New Releases
AOTW: Flora Hibberd – Swirl
Thursday, January 16th, 2025 by Liz Kosik
by Liz Kosik ’25
Album of The Week: Flora Hibberd – Swirl
Release: January 17, 2025
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Cate Le Bon, Deradoorian, Kate Bollinger
Flora Hibberd’s debut album, “Swirl,” is a thoughtful exploration of language, connection, and the spaces where meaning slips through. Based in Paris but originally from the UK, Hibberd draws on her experience as a translator to craft poetic, layered lyrics that blur the lines between French and English. Each of the album’s 11 tracks feels like a reflection on how we communicate, weaving together themes of hidden codes and fleeting moments of understanding.
The album showcases Hibberd’s range, with songs like “Remote Becoming Holy” offering a whiney yet affectionate vocal tone reminiscent of FKA Twigs. “Jesse” stands out with its sentimental lyrics, while “Code” leans into folk-inspired beats, creating a grounded yet expansive sound. Produced by Shane Leonard in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, “Swirl” feels intimate and deliberate, capturing Hibberd’s unique voice and vision. It’s an album that invites listeners to pause and reflect, rewarding them with layers of emotion.
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AOTW: Roe Kapara – Big Cigars and Satin Shorts
Thursday, December 12th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Isabelle Braudakis ’25
Album of The Week: Roe Kapara – Big Cigars and Satin Shorts
Released: August 23, 2024
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Cage the Elephant, GroupLove, Weezer
Roe Kapara is a young singer based in Los Angeles. He moved from Nashville to California just before the pandemic and has been releasing music ever since. His music blends a modern swirl of indie rock, pop punk, and alternative and this is perfectly displayed on his latest album, “Big Cigars and Satin Shorts.” His vocals and feel of his music create a fun and exciting mood, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you prepare for the next song to play.
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SOTW: “Music Sounds Better with You” – CLUB NF Version ft. Neil Frances
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Isabelle Braudakis ’25
Song of The Week: “Music Sounds Better with You” – CLUB NF Version ft. Neil Frances
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AOTW: Ella Thompson – Ripple on the Wing
Thursday, November 21st, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Anabel Martin ’25
Album of The Week: Ella Thompson – Ripple on the Wing
Released: November 15th, 2024
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Charlotte Day Wilson, Molly Lewis, Three Sacred Souls
Ella Thompson is a modern soul singer, her lyrics explore nostalgia, love, and self-realization. Her new album is driven by modern soul sounds with cinematic arrangements. She emphasized on an interview that her new album, “It’s about finding our place in both the microscopic and the universal. That’s what soul music means to me—songs of love, resistance, and shared humanity.”
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SOTW: “Crimes of Passion” – The Free Label
Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Anabel Martin ’25
Song of The Week: “Crimes of Passion” – The Free Label
The Free Label is a band that has six multi-instrumentalists and vocalists from Toronto Canada. They are known for their 70s disco and R&B music. Their most recent song “Crimes of Passion”, is one of the most popular on their new album, “Songs for Sienna.” I love the vibe of this song; it has a chill and has a 70s feel that draws you in effortlessly. The music beautifully captures the lyrics’ message, as the singer wants his lover to relax and simply embrace being with him. The guitars carry the emotional and passionate vibes of the song, as well.
I love the musical background of this song and is definitely recommend adding to your “Going Out” playlist.
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SOTW: “Moonlight” – Forest Claudette
Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Fiona Galang ’27Song of The Week: “Moonlight” – Forest Claudette
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AOTW: Kate Bollinger – Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind
Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Fiona Galang ’27
Album of The Week: Kate Bollinger – Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind
Released: September 27, 2024
Rate: 9/10
RIYL: Blood Orange, Thee Scared Souls, Men I Trust
Kate Bollinger is an American folk singer-songwriter from Charlottesville, VA. She has released four EPs in her career, but Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind is her debut studio album. She’s performed at NPR’s World Cafe and is just now getting the fame she deserves.
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AOTW: Vitesse X – This Infinite
Thursday, October 10th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Genevieve Torkornoo ’25
Album of The Week: Vitesse X– This Infinite
Released: October 4, 2024
Rate:7/10
RIYL: Night Tapes, Mustafa, FKA Twigs
Vitesse X is a producer and DJ from New York City. Their recent full studio album, “This Infinite,” features an airy, nostalgic sound. Like many albums the title song “This Infinite” is not featured until the third song, thus allowing album songs like “Eternal” and “Spill” to shine.
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SOTW: Shakira – Soltera
Tuesday, October 8th, 2024 by Liz Kosik
Anabel Martin Llanusa ’25Song of The Week: Shakira – Soltera
Released: October 8, 2024
Rate: 8.5/10
RIYL: Prince Royce, J Balvin, Danna Paola
Soltera is a new song by the Colombian singer–songwriter and dancer Shakira. She is known worldwide for her Latin Pop music and has won multiple U.S. chart awards, and Latin Grammys.
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AOTW: The Rare Occasions – Through Moonshot Eyes
Thursday, October 3rd, 2024 by Liz Kosik
by Isabelle Braudakis ’25
Album of the Week: The Rare Occasions – Through Moonshot Eyes
Released: September 13, 2024
Rate: 8/10
RIYL: Surf Curse, Yot Club, Joy Again, Vacations
The Rare Occasions are an LA based indie rock band that makes leave their impression on people with
their garage rock anthems and catchy vocal harmonies. Brian McLaughlin (singer) and Luke Imbusch
(drummer) began making music together in their early teen years. They were part of a band called The
Valar, which released 2 EPs and 1 album throughout the course of three years. Later when the two went
to college, the pair Jeremy Cohen (bassist), hence the beginning of The Rare Occasions. This band title
may seem familiar to some because their 2016 song “Notion” went absolutely viral on the social media
platform, TikTok. This track continues to make waves and is featured on Billboard’s alternative charts.
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