Freddie's Finds, Volume 22: Best New Music of The Week
Welcome to the 21st volume of Freddie’s Finds! Each week I will spotlight 3-4 of my favorite new tracks of the week, ranging from a variety of genres and artists. This week includes Dev Lemons, dev soter, ko aka koala, and Madhouse.
“CEO OF MY ASS” by Dev Lemons
Nobody is having more fun in music right now than Dev Lemons. She is consistently able to bring a nonchalant composure while simultaneously displaying such detail and care on every moment of every song, and never has that been clearer than with her latest single, “CEO OF MY ASS.” With lines such as “You have no sauce / You’re a little baby who thinks he’s a big boss / Can’t take no for an answer without throwing a stinky wittle tantrum,” Dev Lemons spares nothing, going all out on someone who has certainly made her upset. Glitchy, electronic production from Jondren Hwang sees Dev stray further into the hyperpop world than ever before, and I’m all here for it. However, the song is best described by the top comment by user Fxtch on the accompanying music video, who said, “‘CEO OF MY ASS’ isn’t just a song, its a cultural reset, its the oxygen you breathe, its a lifestyle, a reason to breathe, an escape from this cruel world filled with thieves, its an art, the first gift you open on christmas, a hug from a loved one, everything you’ve ever wanted.” You will not want to miss out on this - check it out below.
“PILOT” by dev soter featuring Johan Lenox
Behind three phenomenal singles, dev soter has finally released his sophomore EP, JUST MY LUCK. Containing six uniquely different tracks, from the guitar heavy, high energy “WASTED,” to the mellower yet equally as exciting “EPIPEN,” to the mind easing “WEIGHT,” the project displays all aspects of dev’s artistry.
I had the pleasure of getting an early listen to the opening track of the project, “PILOT” featuring Johan Lenox, a few weeks ago in our first Sheesh Discord live listening event, and to say I was blown away would be an understatement. Johan’s unmistakable voice kicks off the track with a soothing intro, before he is swept away by an instrumental that will make you feel like you’re floating. dev goes on to deliver some of my favorite vocals off the entire EP, displaying his range on the verse along with an ear pleasing hook. dev continues to amaze on everything he does, and I cannot wait for what is next from him.
“why is everyone so scared of me” by ko aka koala
While I am not a fan of horror films, I certainly love ko aka koala’s new single. “why is everyone so scared of me” is written from the perspective of a zombie, an intriguing way of exploring being judged for what is on the outside rather than what is on the inside. Speaking on this duality, ko said, "It is symbolic of being not seen or understood, and judged by a superficial first impression that you can't shake off.” The production continues on the spooky theme, beginning with a blaring siren before an intensity building instrumental kicks in. An ensuing beat drop smoothly leads into ko’s verse, with the occasional scream and siren being heard as she takes us into the “danger zone.” Look out for ko aka koala, as this is not the last you will hear from her this summer.
“WTF” by Madhouse
If you have not yet heard of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Madhouse before, then there is no better time to begin listening as he begins his new era. “WTF” sees the Toronto native stray into an alternative world, his incredible vocals popping over rock influenced production. However, the exciting, upbeat hook is almost a mask for the emotions Madhouse describes on the track. Speaking on the meaning, he said “‘WTF’ was written minutes after i was told by someone i loved deeply that they were moving across the world with their new significant other.” He goes on to explore his undying love for this person, the ensuing anxiety, and helplessness, leading to him singing on the hook, “What the fuck am I doing? / You got me so stupid.” I cannot wait to see what is in store for Madhouse this year.
You can find all my previous finds in the playlist below:
