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Freddie’s Finds, Volume 6: Best New Music of the Week

3/7/2022

Welcome to the sixth 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 was a sneakily good week for music, including BETWEEN FRIENDS, 454, BOYU, and Joey Bada$$.

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“more” by BETWEEN FRIENDS

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When I first came across BETWEEN FRIENDS’ EP we just need some time together, I immediately fell in love with the duo of siblings. They are the perfect balance of danceability and deep thinking induced bedroom pop sensations.

“more” officially welcomes us to the new world of BETWEEN FRIENDS, cutie. The video exemplifies the warming nature of their music, placing the duo in a variety of at home environments. The track explores an estranged long distance relationship, grappling with the loneliness encountered without being able to physically spend time together. The hook bursts into a mellow, electronic influenced beat drop, landing right in the middle of making you ponder whether to dance your heart out or sit in silence. Keep both eyes out for what BETWEEN FRIENDS have coming this year.

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“GATORLAND” by 454

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For a long time, I couldn’t get into 454, the Florida rapper who has received cosigns from the likes of Aminé and Frank Ocean. However, as time goes on, I find myself more and more drawn to 454’s voice and self-produced tracks, especially with his recent release of “GATORLAND,” part of a single pack posted to his YouTube channel.

The track sees 454 tone back his signature style just a tad, opting for a rawer version of his voice over a groovy beat. The VHS style music video shows him dancing and having a good time, a perfect way to describe the feeling of the track, singing, “Florida n-word, we gonna vibe how we wanna vibe.” Check out 454 on Aminé’s “Best Tour Ever Tour,” which still has over a dozen stops left.

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“Miata Trip” by BOYU

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BOYU has returned for his second release of the year with “Miata Trip,” a mulit-part track that exemplifies the ups and downs of a psychedelic trip, inspired by a show that I’m sure almost everyone has watched by now – Euphoria. It’s just under four minutes, but it truly feels like 10 in the best way imaginable.

Speaking on the track, BOYU said, “Akin to the euphoric peaks of a trip, the verses/bridge represents liberation of the soul, uplifting & carefree, paired with bright happy chords/melody. In contrast, the chorus/outro rap symbolize the dark downward spiral when stuck in a self-deprecating headspace, with minor chords, angsty flow/production, & slowed BPM.” It’s near impossible to describe everything going on in this track – it’s just one you have to listen to.

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“Head High” by Joey Bada$$

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Ok, I’ll admit it, I started to write Joey Bada$$ off after his last single, “THE REV3NGE,” but he’s completely redeemed himself on “Head High.” An accompanying COLORS performance is always an indication of something great, and it’s no different here.

Produced by Statik Selektah, we get elements of why Joey was “born in the wrong era” – that old school boom bap feel. Speaking on the track, Joey took to his Twitter to say, “LETS SHOW THE INDUSTRY THAT YOU CAN HAVE A HIT RECORD FROM A HEARTFELT CLASSIC RAP SONG. HEAD HIGH NEEDS A PLAQUE AND THATS ON X & STEELO LETS GO.” Throughout “Head High,” Joey explores the fragility of life, reflecting on how he valued it a younger age, and the impact of the deaths of those close to him. He dedicates an entire verse to the late XXXTentacion, describing their tight bond that had Joey reminiscing on his relationship with Capital Steez before he died at the cusp of Joey’s rise to greatness. It’s a heavy track, but done incredibly well.

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JOEY BADA$$ TRIVIA

Welcome to the newest part of Freddie’s Finds – trivia! There are three questions, each hinting at separate tracks and increasing in complexion. This week’s trivia is about Joey Bada$$ – if you get the answers, tag me or Sheesh on Twitter, or send your answers in our Discord.