This week, we bring you new music from The National, Arlo Parks, and a trio of new songs from super trio boygenius. Also, discover the solo work of Nanna (from Of Monsters and Men), the latest from Canadian artist Debby Friday, and a project championed by Sophia Eris.

The National, “Tropic Morning News”

The National have been busy these last few years: creating movie soundtracks, solo records, sidebands, producing, being Taylor Swift’s new best friends. It’s a welcome return to hear the band making “The National” music, sounding cohesive and pushing frontman Matt Berninger’s vocals front and center (and he’s sounding better than ever) on their first new song, “Morning Tropic News.” The album will feature special guests Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Swift, but more exciting is the band sounding like they are having fun making music together again.

Nanna (from Of Monsters and Men), “Godzilla”

Of Monsters and Men’s vocalist Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir is releasing a solo record later this year and has offered up the first single. It’s named after the destructive classic monster, “Godzilla.” Nanna said of the song, “I somehow resonated and felt empathetic with this big monstrous thing on the screen.” For a song about such a big creature, it feels extremely internal and soft with a hint of something bubbling below.

Debby Friday, “So Hard To Tell”

Canadian artist Debby Friday has been slowly making a name for herself and her self-described “aggressive” music. Her adrenaline-heavy sound has turned its frequency to a softer punch with “So Hard to Tell.” It’s beautiful and melodic — another side of Friday, who’s been known to jump genres with punk, industrial and drill sounds in the past.

boygenius, “$20”, “Emily I’m Sorry”, “True Blue”

Indie supergroup boygenius are back. Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker have all been touring and releasing music, but somehow found time to work on another collaborative record. The full album, entitled the record, will be coming out March 31. As before, all the songs are written by the trio — and it makes sense that they would be released as a trio as well.

Arlo Parks, “Weightless”

With her debut, Collapsed in Sunbeams, Arlo Parks wowed critics and fans, winning the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album and nominated for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best British Female Solo Artist at the Brit Awards. On May 26, she’ll be releasing a new album, My Soft Machine. Her soft vocals bounce over a triphop beat in a hypnotic delivery on the new song, “Weightless.”

MAKR AN ERIS, “Shorty A$$”

Sophia Eris is a chameleon, constantly innovating and changing her work. Lizzo’s past collaborator and current touring DJ worked on the new, five-song project MAKR AN ERIS with producer MAKR – Twin Cities-based Mark McGee, who has contributed to Marijuana Deathsquads, RONiiA, and many others. The project was released in mid-December. On the single “Shorty A$$,” they feature Crea$e and Hard_R over crunchy, delicious hip-hop beats. The song follows the rules, but it breaks out of the mold pretty quickly in the first few bars. It builds and releases, drawing from all sides, and then squeezes it into whatever shape it wants. Sophia Eris will open for Ness Nite at 7th St. Entry on Saturday, Jan. 21. – Youa Vang

Playlist