us," and the simple piano and romantic admissions of "Nothing But Mine." If you like acoustic guitar, poetic lyrics, and one of the best voices around today, hit play.

Honorable mentions

These artists also released great work that I really enjoyed this year: Hear them on the playlist!

Arlo Parks, My Soft Machine
Favorite tracks: “Blades” and “Dog Rose”

Ava Max, Diamonds and Dancefloors
Favorite tracks: “Hold Up (Wait A Minute)” and “Get Outta My Heart”

Bentz: “is it?”

Grand Lotus: “better.” and “weightless”

Hannah Georgas, I’d Be Lying If I Said I Didn’t Care
Favorite tracks: "Not The Name You Say" and "This Too Shall Pass"

Jessie Ware, That! Feels Good!
Favorite tracks: “Freak Me Now” and “Free Yourself.”

K. Flay, MONO
Favorite tracks: “Raw Raw” and “The Punisher”

Kylie Minogue, Tension
Favorite tracks: “Padum Padum” and “One More Time”

Metric, Formentera II
Favorite tracks: “Just the Once”

Miss Grit, Follow The Cyborg
Favorite tracks: “Perfect Blue” and “Syncing"

PRAANA, Supernal Dawn
Favorite tracks: “Lullaby (ft. Julia Church)” and “Landing Patterns”

Roosevelt, Embrace
Favorite tracks: “Ordinary Love” and "Luna"

Rose Gray, Higher Than The Sun EP
Favorite tracks: “Ecstasy” and “Prettier Than You.”

SG Lewis, AudioLust & HigherLove
Favorite tracks: “Lifetime” and “Infatuation”

The Japanese House, In The End It Always Does
Favorite tracks: “Boyhood” and “Friends.”

Tinashe, BB/ANG3L
Favorite tracks: “Needs” and “None of My Business”

Pre-2023 Honorable Mention

Ronboy, Pity to Love (2022)

Sometimes I come across an album that wasn't released in that given year, but I become enamored with it nonetheless. Julia Laws released her first single in 2019, and has since been noticed by big names in the U.S. indie rock scene as well as released a stunning album nothing quite like I've heard before. Sweeping, dramatic instrumentals kick off the opening track, "Always," while electronic elements build and transport the listener to another era by the end of "Forget It." But Laws is the whole package, her vocals and lyrics pack as much of a punch as her songwriting, her emotional range encompasses both intensity and sorrow. The solo piano and stillness in “Your Way” threaten to undo me every time. "Don't rely on me," she asks, at the end.

Other 2023 music I enjoyed this year

2023 was a prolific year for music! There is a lot that I listened to and enjoyed, that simply didn't make the top lists.

Andy Shauf, Norm
Anna Shoemaker, Hey Anna
Astronaut Husband, Down the Road
AWOLNATION, Candy Pop
BC Camplight, The Last Rotation of Earth
Bebe Rexha, Bebe
Beirut, Hasdel
Bibio, Sunbursting EP
Birdy, Portraits
Bombay Bicycle Club, My Big Day
boygenius, the record
Cannons, Heartbeat Highway
Cautious Clay, KARPEH
Daughter, Stereo Mind Game
Dragonette, Twennies
Feist, Multitudes
Foo Fighters, But Here We Are
Great Lake Swimmers, Uncertain Country
Gregory Alan Isakov, Appaloosa Bones
Hannah Diamond, Perfect Picture
Indigo De Souza, All of This Will End
James Blake, Playing Robots Into Heaven
Joel Ansett, Layers
Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure
Kesha, Gag Order
Kimbra, A Reckoning
Liza Anne, Utopian
Local Natives, Time Will Wait For No One
Lapsley, Cautionary Tales of Youth
Little Dragons, Slugs of Love
M83, Fantasy
Margaret Glaspy, Echo The Diamond
Meltt, The Absent Sea and Soak My Head
Miya Folick, ROACH
Mutual Benefit, Growing at the Edges
NEIL FRANCES, It’s All a Bit Fuzzy
Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS
Paramore, This Is Why
Paul Cook & The Chronicles, Cheers Love
Phosphene, Transmute
Romy, Mid Air
Royal Blood, Back To The Water Below
Samia, Honey
Say She She, Silver
Sigrid, The Hype
Squirrel Flower, Tomorrow’s Fire
Sufjan Stevens, Javelin
Susanne Sundfør, Blómi
The Chemical Brothers, For That Beautiful Feeling
Tiny Ruins, Ceremony
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, V
Vagabon, Sorry I Haven’t Called
Vallis Alps, Cleave
VÉRITÉ, love you forever
Weval, Don’t Lose Time
Yellow Ostrich, Make It Make Sense EP

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