Every week, Consequence’s Songs of the Week roundup spotlights high quality new tracks from the final seven days and analyzes notable releases. Discover our new favorites and extra on our High Songs playlist, and for different nice songs from rising artists, try our New Sounds playlist. This week, we talk about new singles from Fragrance Genius, Lucy Dacus, and Japanese Breakfast, all of which have been produced with Blake Mills.
When pop stars need to stage up their sound as of late, they name Jack Antonoff. For indie bands and artists, nonetheless, there isn’t an artist so ubiquitous within the manufacturing subject. John Congleton, Shawn Everett, Marta Sologni, and James Ford are up there, however primarily based on the previous couple of years, it’s time to provide Blake Mills his flowers. The Los Angeles producer, singer, songwriter, composer, folk-rock connoisseur, Joni Mitchell confidant, and throughout inventive stalwart, has been on an unimaginable run.
This week, two artists made massive returns with wonderful singles produced by or with Blake Mills: Fragrance Genius’ “It’s a Mirror,” and Lucy Dacus’ “Ankles.” Plus, Japanese Breakfast kicked off a brand new period final week along with her track “Orlando in Love,” additionally produced by Mills. After all, it doesn’t cease there: in the previous couple of years, Mills labored on information by Marcus Mumford, Feist, and Bruce Hornsby, plus the fictional interval album Aurora from the 2023 TV adaptation of Daisy Jones & the Six and his solo LP from that 12 months, Jelly Highway.
Many artists look to Mills for collaboration due to his multi-genre prowess and, in fact, his studied, expressive musicianship. His versatility as a producer is highlighted by his collaborations with Fragrance Genius, with whom he’s crafted 4 albums: No Form, Set My Coronary heart on Hearth Instantly, Ugly Season, and now, this 12 months’s upcoming Glory.
“It’s a Mirror,” the album’s first providing, flirts with a extra naturalistic presentation of Mike Hadreas’ revelatory music, however like a lot of his catalogue, a messiness creeps in. The fraught terror of Hadreas’ lyrics are certain in opposition to the track’s heat manufacturing and open-road freedom, creating catharsis out of delicate juxtaposition. Already, it’s one in every of his most impressed and intriguing songs (definitely the sun-streaked Americana of its video helps), and it’s a testomony to Mills with the ability to shapeshift behind the boards.
Lucy Dacus’ “Ankles” equally leads with a feather-light acoustic guitar, the notes of regular folks coated with vivid accents: the syncopated string part, the thwack of a snare, the summery guitar and keyboard touches, Dacus’ irresistible vocal harmonies. Typically, Dacus’ music may be visceral and devastating; when it was first introduced, a title like “Ankles” referred to as “Thumbs” to thoughts, which could some of the painful and affecting songs of the last decade to date. And but, “Ankles” even with its passionate yearn and unmet want, is completely joyous, the softness of her method and evocative visions of intimacy offering consolation like plush blankets on pores and skin.
In the meantime, Japanese Breakfast is gearing up for a giant new period, and her upcoming album For Melancholy Brunettes (& unhappy ladies) was produced by Mills. She resurfaced final week for “Orlando in Love,” which — shock, shock — is rooted in an acoustic guitar. Although it feels extra like an album teaser than, say, what “Be Candy” was to Jubilee, “Orlando in Love” showcases the brand new album’s lush, spacious air; her lilting soprano is bathed in environment, and the track’s orchestrations present a basic, romantic aura. These sonic contact factors are all in Mills’ wheelhouse, and “Orlando in Love” units up the remainder of the album to be a equally enchanting affair.
Between his collaborations Fragrance Genius, Dacus, and Japanese Breakfast, Mills is in retailer for a busy 2025, and his flowers are definitely due. As these artists push their inventive boundaries, it’s clear that Mills’ fingerprints are shaping a number of the most resonant music of this period, proving that his golden contact is something however fleeting.
