In this edition of LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks, experience absorbing themes and hard-to-forget tunes from artists Claudio Olachea, dr.rift, Hybrid Kid, Caitty, and Bailey Perrie.
Claudio Olachea - Hoy Como Ayer
Los Angeles-based film and television composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Claudio Olachea, fuses the spirit of indie music with the grandeur of classical elements, crafting a sound that is totally distinct and exquisite. “Hoy Como Ayer” elevates his style with mariachi atmospheres, transporting you in place and time, into a cinematic, captivating musical story. The instrumentation, in its restrained nuance, holds a beautiful subtlety, only to gradually reveal its majesty in the many rousing crescendos. Mellow percussion, swelling violins, gentle guitars, and spectral vocal harmonies converge into a rich, theatrical sonic vista, hypnotically swaying between tender, tense, and cathartic moods. The sophistication in the production is of a rare kind, letting each sound and texture have its moment in the light, while seamlessly being subsumed into the surrounding sounds. Claudio Olachea’s virtuoso playing and production is compelling, and keeps you coming back for more. Listen here!
dr.rift - No Death
dr.rift is the musical project of Kyle Halldorson from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, a Western Canadian Music Award winning artist. Known for the unique atmospheres he creates blending influences from his Celtic, indigenous roots with emotive psych rock and prog, dr.rift offers musical journeys that stick with you. “No Death” brings a signature complexity and catharsis in its story and soundscape, the kind that makes you want to dive into the music multiple times, fascinated by its dark depths. Contemplating on death, fears, and beyond, the lyrics are thought-provoking. Teetering between enigmatic and ethereal, the tones in the song leave you hypnotised and haunted. Mesmeric, multi-layered harmonies waltz alongside expressive lead vocals. Sublime guitar melodies float and fly freely, only to be summoned into an energetic rhythm and transformed into bright strums as the song unfolds. Delicate, dark beginnings are alchemized into radiant, rousing passages, culminating into a liberating escape. “No Death” is brilliant. Listen here!
Hybrid Kid - Cry
Hybrid Kid is the long standing project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Danny Lloyd. Bringing a wild, eccentric, and mercurial garage rock atmosphere, the artist keeps you on your toes. “Cry” is an evocative and eclectic release, offering richly-layered instrumentation, catchy hooks, and dreamy dissonance. Moody acoustic tunes and booming bass lines pulse hypnotically, while warm strums and soaring vocal melodies splash impassioned tones on the musical backdrop. The guitar-driven instrumentation boasts intricate designs, cascading flows, and steady rhythms. The airy percussion, celestial choral layers, and swelling melodies lifts the music to an ethereal, almost ghostly plane. The looping chorus sticks to your ears, echoing endlessly even after the last note fades, like a memory of a dream you cannot forget. Blurring the lines between order and chaos, the soundscape asserts that each lives in the other. “Cry” is authentic and affecting. Listen here!
Caitty - Alone
Australia based musician Caitty grapples with heartbreak and loneliness in the latest single, “Alone.” Unlike any average lament, Caitty constructs a detailed, deep monument of sound and story, each melodic ceiling and rhythmic wall, echoing the grief and pain of being left behind. The musical arrangement offers comforting spaciousness and liberating crescendos, both powerful in its presence, driving the despair and disillusionment home. Like empty hallways and dark rooms which once held life and witnessed love, the musical backdrop balances emptiness with expression, exuding heart wrenching emotions of confusion, angst, and shock. Lyrically, the song paints vivid images of being abandoned, breaking down every moment trying to find the reasons for this fate, this betrayal, this hurt. Caitty’s sincere and soulful vocal melodies carry the weight of the emotions with grace and power, evoking the universal pain of separation and heartbreak. “Alone” strikes at the heart, its blow as soft as cotton and its aftermath as devastating as catastrophe. Listen here!
Bailey Perrie - The Lotto
Australia’s Bailey Perrie, singer-songwriter and pop artist, is steadily rising to fame, winning awards and gaining over a million streams and views, reflecting her addictive authenticity and relentless creativity. “The Lotto,” her latest release, simmers and soars with emotions. Lyrically, the song delves into the silence and solitude of heartbreak and hurt, especially when someone you want chooses another and all you can do is smile and step away. The soundscape builds with undulating synths, lush atmospherics, and melancholic piano chords. Bailey’s commanding vocals heave with intense feelings, rising and falling majestically, scaling the whole spectrum of melody with eloquence and elegance. Infusing each word with sincerity and soulfulness, her singing is the highlight of the song. She exudes the same powerful presence and rousing emotionality like that of pop greats like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Olivia Rodrigo. Bailey Perrie is a compelling voice in the pop music scene with a promising musical career ahead. Listen here!
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.