Featuring tracks by Dana Dentata, Wicca Phase, Velvetears, Bogues, Zubin, Fantasy Camp and more essential underground artists
Keep up to date with essential songs from underground artists by following our Unleashed playlist on Spotify:
Dana Dentata – “Lil Blood”
After having her library of unreleased music caught in a business deadlock for much of 2019, Dana Dentata puts forth her pivotal point of view once more with “Lil Blood,” as companied by a self-directed visual. Taunting rhymes and rhythm guitar serve as the acid bath eating all those who believe a period can stop anything but a sentence. — Jenna DePasquale
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal – “Hardcore”
On new single “Hardcore,” Wicca Phase delivers a near instant classic good enough to rival even the best of the Scranton, PA singer/rapper/songwriter’s body of work. Featuring peppy and in-your-face production from Darcy Baylis, Wicca croons tightly wound melodies with emotionally-wrought lyrics that see him making an earnest appeal to the person he loves. “Never look backwards, never say sorry, oh,” Wicca pleads in the chorus, completing the thought with an irresistibly catchy letter-by-letter spelling out of the song’s title: “H-A-R-D-C-O-R-E.” — Sam Weinberg
Fantasy Camp & Zubin – “Like A Dove”
An unstoppable duo, Lil Zubin and Fantasy Camp reunite on “Like A Dove,” a prelude to their forthcoming tape. A soundtrack to the feelings of excitement intertwined with new romance, its idealistic lyricism serenades both the subject and listener. — Rani Boyer
Velvetears – “Nothing Hurts More Than Loving Me”
Ahead of her upcoming EP, Velvetears debuts her new single “Nothing Hurts More Than Loving Me.” Bittersweet, its production–courtesy of Cameron Hale–provides an atmospheric soundscape as she shares emotive insights over interpersonal tumult. — Rani Boyer
Bogues – “Light Where There Was None”
Tennessee’s Bogues brings indie rock back to raw realness on his Life, Slowly (2018) follow-up, Paint All The Walls The Same. Anchoring the EP’s midsection, “Light Where There Was None” offers a range of emotional displays as the musician guides us in his existential journey through Appalachian wilderness. — Jenna DePasquale
Tommy Ice ft. Coldhart – “Loving Myself” (Prod. Kryptik)
Atlanta’s Tommy Ice maintains his productivity with his latest candid reflection, “Loving Myself.” With a mixtape and several singles already under his belt this year, he raises the bar once more as a seamless collaboration with GBC’s Coldhart discusses the tribulations of substances and solitude. — Jenna DePasquale
6 Dogs – “It’s Worth Feeling Empty<3” (Prod. Pretty Pacc)
In addition to a recent collaboration with Hanzo, 6 Dogs is hot on the heels of an impressive 21-song record drop. Hi-Hats & Heartache opener “It’s Worth Feeling Empty<3” serves as the embodiment of the album’s ethos as carefree instrumentals contrast with a story of tattered emotions. — Jenna DePasquale
foreign forest ft. Lund – “Heartache”
Serving as the teaser track for his latest album Halloween, But All Year, foreign forest’s “Heartache” personifies the nostalgia of what was. Invoking additional smokiness through the enlisting of Lund, the budding vocalist utilizes progressive riffs and gentle beats to generate the atmosphere of a mind clouded by lost love. — Jenna DePasquale
Mutant Joe – “Knick Knack/Steel” ft. Yvncc
It was difficult choosing just one song off Brisbane based producer Mutant Joe’s debut album Home Invasion Anthems for this week’s Unleashed playlist. At 37 minutes long, the album is a grab bag of sinister and heavy-hitting tracks featuring a number of underground rap stalwarts including Lil Xelly, Freddie Dredd, Yvncc, Gizmo, and several others. The most interesting track might just be “Knick Knack/Steel” featuring Yvncc, though, due to its more ambitious sound palette that draws most heavily from ragga jungle but also features, at one point in the song, an old school dubstep style warbling sub-bass. It’s an interesting bed of production for Yvncc’s punchy Memphis flow raps, but it works. — Sam Weinberg
Yung Lean – “Blue Plastic” (Prod. Gud)
Yung Lean retains his trailblazer status on his new single “Blue Plastic.” Equal parts stylish and devastating, the release demonstrates that the 23-year-old is committed to going against the grain as he continues to write his new chapter. — Jenna DePasquale