— Paolo Ragusa
Affiliate Editor
Babe Rainbow — “Like cleopatra”
Byron Bay band Babe Rainbow has made their 2025 return to sprinkle a little bit of Australian summer season onto our wintery woes. “Like cleopatra” kicks off with a bouncy guitar solo that quickly serves because the radiant backdrop to steer singer Angus Dowling’s buttery-smooth voice. The band’s skill to domesticate an illuminating ’60s-esque psych-rock environment preps the listener for a sonic journey to everlasting enlightenment. The monitor debuts because the lead single from the band’s forthcoming album, Slipper Imp and Shakaerator, arriving April 4 by way of p(doom) Data. — Nicolle Periola
Carriers — “Blurry Eyes”
Carriers’ “Blurry Eyes” will initially carry you in with its head-turning listing of personnel (together with Bryan Devendorf [The National], Dave Hartley [The War on Drugs], and Ben Lanz [Beirut, The National, Sufjan Stevens]), however will preserve you coming again for extra due to its delicate songwriting. Heat, gentle, and trotting alongside on the tempo of a skip, the folks rock tune is likely one of the greatest Curt Kiser has come by with to date. — Jonah Krueger
Chloe Moriondo — “shoreline”
Chloe Moriondo kicked off a brand new period this week with “shoreline,” and it’s a worthy return from the Michigan singer-songwriter. The synth-laden monitor appears to mix each of Moriondo’s earlier pivots collectively; it boasts the forward-thinking manufacturing and auto-tuned reverie of 2022’s SUCKERPUNCH whereas reprising the intimate, solemn songwriting present in her 2021 debut Blood Bunny. Produced by Chloe Kraemer, who lent her experience to The Japanese Home’s final album, “shoreline” is a daring and affecting flip from Moriondo, who appears to sharpen her songwriting with each launch. — P. Ragusa
The Comfort — “I Received Precisely What I Wished”
There’s a familiarity to The Conveniences’ “I Received Precisely What I Wished” that feels harking back to the early 2000s post-punk revival, with its tight guitar riffs and punchy basslines. The dynamic interaction between devices takes middle stage, providing a storage rock power with a polish that brings to thoughts the stylings of Franz Ferdinand. There’s a nostalgia to the best way it captures the spirit of the previous, but nonetheless feels refreshingly present. — N. Periola
Ela Minus – “I WANT TO BE BETTER”
Columbian artist Ela Minus dropped a deeply attention-grabbing album in the present day titled DÍA. One of the best ways to enter her all-encompassing pop-electronica world is by streaming the undertaking in full, however there are many standout moments on the gathering, and “I WANT TO BE BETTER” is numbered amongst them. This track grabs the listener by the neck and refuses to let go; whereas the beat calls for a dance ground, the lyrics reveal a young vulnerability, and the distinction is intoxicating. — Mary Siroky
Florist — “Have Heaven”
Florist advances their album rollout with “Have Heaven,” a single that diverges from the extra somber “This Was a Reward,” which earned a spot on our Finest Songs of 2024 listing. Whereas nonetheless tinged with melancholic hues highlighted by Emily Sprague’s tender lament, “Can’t you see, it’s winter and the backyard’s dying?” a delicate heat emerges as she repeats “I may have a heaven.” This results in the track’s conclusion, culminating in a poignant shift to, “We may have a heaven,” because the track arrives to its ultimate bow. Jellywish is out April 4 by way of Double Double Whammy. — N. Periola
John Splithoff – “Tangled”
To characterize the newest single from vocalist John Splithoff as {smooth} could be a near-criminal understatement. “Tangled” balances the nice and cozy, bouncy harmonies of the monitor in opposition to dreamy, island-adjacent percussion and guitar and bass contributions simply this facet of funk, making a monitor to which it’s impossibly simple to give up. Splithoff is gearing up for the discharge of a brand new album, Far From Right here, and this track is greater than sufficient to tide us over to the discharge date of March twenty first. — M. Siroky
MIKE — “Bear Lure”
The most recent single (and opening lower) from his upcoming album Showbiz!, “Bear Lure” sees MIKE sitting so deep within the pocket that he may completely depart a mark. Over a hazy, jazz-tinged beat, he manages to rap with urgency with out the necessity for theatrics. Followers of initiatives like Earl Sweatshirt’s Some Rap Songs ought to take discover, although hopefully they have already got. — J. Krueger
