Readers, prepare yourselves. This week’s Sound Bite is laced with pop punk vibes so, pull out your chucks, apply a bit more eyeliner, and turn up the volume. This week we have a new bop from British band The 1975, with an accompanying music video that will unsurprisingly make you think. A new song from indie-electro-pop band Glass Animals offers layers of introspective lyrics with high energy and a bright beat.
Veteran pop punkers All Time Low have released a new song called “Sleeping In” and we suggest you do not sleep on it. The catchy chorus will most definitely get you on your feet and feeling ready to tackle the weekend. With a new collab between Jimmie Allen and singer-songwriter Noah Cyrus, and a Mura Masa-produced track from Oklou, this week’s Sound Bite is complete. See below for all five songs.
1. “This Is Us” by Jimmie Allen feat. Noah Cyrus
Platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jimmie Allen was recruited by Noah Cyrus for his latest single, “This Is Us.” The song was co-written by Cyrus, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, Jordan Schmidt, Ilsey Juber, and Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II. With a sweet narrative focused on young love, and the pure country music aesthetic, the song offers the perfect combination of romance and nostalgia. “I’ve been a fan of Noah’s music for a while. When I got the call to be a part of the song, I was honored,” Allen says of the song.
2. “The Birthday Party” by The 1975
The poetic, self-deprecating, and cheeky alt-rockers have released “The Birthday Party” off the band’s upcoming album, Notes On A Conditional Form. The song initially feels reminiscent of The National, with a deeper sound, but quickly reminds us we are listening to Matty Healy croon. With interesting mentions of the band Pinegrove and general reflections on modern culture, the song returns to The 1975’s consistent themes of exploring abuse and use of technology, forging connections in today’s digital world, and discovering the emotional narrative within social media. The music video captures these ideas with a trippy aesthetic that could only be found on the Internet today.
3. “Your Love (Déjà vu)” by Glass Animals
We’ve always known that this band was clever and cool. But, with no new album since their sophomore album in 2016, How to Be a Human Being, the guys wanted to remind us. Glass Animals announced a surprise tour last week (and it sold out in minutes) including dates at some of the first venues they ever played as a band, including Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. The tour will serve as a reminder of how the band felt when they first started, and allow them to reconnect with their fans in a big way. Their new single is a bouncy, bright track that hypnotizes listeners.
4. “entertnmnt” by Oklou (produced by Mura Masa)
French producer and vocalist Oklou teamed up with British producer Mura Masa on her latest single, “entertainment.” The song comes with a visually stunning music video, directed by Alexandra Green, featuring whimsical landscapes and unadulterated and isolated beauty. By exploring the idea of self-reflection, director Green says of the video, “I wanted to visually create a space that captured that feeling. Oklou’s vocals are of central importance to the track, so it seemed fitting to keep her as the focal point of the video.”
5. “Sleeping In” by All Time Low
If you don’t lose your mind when “Dear Maria, Count Me In” plays at a party, you will never understand me. Pop punk rockers All Time Low have a loyal fanbase based on their ability to create anthemic, youthful, romantic, angst-ridden, and catchy songs. Their newest release, “Sleeping In,” is the latest single off their upcoming album, Wake Up, Sunshine, due out April 3 via Fueled by Ramen. The song feels like a return to the “Dear Maria”-era of the band, with a head-bobbing and crowd-surfing vibe. Just wait for the Britney call out in the chorus.
