Tamar Aphek - “Crossbow”

Israeli artist Tamar Aphek recently released her solo debut record “All Bets Are Off” via Portland label Kill Rock Stars. It features the pulsating single “Crossbow.” It’s a song that musically roars but remains confidently under the control of the Aphek’s beautiful and melodically refrained voice. The complex execution in balancing these two forces makes “Crossbow” a brilliant song that leaves a mark.

Bachelor - “Anything At All”

Jay Som’s Melina Duterte and Palehound’s Ellen Kempner announce their new band, Bachelor, with the debut single “Anything At All.” The duo have been friends and fans of one another for years and finally came together just before the quarantine for this new project. “Anything At All” takes a simple yet catchy beat and layers it with equally infectious vocals to deliver a poignant message as the music escalates into a heart racing crescendo. “After we got the basic track down we wrote lyrics about queerness, lust, and longing,” the duo recently explained. “Writing and recording ‘Anything At All’ was a really natural process and releasing it now feels very hopeful and joyous to us.”

Genders - “The World Fades Away”

Portland outfit Genders is the brain child of Maggie Morris and Stephen Leisy. Their latest single, “The World Fades Away,” is a great blend of powerful musical elements executed with near perfection. From the vocal sensitivity to an instrumentation that dances in perfect rhythm to every word, Genders have delivered a track that instantly hooks you.