Moreish Idols – “Dream Pixel”
Forward of their forthcoming album All Within the Recreation, slated for launch on March seventh, British rockers Moreish Idols have shared “Dream Pixel,” a slippery third single that refuses to be pinned down. The track is each assured and skittish, that includes sturdy instrumentals darting and weaving round each other, and as quickly because the listener thinks they’ve the band of their grasp, they pivot once more and slip away like sand. Regardless of what the title suggests, the track builds to a degree the place it’s much less of a dream and extra of an amazing nightmare. — M. Siroky
nate sib — “take it sluggish”
It’s arduous to not instantly clock the Bieber affect on nate sib’s boy band-esque vocals, however beneath his croons are some gigantic, plain beats. Such is the case on “take it sluggish,” which, funnily sufficient, strikes faster than you’d anticipate. The incessant punch of the bass drum mirrors an overactive heartbeat, whereas the track’s relentless synth line dominates the combo in a tasteful-yet-abrasive method. He’s a part of a brand new class of stars which can be re-contextualizing musical actions of the previous 15 years to create a brand new sort of pop collage, and it’s a deal with to listen to the younger singer and producer method “take it sluggish” with a lot pleasure. — P. Ragusa
OK GO – “A Stone Solely Rolls Downhill”
Come for the track, keep for the wildly formidable music video. With “A Stone Solely Rolls Downhill,” OK GO stepped into unprecedented territory, using over 60 telephones to create an interweaving visible journey. Simply imagining the storyboards is sufficient to get a headache. In distinction with the bonkers video, there’s a consolation to the simplicity of the monitor itself, which surrenders to the inevitability of life: “A stone solely rolls downhill, and these items, they’ll be what they may.”. — M. Siroky
Porridge Radio — “Don’t Need to Dance”
Porridge Radio have sadly introduced their impending breakup, however the Dana Margolin-fronted indie rock act has yet another EP on the best way earlier than they are saying goodbye, The Machine Begins to Sing. Recorded throughout the identical periods as their 2024 LP Clouds within the Sky They Will At all times Be There for Me, “Don’t Need to Dance” arrives as the primary style of the band’s swan track. Fittingly, it’s a melancholic, virtually nostalgic tune that grows in each depth and catharsis. — J. Krueger
Trousdale – “Rising Pains”
Trousdale’s sophomore album is on the best way (due out April eleventh), and the trio have shared the title monitor to kick off their subsequent chapter. These three completely excel on the subject of their harmonies, and “Rising Pains” affords loads of area for them to shine; with rollicking electrical guitar and a ’90s nation tone to the refrain, the problem of the transitional phases of life has by no means sounded fairly so candy. — M. Siroky
Vundabar — “Spades”
Taken from their soon-to-be-released undertaking Surgical procedure and Pleasure, “Spades” presents Vundabar as an indie rock stay wire. Swinging between flurries of manic however managed freakouts and stunted, virtually march-like verses, the monitor is a dynamic, intensely participating piece of micro-genre-melding guitar music. — J. Krueger
Yola – “My Method”
Give up to the sheer energy of Yola’s voice by indulging in her new EP, My Method. The title monitor is one more hurricane-level vocal showcase for the artist, who persistently manages to the mix the depths of soul music with catchy pop melodies and a sure, virtually theatrical aptitude. “My Method” particularly remembers energy anthems of the ’80s; the open drums and grounding power rise to the problem of assembly Yola’s supply, and the impact is transportive. — M. Siroky
youbet — “Deny”
In keeping with youbet bandleader Nick Llobet, the band penned “Deny” after listening to “a ton of Polvo, Autolux, and Boris” — and it reveals. The track is fuzzed to the max, bordering on the hooky, noise-pop-leaning indie rock of contemporaries like Feeble Little Horse. Even with its elevated heaviness, “Deny” is an immediately satisfying, catchy, enjoyable as hell two and a half minutes. — J. Krueger