Explosions under your skin

I’ll promise that today’s issue will be short compared to the massive one last Sunday. Just five new songs, nothing more.

However, it was a struggle to compile the current edition. I had more than ten potential candidates. Not including all of them is always a tough decision to make.

Let me know if you’d be interested in a format with some songs that almost made it into a Weekly5 issue.

This week, the selection is driven by vibrating beats and emotions crawling under your skin, exploding in a colourful firework. There are well-known artists and fresh talents side-by-side. Here we go!

Icon For Hire – Panic Attacks

Since Ariel Bloomer (voice) and Shawn Jump (Guitar) formed Icon For Hire back in 2007, the US duo defies boundaries. Their latest album, Amorphous, has been completely funded by the dedicated fanbase – raising over 200'000 Dollars.

Amorphous is an unbelievable ride that shakes you from brute-force metalcore (Curse or CureorSeeds) to synthetic rock (Sticks & Stones) and screeching dubstep allures (Brittle).

However, one song stands out, even within this blend of crushing riffs, soaring lines, and sonic explosions. In Panic Attacks, Icon For Hire prove that they’re even capable of writing a blasting rap/R&B-influenced hook. Bloomer swells into a stunning flow, sounding anxious and angry until she breaks down to a melancholic refrain.

Amoa – All

Basel-based singer, Andrea Thoma alias Amoa, creates stunning soundscapes. Her debut album You – released on Friday – lacks a traditional pop song structure, rendering her music becoming breathtakingly atmospheric.

Every song on You would deserve to be featured, but for now, All takes on the responsibility to showcase Amoa’s album that nods politely to Portishead or Thom Yorke.

With a voice clear as freshly frozen water, All immediately crawls under your skin and raises every little hair in sensation. Accompanied by a lovely guitar and a deep bassline, All culminates in a synth-infused dream. At the same time, this song is why you should keep an eye out for Amoa.

Fernweher – Armor

An eery, infinitely deep beat greats the one who listens to Fernweher’s latest single, Armor. And one could mistakingly mark the song as a simple techno track.

But soon, Armor is developing another facette by adding the ethereal voice embracing the pumping soundtrack. With origins in Italy, Fernweher is working in Manchester now, inspired by the likes of RY X or SOHN.

There’s a sad note to Armor as the queer artist processes a hard break-up with his ex-boyfriend. “When you go through a tormented breakup and face your demons, you end up being stronger. It’s as if every disappointment over time builds an armour around you,” explains Fernweher.

Ivorrie – Plane

Effortlessly mixing R&B, hip-hop, and trap, Swiss artist Ivorrie certainly is part of the young and upcoming scene. In 2018, she collaborated with Jason Derulo on the Swiss version of Colors, the Coca-Cola anthem for the FIFA World Cup.

Marking her territory in the male-dominated hip-hop and rap space with her releases, Ivorrie can sound both aggressive as in Straightand smooth as in Rain.

Plane, her latest single, dropped on Friday. Wrapped in a thick layer of a dark, cracking beat, Ivorrie delivers a laid-back track about fleeing the tristesse of everyday life, about breaking free of the shackles of routine. And right now, still externally directed by the pandemic, everybody can relate to Plane‘s message.

Sin Fang & Sóley – Your Love

Sindri Már Sigfússon is known for his contribution to the band Seabear. But the Icelander is also bustling with his solo project, Sin Fang. To create his latest single, Your Love, he teamed up with fellow Icelandic artist Sóley Stefánsdóttir.

Your Love starts simple, even a bit weird. However, as the song continues, it also grows into an ever more complex composition. Driven by a crackling beat, the shimmering brass instruments are the heart and soul of Your Love.

Sin Fang and Sóley arranged a song that one might have to get used to at first, an electronically dominated song that sounds inherently Icelandic, decisively unique.

If you’d like to get all the songs featured in Weekly5 in one place, be sure to follow the playlist on Spotify. There are already 35 tracks for you to enjoy. 👇

Oh, and you can rate the featured songs on the new Weekly5 website. Check it out.

All done for today.

If you liked this selection, please share it with your friends on social media or forward it to a fellow music fan. It helps me to grow this community and give the featured artist greater exposure. Thank you!

Best wishes,