Dredging up music from the bottom of the underground, New Releases in New Orleans keeps a record of new music coming out of the city and in Louisiana. If you are an artist releasing new music, submit your work to [email protected].
LPs/EPs – New Releases in New Orleans
Atomic Broad: Unrepentant (Independent)
Angry queer punk led by Skylar Rose Stravinsky of Dog Park Dissidents, Atomic Broad’s album title speaks for itself. It’s an unrepentant rebellion against gender norms, capitalism and American ills. Wearing their influences plainly, they cover Against Me!’s Black Me Out and a hint of the vocal melody from True Trans Soul Rebel lingers on Atomic Broad’s Should Of Cared Less.
Curren$y: The Drive in Theatre Part 2 (Jet Life Recordings)
After two albums this year partnering with prolific producers The Alchemist and 808 Mafia’s Fuse, Curren$y has slowly moved away from his norm of dropping an insane amount of releases every year to see what sticks to instead releasing more thoughtful albums with rich songs. The Drive in Theatre Part 2 carries on this mentality with laid-back beats that make even the throwaway tracks have some merit.
Doeja Da Don: DUTCH78 (Heavie Weight Legacy)
Opening with a gospel sample, Doeja Da Don raps, “Look I was a stone’s throw from the corner stow’” and “I’m red beans and chicken on Monday, that shit just go,” establishing the emcee as your neighborhood rap star. He’s been an underground hip-hop artist in New Orleans for nearly 30 years, which is a lot of material to reflect on. Doeja Da Don does exactly that on DUTCH78, exploring his influences and his journey as an emcee.
Jon Mercure: Glass House (Paper Plant Records)
A mellow hip-hop album from Jon Mercure, a behind-the-scenes veteran of the NOLA music scene who’s worked with Axiom Art Gallery in Uptown and recently as Paasky’s wingman. The record’s piano-led trap beats, fuzzy record-skipping samples and deep and soulful vocals explore Mercure’s vulnerabilities with self-assurance and impressive flows. It’s a reminder that although Mercure stepped away from music for a time, he never truly left it.
Slow Rosary: Reasonably Far From Residential Areas (Independent)
The track, First Hotel In the Bywater opens this album with haunting brass horns, resonating cymbals and droning bass setting the tone for the album. It’s a reconstruction of Slow Rosary’s first album Refinery which captures the metaphorical scars created by modern industry and religion broadly aligned with acts like Lingua Ignota or Chat Pile. Though the album is only loosely connected demos and related materials, it still has the same haunting and transportive effects as their previous works.
William James Band: Live at the Launch (State Street Sessions)
A dense project blending New Orleans staples of blues, jazz and funk with the atmospheric elements of trip-hop and indie rock. Recorded at the Bonnebel Boat Launch in Metairie on December 3, the live album sounds more like a studio project with its high-fidelity recording. The only sign that it is a live album is the occasional banter with the audience.
Yung Delirious: Beautiful Mistake (Independent)
Melancholic but motivational, Yung Delirious describes the blight of chasing dreams and the toll it takes on the self and relationships. While touching on other subjects like spirituality, the record borders toes the line between corny and profound. However, the sincerity of Yung Delirious’ delivery makes it hard to root against the young emcee.
Singles – New Releases in New Orleans
Allision: Back in the Day
The latest emo rockers on the NOLA scene, Allision ponder nautical nostalgia with their two latest singles Back in the Day and Once a Goddess. Much like the classic emo band Sunny Day Real Estate and their progenitors’ Rites of Spring, Allision possesses a rough-around-the-edges punk energy juxtaposed with thoughtful lyrics straight out of some English major’s journal.
DED_DEBBIE: MyMotherShotAndKilledFatherIn2006
DED_DEBBIE is about as fresh as rotten NOLA punk gets. They’ve been making a name for themselves as the young kids on the block playing live shows around town. Now, they’ve finally got something on recording with the aptly titled song, MyMotherShotAndKilledFatherIn2006. It franticly recounts the aforementioned incident in a way that would make Acid Bath proud.
Gaines featuring Tasty: I JUST WNT U
New Orleans artists Gaines and Tasty released a moody, nocturnal ballad drenched in autotune and heavy-hitting bass that feels like a Johnny Goth track. Gaines’ persona comes across as a less annoying YUNGBLUD with a sense of humor while Tasty’s contribution fits well as a hush guest vocalist who’s capable without autotune but finds a unique style with it.
Killer Whale: I love you always forever
Reverb-drenched, indie funk with a tongue-in-cheek delivery that’s like getting freaky in a fever dream. Self-described as pontoon soul music, Killer Whale has made three studio albums and is due to deliver another one soon, possibly teasing out further new music with this release.
Tansy: This Day
Like a leisurely afternoon stroll through city park, Tansy’s This Day brings bright strings and warm R&B-tinged vocals to create neo-soul reminiscent of Nao or Mahalia. The New Orleans-based duo is comprised of Mckenna Alicia and Will Feinberg who met in the city.
