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Alo Neuphorians!
So you thought the Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars partnership was big..... but it is nothing
like the crazy collab with Lent, Ramadan, Chinese New Year and Black History Month all
happening right now!
Of course, I guided my seasonal reflective energies in a musical direction- compiling the February Neuphoria Playlist. Happy listening!
The Playlist direct links are:
If you wish to vote on the February Playlist, please submit your votes by EOD Sunday, March 8th PT (Monday, March 9th for the Europeans, Aussies and South Americans).
For voting instructions scroll to the bottom of the site landing page: www.neuphorians.com
Dying for you,
D
sombr, Homewrecker (Pop)- After his amazingly sequined Grammy debut performance, the 20 year-old “It Boy” Sombr (Shane Boose) returns with a February single, “Homewrecker”. Launching at #13 on the streaming charts, Boose appears to have another hit on his hands with “Homewrecker”, a shimmering, yet hypocritical ode about pursuing a love interest who is attached- but not wanting to be a “Homewrecker”.
Charli XCX, Dying for You (Pop/Soundtrack)- Seems like the best part about the mediocre new movie adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” is Charli’s soundtrack- which has become her 3rd straight UK #1 LP. Hard pivoting out of BRAT mode, Charli’s primary instrumentation on “Wuthering Heights” is a string orchestra (not unlike ROSALÍA), however “Dying for You”, is the LP's most pop-forward and least orchestrated track.
YUNGBLUD, Suburban Requiem (Rock)- Ozzy’s anointed heir YUNGBLUD (Dominic Harrison) topped up his 2025 “IDOLS” LP with 6 new songs on February 20. Evoking Oasis, the Britpop anthem “Suburban Requiem” includes a triumphant self-reflection on Harrison’s struggles with ADHD, mental health and self-worth. I decided it was wise to skip the pricey Oasis reunion tour and instead see YUNGBLUD on his tour in Vegas, this May. I'm so ready!
YUNGBLUD on his ADHD- “People used to call me Damien from “The Omen”….then I was diagnosed with ADHD.” “I love performing, man, because I’m riddled with ADHD…I’ve got too much f***in’ energy!”
Tyler Ballgame, I Believe In Love (Alternative)- Sounding like the love child of Roy Orbison, T. Rex and Fleet Foxes, Tyler Ballgame (Tyler Perry) released his debut LP on January 30.
Hailing from Rhode Island, Perry ironically adopted his moniker based on Red Sox hall-of-famer Ted Williams (“Teddy Ballgame”), to inspire him in the wake of being depressed and not releasing any music while living in his parent’s basement for 8 years after leaving the Berklee School of Music.
Yebba, Yellow Eyes (Alternative/R&B)- The delicate “Yellow Eyes” is a preview of Arkansan Yebba’s (Abigail Smith) forthcoming 2nd solo LP “Jean”. However, due to her versatile and technically masterful vocals, Yebba already has a who’s who’s resume for guest vocals, partnering with Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator and Drake- and garnering an R&B Grammy Nomination.
Luke Combs, Be By You (Country)- With each of Combs’ previous 5 LP’s reaching #1 in the US Country charts, he is considered Country royalty. Despite Bad Bunny dominating post-Super Bowl US streaming charts, “Be By You” has reached # 5 in the US and Canada- and its timeless melody and vocal and its understated arrangement makes the song instantly familiar.
Ella Langley, Be Her (Country)- Last month the Alabaman Ms. Langley made history being the first female artist to simultaneously hold the #1 spot in both the Billboard Pop and Country charts simultaneously, with “Choosin’ Texas” from the January Neuphoria Playlist. Her follow up, the self-effacing “Be Her” is a sneak preview from her upcoming 3rd LP “Dandelion” and is presently #7 on the US streaming charts.
Brent Faiyaz, other side (R&B)- Faiyaz’s February LP, is presently in the Top 5 and 10 of the US and Global streaming charts- and his velvet falsetto and crystalline retro arrangement of “Other Side” conjures up memories of an antecedent R&B star.
