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Greetings from Neuphoria!
The democratization of music continues to explode. Spotify now has 11.3 million artists (almost a 100% increase since COVID) and adds 1.8 million new songs each month globally.
So, how do you make sense of it all?
By being a Neuphorian of course!
We use our proprietary Neuphoria AI machine learning platform, built on the most advanced neural networks, scrubbed MIDI datasets and dedicated server farms to empirically curate those 1.8 million new songs, down to the objectively best 15 or so songs each month.
OK- maybe that isn’t 100% true……………………..but, the hottest trending song globally, “Messy” by Lola Young (just reached #1 in UK and TikTok), was first included in the Neuphoria June 3, 2024 playlist. Just Saying……………
Enjoy!
Bad Bunny, BAILE INoLVIDABLE (Latin)- “El Conejo Malo’s” January 2025 LP “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS”, has debuted at #1 globally (his 4th straight #1 LP) and comprises 6 of the current top 10 most streamed songs globally. Unlike his 2023 release, “DeBÍ TiRAR……”, an homage to Bunny’s beloved Puerto Rico, is getting major respect from the critics, even getting the highest rating from Pitchfork, which usually favors underground releases. Departing from his normal reggaeton fare, “BAILE INoLVIDABLE” is a salsa whirl.
FKA Twigs, Childlike Things (Alternative/Electronic)- How to explain the eccentric FKA Twigs? She’s from Earth- I think…. I’ve deduced that as she’s dated Robert Pattinson, Shia LaBeouf and Matty Healy of the 1975. I also know that her much anticipated LP, “Eusexua”, featuring the infectious “Childlike Things” was released today. However, the rest is less clear.
Tate McRae, Sports Car (Pop)- Tatey is hoping that, “Sports Car”, which was released today will continue her streak of hits- and splits (see her dance videos). While Calgary is an unlikely breeding ground for a popstar, it is fertile ground for light crude oil, which may explain Tatey’s familiarity with sports cars (or at least their back seats).
Lambrini Girls, Company Culture (Punk)- This captures the plight of the alpha male today. In the last song they (or at least their cars) were objectified, and now, in “Company Culture”, they are reviled😊 Still, Brighton’s Lambrini Girls’ debut LP, “Who Let the Dogs Out” is an undeniable onslaught of righteous insight, fury and fun- and will make some of us Neuphorians reminisce about our days in the mosh pit.
Franz Ferdinand, Night or Day (Alternative)- Glasweigan veterans Franz Ferdinand released their 6th LP on January 10th, which has already reached #3 in the UK. While some Neuphorians may have selected other songs from “The Human Fear”, I’ve picked “Night and Day” because I can’t rid myself of this earworm.
Lauren Mayberry, Something in the Air (Pop/Alternative)- Keeping the playlist in Scotland, Chvrches lead singer Mayberry released her debut solo LP, “Vicious Creature” in December, featuring “Something in the Air”, with its classically anthemic britpop melody. I was turned on to CHVRCHES by Neuphorian JoeMo, when we saw them live in 2013, before even the release of their 1st album.
Nina Chuba, Fata Morgana (Pop/Alternative)- With a classic Teutonic brooding rock melody and a lyric influenced by transcendental idealism, it is no surprise that “Fata Morgana” is a German hit. Like many of the US chart toppers, Ms. Chuba is a former child TV actress.
Uniqe, nkeeei & ARTEM SHILOVETS, ГЛΑМУР (Glamour) (Eurotrash/rap)- Full disclosure, this Russian smash hit is 6 months old, but I was only recently turned on to it by my son. While the music video, featuring the rappers as affluent senior citizens is absurd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NDjaO2-bcA), the Runglish rap (“blondes, brunetteki……”) is even more deliciously farcical.
Burna Boy, Bundle by Bundle (African)- African superstar, Burna Boy’s new single, “Bundle by Bundle” is at the top of African charts, alternating between syncopated raps backed by club drum patterns and dulcet singing above a soft afrobeat. Now if only Africa’s BB could do a collab with Puerto Rico’s BB. They could be called Bad Burna- or Bunny Boy……
Kit Sebastian, Enkaz (World/Middle Eastern)- “Enkaz”, by the British/Turkish duo Kit Sebastian, was inspired by its singer, Merve Erdem’s loss of her grandfather and his love of 1960’s Egyptian orchestrated music. Recorded using a 1990’s Fostex machine, “Enkaz” has a timeless otherworldly quality.
Teddy Swims, Guilty (R&B/Pop)- Neuphorian regular, Mr. Swims dropped his second LP today. Confusingly, the LP has the same name as his first LP, distinguished only by “(Part 2)”. However, his new single “Guilty” is crystal clear, showcasing Dinsdale’s rich baritone and natural R&B instincts.
Caylee Hammack, Bed of Roses (Country)- “Bed of Roses” is the 1st single from the Georgian Hammack’s forthcoming second LP. Nashville seems to be betting big on Caylee and her Dolly Parton-like tremolo vocal in “Bed of Roses”, investing in an orchestra of mandolins, banjo, steel guitar and a backing chorus to match the gosh darn catchy chorus. “Bed of Roses” is a hoot.
Cindy Lee, Diamond Jubilee (Alternative)- Released in mid-2024 solely on Lee’s Geocities site, his/their “Diamond Jubilee” LP was finally released on Spotify and Apple Music over the holidays (post script- Jan 24th- just removed again from Spotify and Apple Music- but you need to listen to it). Ranked as the #1 album of 2024 by many critics, the wonderfully sprawling “Diamond Jubilee” sounds like Tommy James and Shondells if they were a current garage band. Cindy Lee is a project of reclusive Canadian musician Patrick Flegel.
Perfume Genius, It’s a Mirror (Alternative)- “It’s a Mirror” is the first single from Mike Hadreas’ (aka Perfume Genius) forthcoming 7th LP- and marks the Genius’ turn back to an alternative/rock sound, from the uncommercial ambiance of his last LP. The lyric and video speak to Hadreas’ isolation and insecurities from his childhood trauma, likely from growing up as the only openly gay kid in his Iowa community.
Bob Dylan, It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) (Folk)- Like some other Neuphorians, I’ve been on a Dylan bender, since seeing his biopic, the 8x Oscar Nominee “A Complete Unknown”. Listening to his songs like “It’s Alright Ma” (written/recorded when he was 23) makes me wish that we had a remarkable poet, like Dylan in today’s popular music to eloquently alert the otherwise distracted populi to today’s hypocrisies.
Trivia- While Dylan deliberately created an air of mystery about his youth by being opaque, Neuphorian Paul C’s mom, also a true eccentric, knew him as “little Bobby Zimmerman” a relatively normal neighbor boy growing up in Hibbing, Minnesota.
