OnesToWatch: The Weekly Recap

Our top albums of the year (so far), new music from almost monday, meet Laila!, and more.

Sep 30, 2024

Welcome to the OnesToWatch newsletter, the best way to discover your new obsession and keep up with the best releases of the week.

💻 FROM THE BLOG

almost monday Delivers a Sun-Kissed Debut Album in 'DIVE'

Enter almost monday, a group that illustrates perspective as soon as you come across their name on a flyer or album cover—whether it's the notion of savoring freedom or the opportunity that’s perpetually in front of us is up for interpretation. What can’t be argued, however, is the incessant, almost rabid sense of an upward trajectory that seems to follow this group around. The San Diego natives are sun-kissed in more than a couple of senses, with their first full-length LP, DIVE, only cementing that idea further.

Kevin Atwater Taps Into a Universal Longing in “Ferry Beer”

To encapsulate a memory in song is more than a simple recall; it is a cocooning of the personal experience that, if nurtured correctly, develops into a universal feeling. Kevin Atwater has mastered the art of this metamorphosis in his new single “Ferry Beer,” which, through gentle strums of acoustic strings, transports us to a vibrant moment in time.

ORA's Latest Single Is the Perfect Cure for Any "Bad Day" [Q&A]

We love it when something makes us press up against the glass and go, what’s going on inside this song? That's a good day and why we parse through so much music to find those blissful moments of fun and energy that "Bad Day" is full of. Wanting to know more about this very young sibling duo, we reached out via the electronic paper to find out about the who, what’s with all these bad days, and what’s it like to be stuck with your sibling at every show.

Jaz Karis Is Ready to Reintroduce Herself to the World in 'Safe Flight' [Q&A]

One of R&B’s best-kept secrets is blooming out of the bag. South London singer-songwriter Jaz Karis has officially released her long-awaited debut SAFE FLIGHT, a journey through time zones and love languages. As the world patiently awaited, Karis took some time to witness life and is now ready to reintroduce herself. OnesToWach got a chance to sit down with the songstress on her album release day to discuss everything from finding home to finding herself.

The Criticals Deliver a Sleazy, Intoxicating Single in "Adoringly Drunk"

It's hard not to be addicted to The Criticals' latest single, "Adoringly Drunk." In the new single, the Nashville duo, formed by vocalist Parker Forbes and guitarist Cole Shugart, channel their infectious energy and catchy pop-rock sensibilities into a picture of drunken sexual tension and seemingly one-sided affection.

🎙️ CHEF’S CHOICE PODCAST with Abby Kenna

The Wldlfe, Soon to be Known As Clammy Dan

🆕 ARTIST DISCOVERY

Laila! Bares Her Soul and Undeniable Promise in ‘Gap Year!’

For any body of work, the first element is the skeleton that supports it, and this is true of Laila! and her latest record Gap Year!, which begins with "Talent Show," a track that puts her natural talent on display. The song, honest in its performance, shines a light on the vocal prowess of Laila!, who carries the melodies of the composition fluidly to the rhythm of an electric guitar that rings reverberant.