Baby Keem, Good Flirts (feat. Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd) (R&B)- Long Beach/Vegas’s Baby Keem is King Kendrick’s cousin. Is it possible that his February LP “Ca$ino” being ubiquitous in the media and presently #1 on the US streaming charts (and “Good Flirts” at #8) has anything to do with his famous relation? Maybe so, but with its downtempo beat and teasing “Don’t you love a good flirt with a stranger” refrain, “Good Flirts” stands on its own.
Jill Scott, To B Honest (R&B)- With her 1st LP in 10 years, Philly’s Jill Scott “has given Blackness the centering it deserves,…….with her voice gathering recollections of the fragrance of cocoa butter warming on brown skins, potato salad on white Styrofoam plates and the thick humidity of summer evenings” according to Pitchfork. My Oh My, I'll have some of that.....................uh, potato salad
Aria Vega, CHÉVERE (Latin)- Seemingly an overnight sensation, Barranquilla’s Aria Vega has taken Colombia by storm, with January’s fresh and contagious “CHÉVERE” charting #1- and likely to become a pan-South American hit. However Ms. Vega has paid her dues, being an articulate university music theory graduate and a former semi-finalist in Idol Colombia.
Katteyes & Sinaka, ALO (Latin)- Formerly a backwater for Latin music, Chile is having its moment, with local artists such as Floyymenor, Cris J and Sinaka yielding Pan-American hits. They are now joined by 20 year-old DJ Katteyes (Fernanda Villalobos), with the reggaeton earworm “ALO” hitting #1 in Chile and trending elsewhere in Latin America.
KiiiKiii, 404 (New Era) (K-Pop)- Is KiiiKiii the next K-Pop mega-group? Despite just debuting in 2025 and not yet releasing an LP, “404 (New Era)” is already KiiiKiii’s 2nd #1 in South Korea. Leaning heavily on a 90’s Detroit House aesthetic, the banging “404 (Era)” could hold its own in a sweaty urban club.
Mau P, neck (Electronic/House)- Speaking of bangers, Dutch DJ Mau P’s “neck” has reached the top of the Beatport charts, with its twitchy mix of minimal tech house and 90’s Chicago hip-house/new jack swing. Bomb Diggity!!
Sofi Tukker & J. Balvin, COOK (R&B/Latin)- When NYC hipster duo Sofi Tukker was touring with Colombian reggaeton star J. Balvin, they hatched the idea of a collab- and the quirky “COOK” is the end product. Alternating between an indie guitar riff and a deep funk/reggaeton beat, punctuated by a blunt bass and an 80's Linn machine drumline, “COOK” is both contradictory and visceral. Warning- listening at loud volume may result in serious side effects, such as uncontrollable grinding.
Trivia- 1920’s vaudeville star Sophie Tucker (“The Last of the Red Hot Mamas”) had no influence on Sofi Tukker adopting their name. It is a combination of the first names of its two members, Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern.
Karan Aujla & MXRCI, 5-7 (Punjabi/Rap)- Presently #1 in India and #2 in Canada streaming, “5-7” (not to be mistaken for 6-7😊), is the latest hit from Indian native and Canadian resident, megastar Karan Aujla. Evidenced by the ominous sounding and boastful “5-7”, Aujla’s music is very different than the benign and romantic Bollywood standard fare that dominates Indian pop music.
Power Snatch, ASSIGNMENT (Alternative/Rock)- Power Snatch is Paramore’s Hayley Williams’ new experimental side project- and the gritty “ASSIGNMENT” is its first song. “ASSIGNMENT” juxtaposes Hayley’s stream of consciousness talk track against a tense industrial/punk guitar line. A surprising pivot for a singer whose day job is a pop-rocker.
U2, American Obituary (Rock)- Apparently protest songs are still the boomers’ domain, with Bruce Springsteen and now U2 releasing songs about the recent situation in Minneapolis- while younger pop stars remain relatively silent. While the title “American Obituary” offers a depressing assessment, the song’s ultimate messaging about the power of the people yields hope.